3 best things Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said at the MLB Winter Meetings

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Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy got to hold court on Tuesday at the MLB Winter Meetings. That was the day that he was slotted to have his press conference for all of the media outlets that were in attendance in Nashville. As usual, Bochy was his typical reflective self, giving credit for the Rangers success to those around him. Specifically, his players, coaching staff, and the front office received much praise from the humble Bochy.

The MLB Winter Meetings were a home game of sorts for Bochy as he lives just south of Nashville. He and his wife Kim relocated there after he retired from the San Francisco Giants. Instead of having to stay at the massive Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Bochy was able to sleep in his own bed each night and just come in for scheduled meetings and other obligations.

How should the Texas Rangers handle the DH position?

One of the interesting topics that Bochy discussed, was the DH situation in Texas and what that might look like this season. He indicated that if a player is on the roster that fits the prototypical DH of all hitter and no fielder makeup, that that is fine. Bochy used the example of David Ortiz. If you have him on your roster, you simply plug him into the lineup each and every day.

But Bochy also talked about the idea of having a rotating DH and using the position to give his players a break from playing the field from time to time. With Mitch Garver, who is now a free agent, being hurt for much of the first part of the season, that is the way that the position was handled for a large part of last season. It makes it much easier to be able to rotate the DH role when all of the other position players are firmly in place heading into next season.

Next: Mr. Carter

Humans like new shiny things, and Evan Carter is just that for the Texas Rangers. Despite having the runner-up and third place players in the American League MVP race this season in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien respectively, Bochy got zero questions about them. However, he did field numerous questions about Carter. There were questions all the way from how important this offseason is going to be for Carter to where Bochy sees him hitting in the lineup next season.

Where should Evan Carter hit in the Texas Rangers lineup?

I found it funny to be talking about lineup construction in December, but I get it. That is always a topic of conversation and when the roster is pretty much intact, that is going to be something to talk about even more so. When asked about where he saw Carter hitting Bochy responded with the quote below.

I don't know where you couldn't hit him. We hit him ninth, and that was nice how he turned over the lineup and got to the top of our order.

A guy like that with his discipline and his ability to get the barrel on the ball and hit the way he does, he fits anywhere in your lineup. He can adjust to the pitcher that you are facing that day.
Bruce Bochy

Bochy was asked about hitting him in the leadoff spot, but and he said that currently that wasn't an option even though he could probably handle it. It is a nice problem to have, to try and figure out the best batting order for all of your quality hitters. That is was the Rangers and Bochy is going to be doing this next season. Bochy has shown that he is ok moving people around as they become hot or cold and there is little doubt that he will put the team in the best possible situation to succeed. Part of that includes Evan Carter and how he handles him in his rookie season.

Next: Pitching wear and tear

Will the extra work in the playoffs have an impact on Texas Rangers pitchers moving forward?

A very real thing that Bochy was asked a few questions about in Nashville, was how the Rangers would monitor, and handle, the pitching staff coming off of a World Series championship that saw the team play an extra month of highly competitive baseball. When asked specifically if the extra workload of the playoffs has an impact on pitchers, Bochy had an interesting response.

I don't think as much as people think. I don't. Today's game is a little bit different. My previous experience, those guys were logging over 200 innings. We didn't have anybody really come close to that but Dane, so a little bit different.
Bruce Bochy

There was a follow-up question about if he thought that all of the extra postseason innings in San Francisco was part of the reason that Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner, and Matt Cain had shortened careers. Bochy's answer was fantastic, as he indicated that all three of those guys had wonderful careers. He also talked about how it is hard to know and impossible to measure if there was anything to that or not.

Bochy also talked about the important balance of taking care of the pitchers when they come back for spring training, but also having them ready to go when the season starts. His best way to help the pitchers, he said, is to manage their workload throughout the season. To know when to leave someone in longer during the regular season and to understand when to get them out and give them a break. There is a certain feathering of the gas pedal, so to speak, that goes into handling a pitching staff and Bochy is one of the greatest to ever do it.

In just two and a half months the Texas Rangers will be reporting to spring training. When they do, manager Bruce Bochy will have a plan to maximize the abilities of each player into getting the greatest output for the team. Bochy knows baseball and he knows people. He has consistently said that he is blessed to have this opportunity, and I appreciate his humbleness. It is also apparent that as Rangers fans, we are blessed to have a living legend manage our team.

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