Chisox73
10-27-2006, 10:44 PM
Bochy introduced as Giants' new manager
By Janie McCauley
ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20061027-1325-bbn-giants-bochy.html
SAN FRANCISCO – Bruce Bochy is leaving the San Diego Padres and heading up the California coast to manage their division rival in San Francisco.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/images/061027bochy280.jpg
Associated Press
Bruce Bochy tries on a San Francisco Giants cap after being introduced as the team's new manager during a press conference at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Friday.
Bochy agreed to a three-year contract worth roughly $6 million to replace Felipe Alou and become the Giants' new skipper after working out details late Thursday. Bochy's mission is to turn around a team he said was “off track” in recent seasons.
“Oh, what a great day,” Bochy said when introduced Friday at San Francisco's waterfront ballpark. “I look forward to this challenge. I think this is a situation that is just going to get better. ... I've been managing in this division for 12 years. I know it.”
Normally, Major League Baseball frowns upon such announcements during the World Series, but the Giants were excused because Bochy is set to leave Monday for Japan with an All-Star team.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061027/images/bochy.jpg
SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune
Bruce Bochy waved to fans after the Padres clinched the NL West title last month.
Bochy was the only candidate to replace Alou who has previous major league managerial experience, something general manager Brian Sabean said he preferred. Bochy said he had interest from other teams but the Giants were the only club with a chance to get him away from San Diego.
“Bruce is someone who we have admired from across the field for the last 12 years and I'm excited that he's on our side now,” Sabean said. “His Padres teams have been well prepared and played the game the right way. He's the right man to lead the Giants into the future.”
The Giants received permission from the Padres on Wednesday to talk to Bochy, who traveled to the Bay Area on Thursday to meet with Sabean and other team officials. They negotiated into the night before reaching a deal – and the Padres will not receive any compensation from San Francisco.
The Giants had only a seven-day window in which to come to an agreement with Bochy, who beamed as he held up his new No. 15 Giants jersey, because he was employed by another team. Bochy had one year left on his contract in San Diego but was told he would not receive an extension now, and was allowed to explore other options. He and Sabean already had an informal conversation about the job after the GM spoke extensively to Padres general manager Kevin Towers about the possibility of hiring Bochy away.
“It's nice to get this done with an outstanding manager,” Giants owner Peter Magowan said.
The 51-year-old Bochy, who just finished his 12th season as the Padres' manager, has guided San Diego to back-to-back NL West titles and is the winningest manager in franchise history. He has spent the last 24 years in the organization, dating to his playing days.
It wasn't an easy decision to leave a team he helped build into a contender.
“We won 88 games – or they won 88 games, as I should say now,” Bochy said. “I wasn't planning on listening until the San Francisco Giants called.”
Bochy was due to make $1.9 million in guaranteed money in 2007 from the Padres, so his new deal is a raise.
Giants first baseman Mark Sweeney, who played for Bochy in San Diego for 3½ seasons, attended the news conference and had said Bochy would be a good fit.
“He's a players' manager and he goes out and communicates,” Sweeney said Friday. “People know where he stands. He brings stability and has a track record for winning. He's a really good communicator and he's going to attract some free agents.”
San Francisco, which has 11 potential free agents including Barry Bonds, did not renew the 71-year-old Alou's contract after the Giants finished their second straight losing season and third in a row out of the playoffs. Sabean and Bochy already have begun to discuss personnel – and the Giants believe Bochy will do plenty to attract players to the Bay Area, too.
“Not only will he help with our players, he will help in the market,” Sabean said. “He's got a baseball name.”
The Giants on Monday interviewed New York Mets third base coach Manny Acta. Giants bench coach Ron Wotus and Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Bud Black also interviewed. None has major league managerial experience.
Bochy's Padres made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time, but were eliminated in the first round for the second straight year by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sabean spoke to Wotus and the other candidates late Thursday and noted the conversation with Wotus was a difficult one. Sabean said he was unsure whether Wotus would opt to stay with the Giants, but he will be allowed to pursue other jobs.
