Official Release From Hicks Sports Group On Potential Sale Of Controlling Interest In Rangers

Not a huge fan of re-running press release verbatim, but I think the quote from Tom Hicks about the personal difficulties is certainly worthwhile. There have been any number of times that I have disagreed with Hicks’ baseball decisions and plenty of times he’s been unhappy with my criticism of those decision, but I’ve never once doubted his passion and his determination to bring a winning baseball team to North Texas.

(Dallas, May 28, 2009) – Texas Rangers Owner Thomas O. Hicks said today that he has hired
Raine, a new firm being created by media, telecommunications and sports expert Joe Ravitch, to
identify potential investors for the Major League Baseball club. Ravitch and partner Jesse
Jacobs will work jointly with Merrill Lynch, the group led by Shelly Stein that has been advising
Hicks on possible investors for the club. Hicks said he has directed his team of professionals to
examine all possible scenarios to secure new investors.

“My family and I want very much to stay involved with the club,” said Hicks “but we understand
that we have to be open to solutions that may include partners who own a controlling interest in
the Rangers. That is not our preference, but there are some potential buyers who won’t consider
having only a minority interest. Personally, it’s a difficult issue for us however, we must look at
those alternatives because that’s in the best interest for the franchise, the fans and everyone
associated with the Rangers.”

Hicks said a concrete timeline with a thorough and exhaustive process will be established.
“Although we don’t know the end result, I don’t want any ofthis to be a distraction to the team
or our fans,” said Hicks. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there. Simply put, our family is
pursuing the best strategic alternatives for the Rangers, and we will work to keep everyone
informed on our progress.”

Mark Cuban Not Interested In Buying Rangers Stake

Received an email response from Mark Cuban a few moments ago in which he pretty much summed up his thoughts about getting involved in Rangers ownership: “No interest in buying any other sports franchise at this time.”

Tommy Hunter To Start For Texas Rangers Friday

Official word is he will start Game 1 of the doubleheader against Oakland. I expect Doug Mathis to be somewhere in the 817 or 972 area code as insurance. If the Rangers burn a long reliever in that first game, Hunter and/or the reliever could be sent out and Mathis added to the roster.

Tom Hicks On Potential Sale Of Majority Rangers Stake: “We Want To Stay Involved In The Way We Are Now”

LAST UPDATED: 9:39 p.m.

D-tails
Mark Cuban: “Not interested in buying any other sports franchises at this time.”

Texas Rangers-Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks acknowledged that the struggling market and the sluggish economy have led him to alter his plans to sell a minority stake in the baseball team.

“We been in the process the last six months to try and find quality minority ownership,” Hicks said Thursday morning. “We are finding there is a lot of interest in baseball out there, but also finding that a lot of those quality groups want to have some degree of control. Our objective is to say involved with the club in the way we are now. The bottom line is that Hicks Sports Group has debt that has to be retired and we’ve had to broaden the process.”

Hicks said he’s hired a new broker, headed by former Goldman Sachs media banker Joseph Ravitch to help explore the market and build a group of partners. Hicks would be part of that partnership. Hicks said he’s hopeful the search for partners could be concluded by the end of the year. He did not deny the possibility of adding Houston’s Don Sanders and current Rangers President Nolan Ryan as part of the ownership group.

“I think it may involve [Ryan-Sanders],” Hicks said. “But it requires more than just that. In my mind, it would be important for Nolan Ryan to be involved in the club. The important thing is to find quality partners. If we do that, I could be involved in a lot of different ways.”

(more…)

Questions And Answers About Tom Hicks Willingness To Sell Majority Stake In The Rangers

After two months of trying to find only a minority partner for the Rangers and Dallas Stars, Tom Hicks acknowledged to the Star-Telegram Wednesday evening his willingness to seek out a majority owner.

“I am selling part of the Rangers,” Hicks told Galloway in a column written much in the style of a news story. ” I don’t know how big of a part. Yes, I’d be open to selling more than a minority share, but it depends on who the partners are.”

This morning, Hicks has yet to comment. A week ago, via email, he declined to discuss the state of his search for investors. He did not discuss the topic with reporters when he briefly visited the field on Monday before the first-place Rangers began a series with the New York Yankees. We’ve heard plenty of whispers about the state of his financial troubles, but were hoping that Hicks would discuss those rather than attribute provocative statements to unnamed sources.

