The Padres’ decision to fire manager Andy Green yesterday unleashed a firestorm of speculation about the franchise’s all-time winningest skipper. Bruce Bochy’s magnificent tenure at the helm of the Giants will come to a close next Sunday. What’s in the cards after that?
Bochy, 64, has no interest in discussing his long-term future, pointing to the need to focus on San Francisco’s final seven games. Giants’ players, though, were more willing to take the long view, with a handful of notable names sitting down with the Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly to discuss their clubhouse leader.
None was more forceful than Jeff Samardzija, who tells Baggarly he’d “be surprised” if Bochy doesn’t take a managerial job elsewhere. There’s no indication Samardzija has spoken with Bochy about the situation, it should be noted; rather, his prediction of Bochy managing elsewhere is rooted in the daily intensity Bochy still brings to his current position.
Samardzija wasn’t alone in praising Bochy’s energy level, with myriad other veterans, including Madison Bumgarner and Brandon Crawford, joining in to applaud Bochy’s fiery in-game nature and continued willingness to play bullpen matchups, even with the 74-81 Giants long out of playoff contention. Despite his age, Baggarly notes that Bochy has become receptive to analytics in recent seasons, a prerequisite for assuming a position of power in the modern game. That said, his players pointed to Bochy’s track record of being adaptable in-game and willingness to deviate from script when he feels the situation demands it.
In addition to the Padres, Baggarly speculates (and, to be clear, it is entirely speculative at these early stages) the Phillies and Cubs could make sense for Bochy should they decide to follow San Diego’s lead and part ways with their current managers. Unlike Samardzija, Baggarly isn’t convinced Bochy will return to the dugout, noting that he may prefer to spend more time with his family following an illustrious career. Nevertheless, it’s notable to hear from those closest to the situation that Bochy’s fire for the game continues to burn as bright as ever.
If Bochy were to pursue managerial jobs elsewhere, it would surely reignite speculation that Farhan Zaidi’s new front office nudged Bochy out the door last winter. That, Baggarly says, would be unfounded, as there’s no indication Zaidi and company forced the respected manager’s hand. Rather, Bochy took it upon himself to step away out of respect for the new administration, not wanting to risk overstaying his welcome and forcing the front office into an awkward and uncomfortable situation if they were to decide at some point they would prefer to install a new voice in the dugout.
In these early stages, with Bochy himself playing things close to the vest, we’re left with more questions and speculation than definitive answers. With 2,000 wins, four pennants and three World Series titles under his belt, Bochy is a surefire future Hall of Famer, one of the most accomplished skippers in recent memory. Whether he continues that career in 2020 and beyond will be one of the more fascinating non-roster stories of the upcoming winter.
Tigernut2000
Come to Detroit. Good chance to show you can do it anywhere.
batty
No one could take the Tigers to contention, as manager, in the next 5 years.
Balk
He’s already shown he can do it anywhere. San Diego and San Francisco.
robbiecraig
Show Me Your Tatis…
None was more forceful than Jeff Samardzija, who tells Baggarly he’d “be surprised” if Bochy doesn’t take a managerial job elsewhere.
You need to talk to Samardzija and let him know he’s retiring!!!
User 3218710645
Haha you beat me to it! What a clown.
Banesays
This ^. Both of you beat me to it!
SFGiants74
Bochy said he wants to manage the French team in the WBC. There you go…What does Samardzija know about Bochy’s plans?
Show Me Your Tatis
The article explicitly says that what Samardzija said is nothing more than speculation, you fetus.
Banesays
Oh kinda like all your comments? Point proven.
Show Me Your Tatis
Thanks Brad
Banesays
Welcome, stalker.
BasesLoaded
Kinda wish Bochy does manage next year just so he sticks it to the Giants Fans who have attachment problems. Giants Fans who act like Santa Claus is real and the Giants are classy and everyone else is not are too much. A lot of Giants Fans act like Once a Giant, always a Giant is something the players themselves believe. All that is cute when it’s kids, but these are 40-50-60-70 year old’s. At that age it’s not cute anymore, but creepy.
Look at Pence. Since leaving the Giants he has done his best to distance himself from the Giants and even threw them under the bus. All these people with attachment issues with players will never change, but these type of things like Forever Giants going elsewhere will eat them up and I find that comical.
steelerbravenation
I thought I was the only one that saw that quality in Giant fans. They act like the Giants are the all be all of baseball and once somebody goes there they would never leave.
They are in for a rude awakening this offseason Zaidi is not playing that. Let somebody offer them something of value for Buster he will throw him out that door so fast his head will spin and hand the reigns over to Bart.
He kept the band together at the deadline to appease the delusional fan base and to shut them up. Now is going to be the time he puts his mark on the franchise.
