Daniels wants full-time manager by end of October
GM pleased with club's play in September under interim skipper Bogar
ARLINGTON -- Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said on Tuesday that he wants to fill the team's managerial position -- held by interim skipper Tim Bogar since Ron Washington stepped down on Sept. 5 -- by the end of October.
"Once free agency hits and then the offseason really starts, I'd like to have all the staffing stuff behind us because I want the manager to be a big part of our offseason plans," Daniels said before the middle game against the Astros at Globe Life Park.
Daniels hasn't elaborated much about Bogar's chances to return as the club's manager, but at a minimum, Bogar appears to have helped his cause by steering the Rangers in the right direction in the final month.
"He's done a good job," Daniels said. "Obviously, the wins and losses, but on a bigger picture the communication, the energy level that the club has shown, I think those are all positives. Listen, I know some of it is where we are in the season and a lot of guys with something to prove and not a lot to lose, but it's been all positive and I think Tim has done a very good job."
Under Bogar, the Rangers -- who seemed destined for the third 100-loss season in franchise history, and the first since 1973 -- entered Tuesday as the only team in the Major Leagues to win nine of its last 10 games.
"We started pitching really well, we got some timely hitting and then all of a sudden the guys were just kind of feeding off each other, and having a good time," Bogar said. "The disappointment of the season up to probably that series where we swept the Braves kind of started to go away. Then we went on the road and had a real good road trip ... You could just feel us coming together as a group. It's been fun to be a part of and it's been fun to watch these guys finally have some smiles on their faces after a long year.
"We're not a 100-loss team. We're not that bad. Obviously, we've had a lot of things go on that have caused that. But to end the season kind of on this positive note gives them the right attitude going into the offseason and building toward the 2015 season."