Bochy Out

The Mercury News and the ESPN.com are reporting that San Francisco intends to, “…Introduce Bruce Bochy as their new manager at a news conference [Friday]…”

I have mixed opinions about this. On one hand, Bochy had clear weaknesses; he was not a good tactician. On the other hand, he had strengths that outweighed tactical weaknesses; players wanted to play for him - he managed the clubhouse well. I worry that the next manager might be a Buck Showalter-type: a superior tactician who gets under the skin of his players.

The good news is twofold: one, Bochy would have made $1.9m in 2007 where his replacement will likely earn half that, secondly, when Lou Pinella was “let go” by Seattle and allowed to sign with Tampa Bay, Seattle got Randy Winn as payment. What will the Padres get from San Francisco? I can’t imagine Sandy Alderson would allow Bochy to walk from his contract when he had the opportunity for a talent grab.

Bochy was good for the Padres. You can’t help but tip your cap to a manager who led your home-team to two consecutive division championships. At the same time, change is good.