And Giant fans are gonna whine & cry when Sabean heads down to Miami to help out his boy Jeter get Denbo under control.
gmenfan
The overwhelming majority of Giants fans have wanted Sabean out of the organization for several years. But you’re right otherwise, if Zaidi can get acceptable value for any if the Giants core from the WS days, he’s going to pull the trigger. I’m sure he dreams of a Crawford/Belt/Posey-less lineup. For the betterment if the team, it’s the right move.
BasesLoaded
Did you read Posey’s interview the other day? He’s no longer saying he doesn’t want to be traded. He just doesn’t want to be traded in the middle of the season. Big difference. Apparently a lot of Giants want out of there now.
SFGiants74
Can you be a bit more specific about this Buster Posey interview where he demands a trade?
washington_bonercats
Anyone with anything left in the tank wants out. SF is in for a grueling rebuild. Don’t expect the Giants to make noise for a solid 5-10 years
AndyWarpath
The Giants are 7 games below .500 and have had a winning record since the beginning of June. That’s not exactly “grueling rebuild” territory.
sleepyfloyd
He did not say “demands” a trade
SFGiants74
Somebody is bitter. What’s your problem?
Xavier Blaine
Yes that’s why Giants fans were crying when Lincecum went to the Angels or when Romo went to the Dodgers, give me a break.
Balk
You and the commenter above have to be the biggest haters I’ve seen on here in awhile! Lol. the only person on here that is comical are you two. You couldn’t be more wrong. Especially you as a Braves fan! I’ve been a fan of the Giants since 85 kid, and my family have been fans since Mays and we can care less about who comes or goes, but the facts are the Giants are one of the richest franchises in baseball and with only 120 mill on the books after the year thanks to you for taking Malancon haha! Thanks for helping us regroup instead of rebuild, more appreciation to the Brewers though for giving us a solid second baseman for two junkies! Lol.
gmenfan
Damn, who pooped in your cereal ?
skip 2
Baseloaded well said right on the dot!
SFGiants74
Where did Pence throw the whole team under the bus? What are you really upset about?
Xavier Blaine
You must really have a lot of free time on your hands to rant about a team’s fan base and make up stories about players throwing their team under the bus on mlbtraderumors.com…
rightyspecialist
I’m a Yankee fan from New Jersey that relocated to SF for work reasons. I was completely taken aback by how irrational, isolated and out of touch Giants fans are. Ridiculously emotionally over attached to terrible players like Brandon Crawford. They also sort of live in the past. Frequently speaking of the Giants as 3 in 5 World Series Champions. I remember when they did that. It was amazing. But that run started a decade ago and is long gone. Also, the media is awful. The Giants writers are total homers. I’m use to New York. Where the reporters ask tough questions and hold ownership and management accountable. The beat writers write these soft love fest pieces. They are like fans. It’s bizarre. I’ve never seen anything like it. I tried to have a baseball conversation with a Giants fan in my office last week and he was trying to convince me that this team was ‘only a few pieces away and could be a playoff team next year’ it was laughable. When I tried to reason with him and suggested that this looks like a 4-5 thing he became obnoxious and was clearly offended. Weird baseball folks here in the city by the bay
TeeBallChampion
I once talked to a SF fan who was in denial about Barry Bonds doing steroids. They insisted that since he never failed a drug test, he cannot be kept out of the hall. What can you do expect laugh at these people?
BasesLoaded
The Bonds thing is a whole different issue. Regardless of drugs Bonds is a HOF player and one of the best ever. If you don’t like Bonds because he was a jerk or bad person that’s a whole different argument. Bonds was accused of beating his wife, cheating on his wife, being a bad teammate and many other things. His character and performance are two different subjects.
BasesLoaded
Just look at the comments, lol. The SF Giants Brand is so bad. The reporters are horrible. Hank Schulman goes off like a Drunk when fans don’t agree with him. Kerry Crowley is like a young Schulman. Then you have the Network people. The Triples Alley people. Is that a joke? Love Amy G, she is perhaps the only one I could tolerate, but I’m not saying she is great. Kuiper and Krukow could be good and entertaining, but their shtick caters to a select group. Who likes Dad Jokes and 1960’s jokes?
I been a Giants Fan since the 80’s, pretty much my entire life. Talking to other Giants fans can be like going to the dentist. I could say one thing and it will be taken way out of context and the original argument will be lost in the middle of all the spinning. Giants Fans are like really bad politicians. They argue dumb arguments. They start fights where there shouldn’t be one and are as stubborn as they come. It could be September 22, 2019 right now, but in the minds and heart of many Giants Fans it will always be 1960 something, 1980 something and 2010-2014. For a city as liberal as SF the Giants and Fans are super conservative. People outside SF would never know this. Even the Braves and the Fans are open to change in the heart of the south. Try telling a Giants Fan that their favorite Hot Dog vendor is going to be fired. Good Luck
sleepyfloyd
While I agree with you, I’m from SF and live in nyc. Yankee fans act like 2009 just happened.
