I still don't know for sure what to think of Daniels, but my conservative side says that odds are Hicks would downgrade if he went out and chose a new guy. And it's going to suck if that guy is like Hart and doesn't appreciate quality players from the previous regime, like, say, Hafner, Pudge and Arod. I guess we don't have as many potential fiascos now (unfortunately), but the prospect is still frustrating.

Barring Cashman (one of the best GMs in the game - how he combined strong player development with signing every free agent the Boss could see is unmatched), I stick with Daniels.  Unless Hicks goes begging on his knees for Fuson to come back...

But the thing is, could I get him kidnapped, maybe to Bolivia, and "sit in" for him?  And if I did, would you guys (and gal) feed me good advice to use to right the ship?

:))

Then look to find a GM with an intense scouting background.

Someone LIKE Tim Wilken, who's now with the Cubs, I think. As a scout, he found Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells. He had 11 straight first-round picks in the MLB at one point. I like that perspective more than Saber guys. On blogs, I prefer all-you-great Saber guys. Wilken is around 55. 30 years in the business. Never been a GM. Maybe we hire him as Assistant GM and he works WITH J D?  

Someone like that.

Does Terry Ryan have some exec we can pluck away?

If Hart is doing nothing but golfing and collecting a paycheck, who's to say he even wants to come back to the job?

That aside, who thinks he actually enjoyed the majority of his time as Rangers GM?  Is he powermad, and misses that desk and phone where he largely didn't make moves for years?

This theory makes no sense.  Appropriately, I see it inspired speculation of Buck's return.

Beautifully turned, Adam.