Motivating World Series Champions? Texas Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy Inspired By Chiefs
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers showed manager Bruce Bochy what they were made of when adversity hit in 2023.
They overcame major injuries, a massive August losing streak, and exasperating bullpen issues to claim their first ever World Series championship.
They've been tested.
That's why Bochy doesn't feel the need for a pep talk about complacency when position players report to spring training on Monday morning.
Pitchers and catchers arrived early Wednesday — many arrived days before — and held their first team workout of the spring.
"You’re always thinking of things you can tell them," Bochy said. "They’ve been through it."
It's a scenario Bochy has been in before. He won three World Series with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014, but failed to make the playoffs each following season.
Bochy might be looking towards the Kansas City Chiefs as inspiration. The Chiefs just won back-to-back Super Bowls, the first team to do it since the New England Patriots in 2005.
"You always like to be in this situation, believe me. It’s tough to win a World Series, just like winning a Super Bowl. And it’s even tougher to do it back-to-back, you get that," he said. "But we just saw it happen, so hey, we’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing. That’s probably the most important thing I can tell the staff right now. They did such a great job setting the tone last spring, and that’s what we want to do again."
Bochy, who turns 69 in April, is in his second season with the Rangers. He expects the familiarity to help his staff and players this spring.
"The unknown factor is out. They know me, I know them, Just like the players. We have a better idea of what we’re all about, so sure that probably makes things a little bit easier on both sides," he said. "They’re more comfortable, just like I’m going to be a little more comfortable with everybody."
As for a repeat title? Why not?
"I’ve got an even deeper appreciation for what these guys did," Bochy said. "Just an incredible year with a lot of ups and downs. We took some pretty big hits on the injury side with some tough losses. How the guys focused forward the whole time, what they did at the end, throughout the postseason, is just amazing. They were just relentless in finding a way to get it done. They didn’t care how it got done, just that it got done. That’s what I really appreciated from them."
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