I am writing this today as the Texas Rangers advanced to the ALCS for the first time since 2011. If you would have asked any Rangers fan during September if they would have made it this far in the postseason most folks no matter how big of a Rangers fan they were would have said No. So what changed and what happened to the Texas Rangers in the postseason that would allow them to get this far? It's something I would like to call: The Bruce Bochy Effect.
So let me rewind this season back to December of last year. What happened then? Well, the Texas Rangers signed Jacob DeGrom to a multiyear deal that would blow the roof off of Globe Life Field. All of this doesn't happen if Chris Young the newly implemented GM doesn't fly to Nashville to lure Bruce Bochy out of retirement. How did Chris Young lure Bochy out of retirement? He spent over 7 hours at Bochy's Nashville home selling him on the idea that ownership was ready to spend and take this team to the next level. Many hours later the Texas Rangers had their man in Bruce Bochy. So then they went to work signing pitcher after pitcher and getting this team back on the right track. Many pitchers later and we fast forward to the start of the season and DeGrom is off to a rip roaring start, however, he spends multiple times on the IL and then comes back time and time again until finally it happens: X-rays show what Rangers fans feared: DeGrom needs Tommy John and is out till mid 2024 at the earliest. Now what? Nathan Eovaldi is another name the Rangers signed in the offseason and he tells the team: Get behind me! I'll put this team on my back and boy did he do that! Making the All-Star game and having a first half record that was literally in the makings of a Cy Young award. Fast forward and after the All-Star break Eovaldi starts running into trouble and shortly after his All Star game he is placed on the IL. The Rangers choose to not send him on a rehab assignment and he comes back September 5th and from that time until the end of the regular season his ERA(earned run average for you non baseball fans) was a high 9.30ERA. That won't cut it! But wait, sit tight, and wait! I'll get back to that shortly.
So the Texas Rangers had a rocky bullpen after the month of April when to be quite frank with you looked like that could be a strong suit for this team. The wheels continued to fall off and Chris Young knew he had to do something at the trade deadline to get the team back on track in the bullpen. So what does he do? He goes out and trades for Aroldis Chapman who for the first few appearances as a Texas Ranger he was lights out. Then the wheels came off! The bullpen continued to sputter and ultimately the last week of the season was the cost of the AL West division crown. Yes! We know we lost the AL West Division crown we don't need to be reminded right? I get it, however, I am certain the Bruce Bochy effect comes into play later on. Just wait for it! Patience grasshoppers! I promise I am getting there.
Alright I think you have been patient enough! So what is the Bruce Bochy Effect? The Bruce Bochy effect to me is the "resiliency" of this team! He's the calm manager that as multiple players have stated: "let's us do our thing and doesn't micromanage us!" Do you remember most of the season the Texas Rangers were in first place in the AL West division? They lost it once and right back into first they went right around the first part of September. They got it back and then the last game of the season they lost it! So by losing it they had to fly from Seattle to St. Petersburg Florida to play the Wild card round of the playoffs. This ultimately "ticked" to put it lightly the team off! They had a chip on their shoulders and weren't going to hear another word about the end of season collapse. So what did they do? They went into the Tampa Bay Rays home and finished them in the two game sweep! Then they knew their work was cut out for them as they were having to go into a home of another club that had finally turned things around after multiple years of "less than stellar play" the Orioles who won over 100 games and won the AL East over the Rays. Just like that they go up on the Orioles two games to none and then it is finally back home for the first time in over two weeks. What do they do? They shut the door and show the world what it is to be "resilient" will get you. The whole idea of "being resilient" would've never came up had it not been for the second half of the season and more importantly the last week of the season. This to me is The Bruce Bochy Effect!
Ultimately, there would have NEVER been the Bruce Bochy effect if the front office lead by Chris Young and company had never flown to Nashville to lure Bruce Bochy out of retirement. It would have not happened if ownership was not committed to putting a winning ballclub on the field ultimately handing out some pretty questionable contracts. Money talks and while you can't buy championships you sure the hay can put butts in the seats with a winning product. So hats off to the ownership group!
Lastly, you remember a few paragraphs above I was discussing the Eovaldi collapse of September? Well fast forward to the postseason were he is 2-0 only giving up 2 runs in two starts and pitching to the line of: 15k/1bb and 13 and two thirds of an inning. He is truly Nasty Nate! Do we get him if we don't lure Bochy out of retirement? My guess is absolutely NOT! Another Bruce Bochy effect! Bullpen while it is finally showing signs of somewhat sputtering it has been pretty consistent in these playoffs. Bruce Bochy Effect!
In conclusion, as you can see from the multiple ups and downs that I just discussed that the Bruce Bochy Effect is alive and well. Without Bruce Bochy there is no effect, there is no playoffs, and a collapse would've been a normal Texas Rangers collapse. Instead, the Bruce Bochy effect has shown us one thing: Resiliency pays off! So what is the Bruce Bochy effect? It's the constant resiliency of this ballclub! So what is your idea or thoughts on the Bruce Bochy Effect?