By Janie McCauley
ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20061027-1325-bbn-giants-bochy.html
SAN FRANCISCO – Bruce Bochy is leaving the San Diego Padres and heading up the California coast to manage their division rival in San Francisco.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/images/061027bochy280.jpg
Associated Press
Bruce Bochy tries on a San Francisco Giants cap after being introduced as the team's new manager during a press conference at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Friday.
Bochy agreed to a three-year contract worth roughly $6 million to replace Felipe Alou and become the Giants' new skipper after working out details late Thursday. Bochy's mission is to turn around a team he said was “off track” in recent seasons.
“Oh, what a great day,” Bochy said when introduced Friday at San Francisco's waterfront ballpark. “I look forward to this challenge. I think this is a situation that is just going to get better. ... I've been managing in this division for 12 years. I know it.”
Normally, Major League Baseball frowns upon such announcements during the World Series, but the Giants were excused because Bochy is set to leave Monday for Japan with an All-Star team.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20061027/images/bochy.jpg
SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune
Bruce Bochy waved to fans after the Padres clinched the NL West title last month.
Bochy was the only candidate to replace Alou who has previous major league managerial experience, something general manager Brian Sabean said he preferred. Bochy said he had interest from other teams but the Giants were the only club with a chance to get him away from San Diego.
“Bruce is someone who we have admired from across the field for the last 12 years and I'm excited that he's on our side now,” Sabean said. “His Padres teams have been well prepared and played the game the right way. He's the right man to lead the Giants into the future.”
The Giants received permission from the Padres on Wednesday to talk to Bochy, who traveled to the Bay Area on Thursday to meet with Sabean and other team officials. They negotiated into the night before reaching a deal – and the Padres will not receive any compensation from San Francisco.
The Giants had only a seven-day window in which to come to an agreement with Bochy, who beamed as he held up his new No. 15 Giants jersey, because he was employed by another team. Bochy had one year left on his contract in San Diego but was told he would not receive an extension now, and was allowed to explore other options. He and Sabean already had an informal conversation about the job after the GM spoke extensively to Padres general manager Kevin Towers about the possibility of hiring Bochy away.
“It's nice to get this done with an outstanding manager,” Giants owner Peter Magowan said.
The 51-year-old Bochy, who just finished his 12th season as the Padres' manager, has guided San Diego to back-to-back NL West titles and is the winningest manager in franchise history. He has spent the last 24 years in the organization, dating to his playing days.
It wasn't an easy decision to leave a team he helped build into a contender.
“We won 88 games – or they won 88 games, as I should say now,” Bochy said. “I wasn't planning on listening until the San Francisco Giants called.”
Bochy was due to make $1.9 million in guaranteed money in 2007 from the Padres, so his new deal is a raise.
Giants first baseman Mark Sweeney, who played for Bochy in San Diego for 3½ seasons, attended the news conference and had said Bochy would be a good fit.
“He's a players' manager and he goes out and communicates,” Sweeney said Friday. “People know where he stands. He brings stability and has a track record for winning. He's a really good communicator and he's going to attract some free agents.”
San Francisco, which has 11 potential free agents including Barry Bonds, did not renew the 71-year-old Alou's contract after the Giants finished their second straight losing season and third in a row out of the playoffs. Sabean and Bochy already have begun to discuss personnel – and the Giants believe Bochy will do plenty to attract players to the Bay Area, too.
“Not only will he help with our players, he will help in the market,” Sabean said. “He's got a baseball name.”
The Giants on Monday interviewed New York Mets third base coach Manny Acta. Giants bench coach Ron Wotus and Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Bud Black also interviewed. None has major league managerial experience.
Bochy's Padres made the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time, but were eliminated in the first round for the second straight year by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sabean spoke to Wotus and the other candidates late Thursday and noted the conversation with Wotus was a difficult one. Sabean said he was unsure whether Wotus would opt to stay with the Giants, but he will be allowed to pursue other jobs.