Baseball - Rangers Two Candidates Managerial Job

Trey Hillman, who is the Japan Series championship manager, and Texas bench coach Don Wakamatsu will be both interviewed by the Rangers regarding their managerial vacancy respectively on Tuesday and on Wednesday.

Hillman, who is an Arlington native, was the former Rangers director of player development. As for Wakamatsu, he will be the last of five candidates general manager Jon Daniels is scheduled to interview in his search for Buck Showalter's replacement. Previously the Rangers have already interviewed Oakland Athletics third-base coach Ron Washington, New York Mets third-base coach Manny Acta and Phillies minor league manager John Russell, who is a former Rangers catcher and who caught one of Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters. Daniels explained that no further interviews are scheduled and expect that one of those five candidates will become the next Texas manager.

Last week, Hillman guided the Nippon Ham Fighters to the Japan Series championship. It was their first title since 1962. Hillman decided to leave his former club, Texas, for the job in Japan just before the Rangers fired former manager Jerry Narron and hired Showalter after the 2002 season. Before his year in the Rangers organization, Hillman spent 12 seasons as a minor league manager in the New York Yankees organization. He already spent two years on his contract with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Hillman is expected to be back in Texas for his interview with the Rangers. He is also expected to meet with San Diego and Oakland while back in the United States. Hillman is planned to return to Japan next week-end to take part in the Asian Championships with the Ham Fighters.

The Rangers are not the only franchise to currently hold managerial openings. The Athletics, looking for a replacement of fired manager Ken Macha, have also approached Texas bench coach Wakamatsu and have already interviewed Washington. San Francisco Giants just hired Bruce Bochy, but previously intervewed Acta who is likely to be a candidate for the Washington Nationals.

The Rangers cut ties with Showalter after an 80-82 season. It was the team's sixth losing record in seven years since last making the playoffs in 1999. Showalter signed a four-year contract with the Rangers and finished 319-329 in Texas. Worth noting, the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks both won the World Series the year after Showalter left. The Rangers maybe are trying to play the odds in their favor.