ARLINGTON, TX-
Bruce Bochy won a World Series in Texas, something Rangers failed to do. Now he’s coming out of a three-year retirement with hopes of getting the home side back there.
Bochy, who won the first of his three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants at old Rangers Stadium in 2010, was introduced Monday by the Texas general manager who campaigned for the manager in San Diego four years earlier.
“One of the things I said to Boch when we offered him the job. I said I don’t do this because I loved you when I played for you. I’m doing this because as an organization we believe you are the right person to lead us into the future,” said GM Chris Young. “Boch met all of our criteria.”
Bochy hasn’t made it since 2019, when he retired after 13 seasons with the Giants, followed by 12 seasons with the Padres. After extensive discussions with Young, Bochy was convinced as the top choice in the Rangers search.
“Some have asked why. Well, the simple answer is I miss this game,” Bochy said. “We spoke for many hours about the team and the culture he wanted to create. And I was there.”
The 67-year-old Bochy got a three-year contract. The former big league catcher, who began his playing career in Houston, has racked up 2,003 career wins in his 25 seasons as a manager. He also took the Padres to their last World Series in 1998.
Rangers were 68-94 this season and had 35 one-run losses, a franchise record. Their six straight losses mark the longest streak in the half-century since the franchise moved to Texas in 1972. Their last winning record was 10-9 at the start of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and they lost 102 games last year .
After winning the 2010 World Series with a Game 5 win in Texas, San Francisco added titles in 2012 and 2014. The Rangers returned to the World Series in 2011, losing to St. Louis in seven games.
“I had a hard time getting over 2010, but after getting through 2010 I thought it was a pretty good idea,” Rangers main owner Ray Davis said of Young presenting Bochy as his pick before embracing met him. “It took about 10 minutes before I was sold.”
The Rangers’ fourth-year manager Chris Woodward was fired Aug. 15, two days before the team also fired baseball operations president Jon Daniels — the GM for their two World Series teams and division titles in 2015 and 2016 was.
Bochy is inheriting a Rangers roster that was bolstered in free agency last offseason with the signings of shortstop Corey Seager ($325m, 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175m, 7 years). . Top prospect third-placed Josh Jung was among the youngsters making their big-league debuts or attracting wider attention this year.
“When I look at this team and the core players and the deep system and vision that CY has, I get excited. I just see heaps of potential for the next year and years beyond,” said Bochy, who has been a special adviser for the Giants for the past three seasons and managed Team France in the World Baseball Classic qualifier last month. (Bochy was born on a US Army base in France).
Semien grew up in the San Francisco area supporting Bochy’s teams, including the 2010 championship.
“It was a special time just to see what he and his staff built over there,” said Semien, who attended the show on Monday. “And I think we have the talent in the clubhouse to do the same things and know that we have the support of (Davis) when it comes to spending on pitchers and stuff like that. So I think we’re going in the right direction. “
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker called Bochy one of his favorite guys and a top manager.
“I wish he was in the other division. But I’m glad he’s back. … A great baseball man, baseball savvy. Another one for the old guys,” Baker said before the Astros won the AL Championship Series to come their fourth World Series in six seasons. “I had a feeling he would come back.”
Baker is the oldest manager in the majors at 73, and Bochy will be the second oldest. They made it in the same division from 1995 to 2002 when Baker was the Giants manager after Bochy joined the Padres.
Tony Beasley served as interim manager for the last 48 games and was interviewed for the job after the season. Beloved Beasley, the Rangers third base coach since 2015, remains a part of Bochy’s staff.
The last three Rangers managers, all hired by Daniels, had never made it in the big leagues before: Ron Washington, who managed their two World Series teams; Jeff Banister, who won two AL West titles; and Woodward. The last manager to come to Texas with experience in this capacity was Buck Showalter, who served there from 2003-2006.