Joe Nathan thanks Texas Rangers fans
By Mike Dyce
The Texas Rangers and closer Joe Nathan look like they’re heading towards a split. The Rangers picked up the option on Nathan’s contract but he had the right to decline and did on Friday. Unlike Josh Hamilton who insulted Dallas fans and said Dallas-Fort Worth wasn’t “a true baseball town” on his way out, Nathan praised the Rangers fan and organization.
“Baseball in Texas was great,” Nathan said Sunday, via ESPN Dallas. “The organization treats the player second to none. They do it right. The city and the fans always showed up. It was loud crowds, and that was fun to come to the ballpark as a player and know we were going to have a good atmosphere. There are some places where you have to find your own energy, and Texas wasn’t one of those places. If you felt sluggish at all, the crowd would pick you up.”
“I’m sure … they could use this money to better strengthen themselves and use it for holes they can fill,” Nathan said. “The bullpen is one area they feel they can afford to lose a guy or two and pick up some cash for something else. I get that. To me, it seems that other clubs are going to call and I don’t think Texas will be one of them.”