Jeff Banister Thanks Pirates Fans, Organization
PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan)- Former Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister was introduced Friday as the new manager of the Texas Rangers.
Banister called in to The Bob Pompeani Show Saturday, and thanked everybody for their support during his tenure with the organization.
"I'd like to take an opportunity first just to thank the city of Pittsburgh and the fans and the Pirate organization for giving me an opportunity to help grow up, grow my family and my kids up as well. Can't turn off 29 years; it's still going to burn deep inside of me and I'm going to miss everybody," Banister said.
The Rangers were 67-95 in 2014, and Banister said that he wants to make sure that the many injured players on the roster are healthy and ready for the season.
"One of the best things for me is that they faced some adversity this last year. You know how we've thought there in Pittsburgh and one of our mottoes is that 'We do hard.' We don't worry about if it's hard, or if it's too hard. We do hard. And that's going to be one of the messages that I bring with me over to the Texas Rangers is that you don't look at how hard it is, you just go out and grind it out with grit and determination and figure out how to get it done," Banister said.
Pompeani asked Banister if he thought that the success that the Pirates organization has had the last two years can be sustained.
"I'm very optimistic, Bob. The core group of players that are there, I know what's inside their heart, how they think, what's inside their mind, the talent level. I also know that the men in charge-Neal Huntington, Kyle Stark, Greg Smith, Frank Coonelly, and first and foremost Clint Hurdle and that coaching staff-they have the burning desire to continue what has been started there in Pittsburgh and I'm confident that it will continue," Banister said.
