by Bruce Bochy has won a World Series in Texas, something the Rangers haven’t. He is now coming out of a three-year retirement in the hope that the local team will get back there.
Bochy, who won the first of his World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants at the Rangers’ old ballpark in 2010, was introduced Monday by the general manager of Texas, who pitched for the manager in San Diego four years before.
“One of the things I said to Boch when we offered him the job. I said, I’m not doing this because I loved you when I played for you. I’m doing this because we believe that as an organization you are the right person to guide us into the future.” general manager Chris Young said from Arlington, Texas. “Boch fits every part of our criteria.”
Bochy hasn’t managed since 2019, when he walked away after 13 seasons and those World Series titles with the Giants, followed by 12 seasons with the Padres. First choice in the search, Bochy said he was convinced after lengthy talks with Young.
“Some have asked why. Well, the simple answer is that I miss this game,” Bochy said. “We talked for many hours about the team and the culture that he wanted to create. And I was in.”
Bochy, 67, got a three-year contract. The former major league catcher, who began his playing career in Houston, has 2,002 career wins of his own in 25 seasons as manager and led the Padres to their last World Series in 1998.
The Rangers went 68-94 this season and had a franchise record 35 losses by one run. It was their sixth consecutive losing season, the longest streak for the franchise in a half-century since moving to Texas in 1972. They haven’t even had a winning record since going 10-9 early in the league-shortened 2020 season. pandemic and lost 102 games last year.
After clinching the 2010 World Series with a Game 5 win at Texas, San Francisco added titles in 2012 and 2014. The Rangers returned to the World Series in 2011 and lost in seven games to St. Louis.
“I had a hard time getting through 2010, but after getting through 2010, I thought it was a really good idea,” Rangers principal owner Ray Davis said of Young introducing Bochy as his pick before meeting with him. “It took about 10 minutes in the process where they sold me.”
Reinforced list
Rangers fourth-year manager Chris Woodward was fired Aug. 15, two days before the team also fired president of baseball operations Jon Daniels, who was general manager for both of its World Series teams. and division titles in 2015 and 2016.
Bochy takes over a Rangers roster that was bolstered last offseason when $500 million was committed in free agency to long-term contracts for Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million) and second baseman Marcus Semien ( $175 million, seven years). Top prospect third baseman Josh Jung was among the prospects making his major league debut.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to help bring a championship here to Texas,” Bochy said.
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said Bochy is one of his favorite guys and one of the best managers.
“I wish he was in the other division. But I’m glad he’s back.
“Great baseball man, baseball mentality. One more for the old folks,” Baker said before the Astros won the AL Championship Series to reach their fourth World Series in six seasons. “He had a feeling he would come back.”
Baker is the oldest manager in the majors at 72, and Bochy will be the next oldest. They managed in the same division from 1995 to 2002, when Baker was the Giants’ manager after Bochy came to the Padres.
Tony Beasley served as caretaker manager for the last 48 games and was interviewed after the season for the position. The beloved Beasley, the Rangers’ third-base coach since 2015, is staying on to join Bochy’s coaching staff.
The last three Rangers coaches, all hired by Daniels, had never managed in the big leagues before: Ron Washington, who led both of his World Series teams, Jeff Banister, who won two AL West titles , and Woodward.
The last manager to come to Texas with prior experience in that role was Buck Showalter, who was there from 2003 to 2006.
