Giants’ Bochy says he’ll retire after managing one last season
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Bruce Bochy always has managed with his gut. Those same instincts told him that is is nearly time to retire.
Bochy on Monday announced that this will be his last season managing the San Francisco Giants, his 25th in all as a big league manager.
He told the team before Monday’s spring training workout at Scottsdale Stadium.
“In my mind, it’s time,” he said.
Bochy, who turns 64 on April 16, had offseason hip replacement surgery that has him moving more swiftly, and he insists “the health’s great” and didn’t factor into the choice.
He begins his 13th season with the Giants. He led the club to World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
“I’ve managed with my gut. I came up here in 2007 on my gut. So it’s a gut feeling it’s time,” said Bochy, a catcher who played 10 seasons, including three with the Astros after being drafted by them in the first round in 1975. “It’s been an unbelievable ride. There’s so much in there to be grateful for, with the players, the city, the fans, my ride here. It’s time. I’ll stay in baseball and do something. … I’m not going too far, trust me. I love this game. It’s been in my blood, so sure I’ll be doing something in another capacity and I look forward to it.”
Bochy came to San Francisco from the San Diego Padres before the 2007 season, in time to watch Barry Bonds break Hank Aaron’s career home-run record that August. He managed Matt Cain’s perfect game in 2012 and a pair of no-hitters by Tim Lincecum against the Padres in July 2013 and June 2014.
Bochy spent his first 12 seasons as a manager with the Padres from 1995-2006, guiding San Diego to the NL pennant in 1998.
Every other manager with three or more titles has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Ricketts apologizes for father’s emails
Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts apologized to the team’s players and coaching staff for any distraction caused by offensive racist emails written by his father.
“The emails that were in there were unacceptable and had no place. My father has no direct role or economic interest in the team. That doesn’t represent what this organization is,” Tom Ricketts said after addressing the team at Mesa, Ariz. “I also said, ‘Look, I’m sorry for the distraction this may have created the last couple days. We need to focus on baseball. We need to get back to our winning ways. We need to get off to a fast start.’ The last thing the organization needs is more off-the-field distractions.“’
Joe Ricketts’ emails were published by Splinter News and included Islamophobic comments, such as “Islam is a cult and not a religion.” Other emails discussed conspiracies about former President Barack Obama’s birthplace and education.
Tom Ricketts said he was surprised by the emails because “our family was never raised that way. I’ve never heard my father say anything that was even remotely racist. It just isn’t our family values.”
Joe Ricketts, who founded TD Ameritrade, apologized. Tom Ricketts said in statement that his father’s emails don’t reflect the values of the Cubs.
“The fact is he acknowledged that they were inappropriate emails and expressed regret. He apologized. Those aren’t the values that my family was raised with,” Tom Ricketts said.
Cabrera shows he still has it on field
Miguel Cabrera hit against a pitcher for the first time since rupturing a tendon in his left biceps June 12.
The 35-year-old slugger hit, fielded, threw and ran the bases during the Detroit Tigers' first full-squad workout at Lakeland, Fla.
“I feel good about being back on the field and playing,” the two-time AL MVP said. I can't be hurt this year. I want to do my job.”
Cabrera strained a hamstring last year and then had the arm injury that required seasonending surgery. He was limited to 38 games.
Cabrera has been running and lifting weights, and looks like the same 6-4, 249-pound athlete who has 465 home runs with a .316 batting average.
“He's bouncing around, doing all kinds of stuff,” manager Ron Gardenhire said.“He's excited to get out there. I think people forget how gifted he really is when he's doing simple drills at first base.”