The Texas Rangers shocked the baseball world on Friday afternoon by announcing a high-profile managerial hire for their project.
The team revealed that Bruce Bochy was chosen to lead the Rangers in what the front office is hoping will be a quick return to contention.
Bochy, 67, is a highly respected figure in the managerial universe, having won three World Series by leading the San Francisco Giants’ dynasty between 2010 and 2014.
Despite a sub-.500 career record as a manager (he is 2,003–2,029 all-time with a .497 winning percentage), the Bochy hire has been universally praised.
“Excited about the Bruce Bochy hire. He obviously felt like this opportunity was of great appeal and the Rangers, on their end, landed someone they clearly coveted. He’s a guy for whom players love playing with an incredibly impressive resume,” Rangers insider Jared Sandler tweeted.
Excited about the Bruce Bochy hire. He obviously felt like this opportunity was of great appeal and the Rangers, on their end, landed someone they clearly coveted. He's a guy for whom players love playing with an incredibly impressive resume.
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) October 21, 2022
A Player’s Manager
Bochy, indeed, has a reputation as a “player’s manager”, as told by many Giants stars from the early 2010s.
That sub-.500 record could be chalked up to managing the San Diego Padres through their rough, post-Gwynn years and the post-dynasty Giants: it doesn’t speak any less of him as a clubhouse and dugout leader.
Instead, the stat that most fans and analysts remember is that four World Series he went to, and the three he won.
Beyond the stats, however, Bochy is seen as a smart guy who knows how to communicate and whose players love to be around.
The Rangers went 68-94 so there is a lot of work to do, but this is actually a good start for them.
Next on the wishlist is improving the pitching landscape, either via trade, free agency, or both.
If they do things right, the Rangers could be seriously competing in a couple of years.
NEXT: Bruce Bochy Comments On Taking The Rangers Job