BasesLoaded
My folks are from NY and I grew up in CA. I was living in Queen during September 11, 2001. I could speak about both cultures and cities. The Yankees have a right to act like that. They are a good team. The Giants are not. It’s not all about the titles. If the Yankees were a .500 team then your argument would hold value. They have like a million titles. The Giants don’t. They have earned that right to act like their team is good because they’re. Look up how many losing seasons the Yankees have had since 1996 and look up how many losing seasons the Giants have had in that time frame.
Both the Yankees and Giants Fans are passionate. I’m not debating that. There’s a lot of differences between the two, but one that sticks out is they’re not afraid to grill their players like said above. Giants Fans as whole are not like that. if Someone like me was to say something that wasn’t favorable about someone like Buster Posey or even some AAAA player who isn’t very good like Austin Slater I would be labeled everything from Not Classy to Not a real Fan. In NY you would never get grilled for speaking your mind. Good Luck telling a Giants Fan that their favorite player isn’t very good.
keysox
2 years @ 20m
Money talks
highplainsdriftr
I just don’t see it. He has had some health issues in recent years. I think Boch is ready to go fishing. At the very least I don’t see him going straight into a new position, maybe after a year or two of R&R
steelerbravenation
With that farm and the young stars already on the roster he would be invigorated. And don’t get it twisted even with the 3 rings Boch still is a Padre
SFGiants74
Why would Bochy go back to San Diego? They pushed him out as being to old.
jints1
Before Zaidi came to SF, there was speculation about his retirement given health issues. I assumed that was the driving force in his retirement announcement although seeing Sabean and Evans being pushed aside probably added to the decision.
Dom2
Padres should hire Joe Girardi
MrNewYork24
I’m pretty sure Girardi is going to the Cubs. To many connections. I’m almost positive he has been holding out for that job…
rayrayner
He’s in for a big letdown then.
sportsguy1
Bochy is s over rated.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Yeah, future HOFers so often are… (sarcasm intended)
rightyspecialist
Bochy has a career losing record as a manager. The HOF has admitted only three managers with losing records. And this happened decades ago.
rayrayner
Doesn’t matter. WS championships, pennants, longevity matter more.
sleepyfloyd
Luckily the HOF is intelligent to see the overall quality of his team’s. Good thing you don’t vote
Sid Bream
Four pennants and three World Series titles. Yep, those achievements are definitely “over rated”.
bravesfan
So I’m curious why baseball hasn’t attempted a new school super young manager. Youngest is like 37… but most seem to be significantly older. Love to see a 30 year old something come in and shake things up with something creative, and I think the padres are a good team to start with that.
Strike Four
Exactly right. Across the board, it should be illegal to get paid for work past 60, period.
rayrayner
Should be illegal only if I’m paid to meet my expenses
Mendoza Line 215
Strike Out- it should be illegal to pay stupid trolls for anything at any age
needinganonopads
The Padres tried his with Green, he was much younger than most. He was horrible, hence why he no longer has a job. He relies too much on analytics and didn’t play players when they were hot or play them consistently enough to get results.
bravesfan
Yea…. younger than most but not that young..
Show Me Your Tatis
In Andy’s first year as manager he actually had a player on his roster who was older than him. Fernando Rodney. By 4 months.
Strike Four
Bochy is 64, let these old cats retire already, give the job to a younger person who needs it.
Why don’t old rich people retire anymore? Stop hoarding money and enjoy your twilight years if you can afford to.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Oh, I dunno… something about “proven track record” in a pasttime that is still a business and relies on winning to make money… Something like that.
Show Me Your Tatis
Teams don’t care about that in a manager anymore.
nentwigs
Bochy should have done the organization and fan base a favor and retired early..
A member of the coaching staff could have overseen this disaster down the stretch.
The team totally tanked on Bochy after a strong run to approach respectability.
The team is now just .going through the motions..
They are being embarrassed almost every game.
Time to move on.
He had his day in the sun.
As Giants Manager,Bochy never could figure out a way to consistently beat San Diego.
“If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
TeeBallChampion
Every time we have a new article on this, the hot takes in the comments sections get worse and worse…
Show Me Your Tatis
Agree
chicoescuela
Dude is gonna do what he wants to do. Probably fish and drink wine, but who knows? If he takes a year off and dislikes retirement, he’ll have no prob finding a new job.