I haven't really put much stock in this Nolan Ryan Homecoming. Ryan didn't want to be a figurehead in Arlington, and Jim Crane isn't exactly looking for a GM. And let's not forget that the Ryan group which purchased the Rangers had to pay more than perhaps they wanted because there was a rival bid for the team by...Jim Crane. So, yeah, it was always fun to think about Nolan coming back (again) to Houston. I just didn't think it would happen.
That's why the last twelve hours have been interesting. Nolan Ryan told Mark Berman:
Reid and I've worked together before here in Round Rock and I would enjoy that opportunity because it's not very often you get that opportunity. I'd certainly look forward to that if that turned out to be a doable deal...I've said all along the only two organizations that I would have an interest in working with would be the Rangers or the Astros. Obviously, I've retired from the Rangers. So if I got back into baseball it would pretty much be limited to the Astros.
Crane said all the right things about seeing if there's a fit, accomplished man, love-Nolan-Ryan, type statements. If this happens, it's going to be fascinating.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
