Bruce Bochy, Texas Rangers Off To Stellar Season Start

The Texas Rangers could not have asked for a better start to the 2023 MLB season and manager Bruce Bochy played a large role in the weekend's success.

Bruce Bochy hadn’t been in a dugout as an MLB manager the last three years.

The time away has hardly been an issue.

Bochy, the highly-successful veteran manager, has guided the Texas Rangers to a thrilling 3-0 start with a season-opening sweep against the World Series runnerup Philadelphia Phillies.

“The whole weekend, we executed so well,” Bochy said. “The guys just did a great job of picking each other up.”

The 67-year-old Bochy has seen virtually everything in a stellar career. But being able to make decisions from the dugout again has been special.

Following a three-year absence, it’s easy to see why Bochy is back.

It’s not a job.

It’s his passion.

“The last three years, just watching Opening Day, I miss it,” Bochy said on Opening Day. “This is one of the most exciting days you can have and being part of this, it does just make you that much more grateful to be a part of it. I missed the game and have the first game go like this, you realize how much you miss it.”

Bochy won three World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, ’12 and ’14, and he stepped away from managing in ’19.

Now he’s back and the Rangers are better off. They’ll benefit from Bochy’s experience, patience and resilience.

The Rangers now feature a solid mix of young players and veterans.

Bochy has proven through the years that he’s able to connect with all players and their various personalities.

The opening weekend has been proof that returning to the dugout is an easy muscle memory.

The Rangers won’t go 162-0, but they’ll be better – probably at least seven-to-10 wins better – with Bochy as their leader.

The weekend series has been early proof.

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