Veteran manager comes over to SF after 12 years in San Diego
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/...ent_id=1725256&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
SAN FRANCISCO -- Bruce Bochy, who led the San Diego Padres to National League West titles in 2005 and 2006, will be officially named the new Giants skipper on Friday at a noon PT press conference at AT&T Park.
Bochy becomes San Francisco's 15th manager since 1958 and only the third since 1993.
The 51-year-old Bochy led the Padres to the World Series in 1998 and shocked division foes two years ago when his supposedly weak team toppled all contenders for the West crown; San Diego duplicated the feat last season.
Bochy, who will receive a three-year contract worth more than $6 million, inherits a squad in the midst of a sea change following two consecutive third-place finishes. General manager Brian Sabean admitted his oldie-but-goodie plan didn't work out, featuring three 40-year-old outfielders.
It's a new era now, with an influx of younger pitchers and position players expected in 2007, and Bochy is a proven leader.
Some critics claim his managerial style is more suited for veterans, however, the Giants think otherwise.
"Bruce is someone who we have admired from across the field for the last 12 years, and I'm excited that he's on our side now," said Sabean. "His Padres teams have been well prepared and played the game the right way. He's the right man to lead the Giants into the future."
The talkative, popular Bochy was the lone Giants candidate interviewed with Major League-managing experience, which gave him the edge over Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, Angels pitching coach Bud Black and Mets third-base coach Manny Acta.
Lou Piniella, who Sabean also thought highly of, opted to take the Chicago Cubs job.
Bochy managed the Padres for 12 years and earned Baseball Writers Association of America's NL Manager of the Year award in 1996 and was similarly honored by The Sporting News in 1996 and 1998. Not only was Bochy San Diego's winningest manager in its history, he played for the Padres in 1984 and was their third-base coach in 1993.
He is seventh among active big-league managers in wins, and 57th on the all-time list. His four playoff appearances are tied for seventh among current Major League skippers, trailing only Bobby Cox (15), Tony La Russa (12), Joe Torre (11), Mike Hargrove (five), Jim Leyland (five) and Piniella (five).
Bochy still had one season left on his $1.9 million contract, but Padres CEO Sandy Alderson and GM Kevin Towers allowed Bochy to speak with the Giants.
Teams usually aren't allowed to announce managerial changes until after the World Series, but the Giants were permitted to make the move because Bochy, who agreed to be a late replacement for Boston's Terry Francona as manager of a Major League team that will tour Japan in November, departs to Japan with his squad on Monday.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/...ent_id=1725256&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf
SAN FRANCISCO -- Bruce Bochy, who led the San Diego Padres to National League West titles in 2005 and 2006, will be officially named the new Giants skipper on Friday at a noon PT press conference at AT&T Park.
Bochy becomes San Francisco's 15th manager since 1958 and only the third since 1993.
The 51-year-old Bochy led the Padres to the World Series in 1998 and shocked division foes two years ago when his supposedly weak team toppled all contenders for the West crown; San Diego duplicated the feat last season.
Bochy, who will receive a three-year contract worth more than $6 million, inherits a squad in the midst of a sea change following two consecutive third-place finishes. General manager Brian Sabean admitted his oldie-but-goodie plan didn't work out, featuring three 40-year-old outfielders.
It's a new era now, with an influx of younger pitchers and position players expected in 2007, and Bochy is a proven leader.
Some critics claim his managerial style is more suited for veterans, however, the Giants think otherwise.
"Bruce is someone who we have admired from across the field for the last 12 years, and I'm excited that he's on our side now," said Sabean. "His Padres teams have been well prepared and played the game the right way. He's the right man to lead the Giants into the future."
The talkative, popular Bochy was the lone Giants candidate interviewed with Major League-managing experience, which gave him the edge over Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, Angels pitching coach Bud Black and Mets third-base coach Manny Acta.
Lou Piniella, who Sabean also thought highly of, opted to take the Chicago Cubs job.
Bochy managed the Padres for 12 years and earned Baseball Writers Association of America's NL Manager of the Year award in 1996 and was similarly honored by The Sporting News in 1996 and 1998. Not only was Bochy San Diego's winningest manager in its history, he played for the Padres in 1984 and was their third-base coach in 1993.
He is seventh among active big-league managers in wins, and 57th on the all-time list. His four playoff appearances are tied for seventh among current Major League skippers, trailing only Bobby Cox (15), Tony La Russa (12), Joe Torre (11), Mike Hargrove (five), Jim Leyland (five) and Piniella (five).
Bochy still had one season left on his $1.9 million contract, but Padres CEO Sandy Alderson and GM Kevin Towers allowed Bochy to speak with the Giants.
Teams usually aren't allowed to announce managerial changes until after the World Series, but the Giants were permitted to make the move because Bochy, who agreed to be a late replacement for Boston's Terry Francona as manager of a Major League team that will tour Japan in November, departs to Japan with his squad on Monday.
