Introduction to the Rangers’ New Era
The greatest Rangers manager ever, not to mention one of the four or five best in baseball history, just walked out the door. His replacement has a big hat to fill. Bruce Bochy has good-naturedly endured jokes throughout his long life in baseball for his size 8 cap, but inside that big head is a big brain. If he made what Chris Young called a “mutual” decision based on what’s coming, he’s smarter than we thought. Because changing out Bochy for Skip Schumaker, the heir apparent, is no guarantee to fix what’s gone wrong since the former led the Rangers out of the wilderness and into the promised land.
The Challenges Ahead
In order to believe a new manager will be the remedy for back-to-back disappointing seasons, you first have to believe one of the following: Bochy has lost his fastball since his steady hand was exactly what the Rangers needed two years ago. He was the reason this team stopped hitting once the parade ground to a halt at the Globe. Or the Rangers simply tuned out his low-key approach and needed a kick in the pants. To stay updated on the latest news, consider signing up for the Rangers newsletter, which provides comprehensive coverage of the team’s activities and performance.
Understanding the Team’s Dynamics
My guess is Young — who said all kinds of nice things about Bochy in a zoom call Monday night, calling him a “legend” and “friend” and “one of the best people the game has ever seen” — subscribes to the last theory. Might be something to it. This time next year, we should have a better idea. But, if you ask me, the problem isn’t whether Bochy is any better or worse than he was two years ago, when he performed the greatest magic trick of our lifetime. The problem is he needed a different rabbit. The Rangers were once again built to slug, but what we’ve learned since ‘23 is that Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Josh Jung and, to a lesser extent, Evan Carter, enjoyed career years in that World Series run. No one else has picked up the slack, either. Certainly not Joc Pederson or Jake Burger.
The Need for a New Approach
Not only is the power out at the Globe, turns out it’s a pitcher’s park. Given rules changes that’s made the base in front of you more attainable than ever, it seems prudent that the next administration should bill itself as the runnin’ Rangers. Bochy could have managed a team with a different style of play. He’s never been married to any one approach. Like most winning managers, he’s loyal to veterans, but he likes a hot hand. He left Josh Sborz in to get the final seven outs in Game 5. When he was in San Francisco in 2010, he went with a past-his-prime shortstop in the playoffs, and Edgar Renteria rewarded his faith with an MVP performance in the World Series. A week later, they cut him.
Bochy’s Legacy and Impact
When I asked Bochy about Renteria this summer, he smiled and called him “a money player.” Bochy was a money manager. Only Joe McCarthy, Connie Mack and Casey Stengel won more World Series titles than his four. For the record, those three did it in an era when there were half as many teams to go through, and most weren’t exactly competitive. Bochy couldn’t get anything close to the same results the last two years, but if you blame him for the lineup, then you must give him credit for their best rotation in more than 40 years. Given the injuries and failure to perform across the lineup, he only had so much to work with. Young will and should take his share of the blame. He doesn’t like the mood of the clubhouse, but he knew what he was getting with Corey Seager, a stoic star, and Marcus Semien, a faded one. Neither is rah-rah. For better or worse, the rest follow their example.
Reflections on Bochy’s Departure
Semien didn’t do himself any favors last week for noting he didn’t build the roster and wants to play for “hungry” players out to win a championship. What he should have done was apologize for failing to hold up his end of his $26 million salary each of the last two years. Semien also used the word “funk” to describe the Rangers since ‘23, and if that’s all it is, it cost them the services of an all-time great still game enough to snap them out of it. When I asked him recently if this season had beaten all the enthusiasm out of him, Bochy made it clear he wanted to come back. He can’t get enough. If loving even this Rangers team doesn’t sell you on his commitment, I don’t know what to tell you. On a personal note, I liked him. Hard not to like a guy who came to work every day in a good mood. He didn’t take his frustrations out on anyone as far as I could tell. Not even the media. Hard not to like a guy with a brilliant mind who, save for when he’s in a dugout, does his best to disguise it. Hard not to like a Hall of Famer in your midst. Not a lot of those around the Rangers anymore. Makes a bigger impact than you might think.
The Impact on Players
Before everything went south, I asked 29-year-old Jake Latz, one of the season’s few pleasant surprises, what it meant to hear that his manager had praised him. “He’s a Hall of Famer,” Latz said. “It means everything.” The Rangers will be someone else’s problem next season, and the best you can say about them until then is they didn’t do anything to jeopardize Bochy’s date with Cooperstown. What the Rangers owe him they can never repay. He goes out with his big head high. For the latest news and updates, follow @KSherringtonDMN on Twitter/X. Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here. Click or tap here to sign up for our Rangers newsletter.
Conclusion
The departure of Bruce Bochy marks the end of an era for the Rangers. While his replacement, Skip Schumaker, has big shoes to fill, the real challenge lies in addressing the team’s underlying issues. The Rangers need to adapt to the changing landscape of baseball, embracing a new style of play that leverages the team’s strengths. With a strong rotation and a mix of veteran and young players, the potential for success is there. However, it will require a cohesive effort from the front office, coaching staff, and players to turn the team’s fortunes around.
FAQs
Q: Who is the new manager of the Rangers?
A: The new manager of the Rangers is Skip Schumaker, who replaces the departing Bruce Bochy.
Q: What are the main challenges facing the Rangers?
A: The Rangers face several challenges, including adapting to a new style of play, addressing the team’s lack of power hitting, and improving the mood in the clubhouse.
Q: How will Bochy’s departure impact the team?
A: Bochy’s departure will undoubtedly have an impact on the team, as he was a highly respected and successful manager. However, the team’s fortunes will ultimately depend on the ability of the new manager and the front office to address the underlying issues.
Q: What can fans expect from the Rangers in the upcoming season?
A: Fans can expect a renewed focus on building a competitive team, with a mix of veteran and young players. While there are challenges to overcome, the potential for success is there, and fans can look forward to an exciting season of baseball.
Q: How can I stay up-to-date with the latest Rangers news and updates?
A: You can stay up-to-date with the latest Rangers news and updates by following @KSherringtonDMN on Twitter/X, signing up for the Rangers newsletter, or visiting The Dallas Morning News website for comprehensive coverage of the team.