This, however, is a huge story. As we wait for principals involved to speak let’s try to answer a couple of questions:

Q: How much would it take to buy the team?
A: The San Diego Padres sold for $500 million just before the start of the season and Forbes annual team valuation list ranked the Rangers a bit ahead of San Diego before the sale was announced. I’ve been told $600 million would be a realistic asking price, but if Hicks’ financial situation is deteriorating, it could become a buyers’ market for the club. In theory, it could drive the price for the team and its various assets down closer to the $500 million range.
(more…)

Sit Down With Pitching Coordinator Danny Clark

Rangers minor league pitching coordinator Danny Clark with star pupil Derek Holland in Clinton last year

Last fall after Rick Adair left the organization to become the pitching coach for the Seattle Mariners, the Texas Rangers entrusted one of the most coveted stables of young, high-end pitching prospects in baseball to Danny Clark, who was named the Rangers’ minor league pitching coordinator after two years as the pitching coach at Class-A Clinton and one with short-season Spokane.

Prior to joining the Rangers organization, Clark spent six years as the baseball coach at Milligan College, an NAIA program in Tennessee where he coached Mark Connor’s son Ryan. Connor arranged Clark’s interview with the Rangers back in 2006.

At different times last year, Adair, GM Jon Daniels and farm director Scott Servais had each told me that they thought Clark was a special coach with a big future, so it wasn’t tough to figure out who would be Adair’s replacement when he left the organization last November.

The man known as “DC” is an energetic, enthusiastic guy who is well liked throughout the organization and is regarded as an excellent communicator. He sat down with Inside Corner over the weekend for a long-ranging Q & A, touching on many of the system’s top pitching prospects.
(more…)

Tom Hicks Is Open To Selling The Rangers

Randy Galloway of the Star-Telegram reports. We’ll have more as it develops.

Weekly Reader: Frisco’s Adam Fox Continues To Pursue His Dream To Catch On With The Rangers

Fox and Family: Adam Fox and wife Kristy have spent parts of the last five seasons in Frisco, the last three with son Gunnar. (Photo: Eric Hurley)

FRISCO – Adam Fox has seven years in the Rangers’ farm system and 10 gloves in his locker at the Dr Pepper Ballpark. “Some are game ready, some getting ready,” he explained.

Fox was drafted as a third baseman out of Ohio University in 2003, a 10^th-rounder between John Danks in the first and Ian Kinsler in the 17^th. He has worn a RoughRiders uniform at least part of every season starting in 2005.

“Could run for mayor,” he said with a laugh.

Fox, 27, has never hit above .280 at any of his stops, which included limited time the last two seasons up at Oklahoma. This is the third consecutive season that he has begun the season at Frisco, where he has started half of the 38 games through Thursday. At 5-11 and 200 pounds, he still hopes to reach the majors and believes his versatility in the field can get him there since he can play third, short, second and both corner outfield positions. He has even pitched twice for the RoughRiders.

(more…)

Talking Sports While Watching Sports: Mike Hindman Edition

Last night, while watching the Rangers-Yankees Wednesday affair, Mr Hindman and I decided to try a chat online via our AOL accounts.

The idea was to just have a baseball conversation and see if it is moderately interesting to you the reader. If it works, I might try this again with various other sports people in this city on a semi-regular basis. If you hate it, you may never see anything like this ever again.

So, for 60 minutes last night: 8:35pm to 9:35pm – here is every last word of the Bob Sturm – Mike Hindman chat while watching Rangers baseball:

mjhindman1: have you seen the first four?
Sturm1310: yes. for the most part I have.
mjhindman1: I’m stunned at Holland’s yakker.
Sturm1310: is that baseball lingo for a curve?
mjhindman1: Yeah. Didn’t throw one last year. Hasn’t thrown one this year. And after the first one which was up in the zone a bit, he dropped in four for called strikes.
mjhindman1: Excellent 1-7 break
Sturm1310: why would he unveil that in May of 2009 instead of say sometime last summer in the minors? Or spring training? It just seems like he has enough on his plate right now without trying to add a pitch.
Sturm1310: I do like the results so far, I just don’t understand the chain of events, I guess
mjhindman1: They were primarily concerned with him developing his fastball and change last year.
mjhindman1: It all just happened so fast for him.

(more…)

Road To Arlington: Rangers Minor League Report (5/28)

What's the complete story on Omar Poveda? You'll have to flip the page to find out.

Triple-A: Oklahoma City 14 @ Reno 6

One of the three worst offenses in the PCL opened up a can on the Aces with four multi-hit performances led by CF Julio Borbon’s (.294 / .347 / .374) 3-for-5 performance that included a double, a triple, a base on balls, Borbon’s 11th stolen base of the year, two RBIs and a run scored.

The great Brandon Kyle Boggs (.291 / .411 / .385) went 2-for-5 with a double and a walk to drive in three and 2B Jose Vallejo (.304 / .360 / .391) went 1-for-2, drew three walks, two RBIs and three runs scored from the bottom of the order.

RHP Lizard (2-4; 3.72) was the beneficiary of the RedHawks’ lineup’s largesse, easily cruising to victory in spite of allowing four runs in five innings of work.

(more…)