SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Jeff Banister had barely said hello last spring at Texas Rangers' camp when a crisis of seismic proportions sent his managerial learning curve into hyper-drive.
After staff ace Yu Darvish left his first Cactus League start with tightness in his triceps muscle, the news broke that he had sprained his right ulnar collateral ligament and would almost certainly miss the 2015 season because of Tommy John surgery. It was up to Banister, a mere three weeks into camp, to calm the anxiety and tell the Texas players it was permissible to feel a sense of sadness and personal loss.