Bochy deserves to go out on own terms

The Giants didn’t win a World Series in San Francisco in any season Willie Mays led the team in home runs. Or Willie McCovey. Or Kevin Mitchell. Or Jack or Will Clark. Or Bobby or Barry Bonds.

They didn’t win a World Series until their home run leader was Aubrey Huff.

Now that’s some good managing.

The Giants weren’t supposed to win it all in 2010 or 2012 or 2014, but they did, and Bruce Bochy is immortalized around these parts because of it. He won three World Series with three different aces, three different closers and three different lineups and never had the best team, even in his own league.

That would have been the Phillies in 2010, Nationals in 2012 and you pick ’em in 2014 when Bochy put Madison Bumgarner in position to rule the world, which was typical. Especially in the postseason, when Bochy did his best work, his players peaked for him because he put them in the prime position to prevail.

Bochy is calling it quits after the season, and fans shouldn’t be surprised or bitter. A new regime is aboard, and Bochy is cool stepping aside for a “next gen” manager, perhaps someone who hasn’t managed in the majors but someone who must be open to the front office drawing up lineups and predetermining pitching changes.

Bochy’s strength has been his in-game management, making calls that set him apart in signature moments. For example: pulling Jonathan Sanchez two batters into the third inning of the deciding 2010 NLCS Game 6; letting Barry Zito start Game 5 of the 2012 NLCS; and summoning Bumgarner in the fifth inning of the 2014 World Series finale.

All those moves led to championships, and none was by the book or computer. The way Bochy orchestrated his pitching staff, including using starters in relief (Tim Lincecum in 2012, anyone?), it was bullpenning before bullpenning became a thing.

At the end of the season, Bochy will walk away on his terms, deservedly so, and go out on top, no matter where the Giants finish. His contributions to the franchise and San Francisco trump any possible misgivings in 2019.

Until then, savor the final act.