Arlington, Tx – The Texas Rangers introduced Bruce Bochy as their next manager in a press conference earlier today in Arlington. Bochy, who retired in 2019, led the SF Giants to 3 World Series Championships.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be putting this jersey on” Bochy said to the media during his press conference. “I miss the game. There’s so many things about the game I miss. In the dugout, the competition, being on the team.”
Bochy went on to say that if he was going to jump back into the fire, it had to be the right fit. He feels after his conversations with Chris Young and Ray Davis that they had and were building that winning culture in Texas.
The Struggles
Now as Texas Rangers fans know, the team has not been in contention for the past six seasons, and have not hired an experienced manager in over 20 years. That changed today.
The last manager to take the Rangers to a World Series lost to Bochy’s Giants. The Rangers have not returned since 2011.
Besides bringing a winning attitude and 3 World Series rings to Arlington, Bochy brings a world of managing experience. He also managed Chris Young during his time pitching for the Padres.
““One of the things I told (Bochy) 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 the organization you’re the right person to lead us into the future,’” Young said according to the Ranger Website. ““I recognized that when I played for Bochy in 2006, that was a long time ago. I have special memories from that time. I’ve seen what he’s gone on to do since that.”
The Rebound
Even though 2022 did not go according to plan in the majors, the Rangers farm system was brilliant. They have one of the best top ten prospect lists in all of baseball, maybe the top list.
The AA Frisco RoughRiders won the Texas League Championship, and 2 of the other 3 teams finished above .500. There are two types of currency in baseball, money and prospects. The Rangers are currently not lacking in either.
“The same overarching theme was that it’s time to play winning baseball here. That they had enough of the losing,” Bochy said. I couldn’t agree more with him.
Rangers fans are starved for winning baseball.
This is such a great day for the franchise. Bruce Bochy brings a confidence to the fanbase that we have not felt since Ron Washington left.
The off-season news for Texas is just getting started. They still have to go and get the pitchers they want, which includes resigning Martin Perez.
I believe that having Bochy could attract free agents and trade targets and make the team a destination that they will want to come to. Should be a lot to talk about over the next four months or so.
