Ryan & group to buy Rangers

[Frayed Knot]

The auction sale for the bankrupt Texas Rangers ended yesterday with a group led by Nolan Ryan beating out the one headed by Mark Cuban.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100804&content_id=13024390&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

This has been a ridiculously under-reported story that's been bubbling up for the last few weeks; not just in the national press - most likely because it didn't involve anyone named LeBron, Brett, 'T.O.', or Ochocinco - but also the baseball media treated this very casually considering it not only involved the ownership of a first-place franchise but also had the possibility of turning real ugly. MLB openly favored the Ryan group and lawsuits were sure to fly if (as rumored) they were set to ignore the highest bid and take the 2nd one if the final results didn't go the way they wanted.
But, in the end, the "right" group won and Cuban's boys seem to think they at least had a fair shake.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Are there any plans to start testing owners for steroids?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

In a bankruptcy, it almost always comes down to how much $$ the creditors can get, and "favored" buyers are the ones who give 'em the most cents on the dollar.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

'Cause they just happen to know, innately, what sort of numbers are involved.

I really do look forward to Cuban's ownership of some franchise. For all the guy's quirks and faults, he seems to come at the sports-ownership side of his ventures with a very customer-service-y bent.

[DocTee]

Cuban's a Pittsburgh native and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE him to acquire that franchise. He'd have that team competitive in no time.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Apart from the on-field "product," the Pirates do a damn fine job of fan engagement already, though.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

And they probably still have the best ballpark in the world.

[DocTee]

I don't want him to build a new stadium or engage the fans, but to put a competitive product on the field. Going on two decades of losing records in that town.