It’s been over a decade since the Texas Rangers found themselves within reach of the World Series. After defeating the Houston Astros, 11-4, on Monday night, the team will head to win it all for the first time since 2011.
This isn’t foreign territory for manager Bruce Bochy. Not by a long shot.
He has the chance to become a four-time World Series champion in 2023 after already winning three titles with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, ’12 and ’14.
What would a fourth mean to Bochy? Well, it wouldn’t mean much … to him specifically, at least.
“I’ll be honest, it’s not — I don’t think about me,” Bochy, who came out of retirement last offseason to manage the Rangers, told the media Monday after the ALCS win. “I’m riding their backs, trust me. This team, as I said, it’s been an honor to watch them. And so it’s great to be here. It’s unreal that I’m here, to be honest. Sitting at the house for three years, and think here I am going to a World Series. Yeah, that’s special. But it’s more about them and trying to find a way to get a ring for those guys.”
Pop the champagne, @Rangers 🍾
You're headed to the World Series! pic.twitter.com/U1qZK1kcHw
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2023
Bochy is the 10th manager to win a pennant in both the National and American League and would be the third to win a World Series in both leagues, respectively.
He compared the two teams.
“You know the World Series, obviously you have the talent,” Bochy said. “But this team has played with so much heart and determination as any club I’ve had. They all have. But it’s just amazing how they kept getting up. We went through ups and downs with the injuries. We ran into a lot of streaks.”
“And I’ll start with Houston. First of all, congratulations on them. It’s amazing that they’ve been in seven consecutive Championship Series. And they had their way with us pretty much all year. And to come in here and do this shows you how determined they were to find a way.”
The numbers for Bochy’s postseason resume speak for themselves.
He’s the first manager to win a League Championship Series with three different franchises. (San Diego Padres, Giants, Rangers)
The Bruce Bochy Effect. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AU0zQSvUA3
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2023
Monday night was his 13th managerial win in the postseason when facing elimination. According to the Elias Sports Bureau he now has two more than any other manager in history.
