'In My Mind It's Time' – Giants Manager Bruce Bochy Announces Retirement
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (CBS SF) -- After bringing three World Series titles to the Bay Area, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced Monday that the 2019 season will be his last.
Bochy, who has battled health issues the last few years, made the announcement as the Giants began spring training in Arizona.
"I will be retiring at the end of the season," the veteran skipper said in a Twitter video while sitting in the dugout.
"I did talk with the club today, that (retirement) wasn't the focus but I told them (about retiring). It goes back to last season. I talked with Sabs (Giants executive Brian Sabean) and Larry (Baer, team president) and kinda let them know what my thinking was. So I decided to announce it now."
Bochy turns 64 on April 16. He is entering his 13th season with the Giants, having led the team to World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
"The reason being, there have been so many questions about it -- it's not fair to Larry or myself or the team so I'm going to go ahead and get that out ... In my mind it's time. It's been an unbelievable ride."
The Giants have had a difficult run the last two seasons, posting losing records. On Monday, All-Star catcher Buster Posey told KPIX 5's Dennis O'Donnell that it's up to the current players to get the Giants back to their winning ways.
"We have to look in the mirror and hold ourselves accountable," Posey said.
As a player, Bochy spent much of his Major League career as a catcher -- many credit his mastery of managing a pitching staff and bullpen to his time behind the plate.
In 802 career Major League at-bats, Bochy hit .239 with 26 home runs. After he retired as a player, then-Padres general manager Jack McKeon hired him to manage in their minor league system.
In 1993 he was named the Padres third-base coach and then was elevated to manager for the 1995 season.
In 1998, Bochy led the Padres to a franchise-best 98–64 record and the National League pennant. They were then swept in four games in the 1998 World Series by the New York Yankees.
Bochy agreed to a three-year contract to replace Felipe Alou and became the Giants' new skipper in October 2006 but success eluded the team his first two seasons. In 2009, the Giants rebounded to finish 88–74 and, in 2010, they won their first World Series crown since moving from New York to San Francisco.
Bochy would go on to lead the team to World Series crowns in 2012 and 2014. Entering the 2019 season, Bochy's overall record with the Giants is 975-969 with a 36-17 post-season mark.
Bochy said he intends to stay in baseball in another role that has yet to be determined.
