Opening Day Excitement 'Never Changes' for Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy

ARLINGTON, Texas — Last year on Opening Day, Bruce Bochy was just a fan. Even though he was working with minor leaguers in the San Francisco Giants system, he watched games just like everyone else.

One year later, Bochy is managing the Texas Rangers on Opening Day. His three-year hiatus from the dugout is over.

He’s not waking up in cold sweats or anything like that. But nervous anxiety for what’s to come?

Sure. How could one not be, even someone like Bochy, who is the definition of a baseball lifer.

“You know that never changes,” Bochy said before Thursday’s Opening Day game against the Philadelphia Phillies. “This is my 26th year (managing), but you take three years off and that raises the excitement. As a fan, I’d love to watch Opening Day. That made me miss being in the dugout even more.”

That’s what Bochy did the last three seasons — watch. The winner of more than 2,000 Major League games and three World Series as a manager enjoyed the game as a fan. That’s in the blood. It’ll never change.

But his meetings with Rangers general manager Chris Young in October changed the trajectory of his post-Giants life. Bochy never used the word “retire” when he stepped aside in San Francisco. But he wasn’t exactly seeking a job, either.

It would take the right one to get him to leave his Nashville home and get back in the game. He has said this entire offseason that between Young’s vision for the team, the talent and the location — family in Texas and he spent part of his playing career with the Houston Astros — was enough to get him to take one last shot.

The last seven weeks of Spring Training have been a ramp-up to Opening Day. Now there are nerves. Now there is excitement.

“To be back, I’m even more grateful and I appreciate it,” Bochy said. “You’re anxious and you’re a little nervous. You don’t sleep that much the night before, thinking of the things you need to get done or talk about. It’s a big day and you worked seven weeks to get to this point.”

Bochy’s first Opening Day as Rangers manager included a card from Young. The GM gave a card to each member of the coaching staff and the players expressing his appreciation for their hard work and wishing them luck on the season.

Bochy said Opening Day is a little different, but he tends to start each game day with a little cardio to get him moving. He and his coaches met early in the morning. He spent time with the media and then headed to the field to watch his team take batting practice and infield.

But he said his real game-day routine actually starts about a half-hour before the game. Bochy has work to do — in his head.

“I like to take about 15 to 20 minutes, usually within a half-hour before the game, where I go through the game and every scenario to make sure I’m covering all my bases and have these guys ready,” Bochy said. “I make sure to touch bases with all my coaches, just to make sure we haven’t left something out.”

This will be Bochy’s third Opening Day with a new team as a manager. Back in 1995 with the San Diego Padres, he had to wait until late April when the lockout ended before opening against Houston. The Padres lost 10-2.

Then in 2007, he started his career with the Giants hosting the Padres in a 7-0 loss.

Perhaps the Rangers will give him something he hasn’t had yet in his illustrious managerial career — a win in his managerial debut.

“It’s a fun day,” Bochy said. “It’s just that day where there is so much hope and optimism. We’re all in first place. It’s a great day.”

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