Former Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler hopes they go 0-162
By Mike Dyce
Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Prince Fielder. In October the power struggle between CEO Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels finally came to an end as well and in an article for ESPN the Magazine, Kinsler is speaking out against his former team and weighing in on the feud.
From ESPN:
"“Daniels is a sleazeball,” he says. “He got in good with the owners and straight pushed Ryan out. He thought all the things he should get credit for, Ryan got credit for. It’s just ego. Once we went to the World Series, everybody’s ego got huge, except for Nolan’s.”"
It looks like he is still bitter about the way the World Series teams fell apart and where the organization has gone since then.
"Now, the drama behind him, Kinsler has a chance to step back. “I’ll miss all my teammates,” he says. “I’ll miss Elvis and Beltre, Mitch [Moreland], Matt Harrison and [Ron] Washington.” But the frustration — with his play, with the team, with the organization — is still so raw. “To be honest with you, I hope they go 0-162. I got friends, and I love my friends, but I hope they lose their ass.”"
The article also details how he was upset to see Michael Young leave the club and how it left a void in the leadership of the club. Kinsler seemingly was unwilling to step up and be that leader and help the younger players, so it seems odd for him to criticize the professionalism of other’s in the club.
“I was bogged down,” he says. “They wanted me to lead these young players, teach them the way to compete, when the only thing I should be worried about is how I’m performing in the game.”
He also was unwilling to move to first base to allow Jurickson Profar to play second base, Kinsler’s position. First base was a point of weakness for the Rangers and that could’ve helped solidify the infield for the club and allowed them to perform better.
It is another curious example of Kinsler praising Young’s professionalism, who switched positions regularly to make room for others, while criticizing the Rangers, yet some how being unable to carry himself like Young in the clubhouse.