Overall, the idea that Daniels built the club is solid. However (there is always a however, isn't there?)... from my understanding, getting an AL team to listen to the very idea that you build a competitive club around pitching and defense is very hard to do. Previous to such dignitaries as Ryan beating that drum, Texas was no different than most AL clubs. "We need more hitting". It's almost similar to hearing the same mantra coming out of Colorado every year. Pitching is fungible... a necessary evil if you will... nevermind talking about defense per se.
So maybe Ryan didn't really do much other than to be yet another voice of reason that you don't give up on pitching and defense to win in the AL. Daniels, for his part, listened and didn't fall into the trap of "I'll get more hitting!". Remember, they traded a good young pitcher for Josh Hamilton, so there is that. And, lastly... what did in the Rangers in the two tries to win a World Championship... most especially against the St. Louis Cardinals? Pitching and defense. St. Louis was just a tad better at that than the Rangers. The hitting the Cardinals did was just good enough to beat the Rangers too, who decided slugging their way to a championship was going to do the trick.
