Monday newsletter time: Rangers to introduce Bruce Bochy today. Questions, anyone?
(AP photo/John Hefti)
Bruce Bochy will face the Dallas-Fort Worth media late this morning for the first time since being announced as the Texas Rangers manager Friday, and, boy, do we have questions.
First up: Are you really sure about this?
It’s not a terrible question. Bochy has 2,003 career wins and three World Series rings. He’s been living the dream the past three years since leaving the Giants after the 2019 season. The Rangers have won 60 and 68 games the past two seasons and have posted six straight losing seasons.
The Rangers have a vision to contend in 2023, but probably ought to have their vision checked. Did Bochy talk to their optometrist?
General manager Chris Young and owner Ray Davis are also scheduled to be at the 11 a.m. press conference at Globe Life Field, and there will be questions to them, too.
To Young, it will be interesting see how much detail he provides on the coaching search. The only known candidates to interview were Beasley and Bochy. Was that it?
To Bochy and Young, what will the coaching staff look like? How soon will a pitching coach be in place?
It should be interesting. Check RangersToday.com later today for a story for paid subscribers only.
World Series set
Good luck, Philadelphia. You’re going to need it.
The Phillies, the last team to qualify for the 2022 MLB postseason, will be in the World Series for the first time in 2009 after knocking of San Diego in the five games to win the National League pennant. Their reward is facing Houston, which is 7-0 this postseason after completing a four-game sweep of the Yankees for the American League crown.
Game 1 is scheduled for Friday at Minute Maid Park.
The Rangers faced the Astros 19 times this season, going a meager 5-14 for a second straight season. The Rangers are 5-29 at Minute Maid the past four seasons. Yikes!
Meanwhile, the Rangers went 4-0 this season against the Phillies and have won nine straight in the interleague series.
The Phillies and Astros also played this year, ending the season with three games in Houston. The Astros won 2 of 3, but the Phillies clinched their wild-card berth and celebrated in the visiting clubhouse.
ICYMI …
Well, it would have been pretty hard to miss the Rangers’ biggest news of the past few days. However, the Bochy news overshadowed the top 10 of John Moore’s top-10 prospects countdown. It’s probably worth revisiting the latest T.R’s Memoirs, too. Oh, and the Sunday Read provides a lengthy note on Tony Beasley and his decision about his future. Here’s our latest content, in case you missed it.
The Sunday Read: Manager is hired. What’s next?
Friday on the Farm: Who’s the Recliner Nerd’s top prospect?
T.R.’s Memoirs: Top 12 managers who didn’t get the Rangers’ job
Rangers Today Baseball Podcast: Links to new episode with Cody Freeman
Doggy video!
Is Bochy is the border collie wrangling the Rangers (the husky) back toward the postseason? Enjoy. See you Tuesday.
Difference between border collie and husky when the owner loosens the leash..š¶š¾š pic.twitter.com/Azli3Bxrkv
— šoĢ“gĢ“ (@Yoda4ever) October 22, 2022
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
Question for Bruce Bochy….”What style of manager do you intend to be…e.g. an Earl Weaver 3 run homer guy who never bunts or plays hit and run, a Billy Martin small ball go go type, or something else?”