Bruce Bochy: Update on Giants’ Skipper’s Health
On Thursday, San Francisco Giants‘ pitchers and catchers, along with some position players who reported early, held their first team workout of Spring Training. After the workout, Giants’ fans received some scary news. Manager Bruce Bochy underwent a heart procedure to insert two stents.
The skipper experienced some “heart discomfort” during a routine physical, and had been monitored by the training staff afterwards. He was then sent to a local hospital, where the procedure is done.
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Anytime the words “heart procedure” are thrown around, it makes for some scary thoughts. However, there is some very good news. The procedure was not serious. Bochy did not suffer a heart attack, or anything as serious as that.
From an online medical dictionary, a stent is a “device used to provide support for tubular structures that are being anastomosed, or to induce or maintain theirpatency.” In simpler terms, stents are used as a support device placed in the blood vessels or arteries, which can help relieve blocking. The procedure could have been necessary for Bochy because of a plaque buildup in his arteries.
The good news continued to come in regarding Bochy early Friday morning. MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal tweeted that, via text message, Bochy is feeling great and he will be back on the field “tomorrow or Sunday”
Text from #SFGiants manager Bruce Bochy: “All good. Be back out there tomorrow or Sunday.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 20, 2015
In an article for CSN Bay Area, Giants’ Insider Alex Pavlovic talked to Bochy’s son, Brett Bochy, who is a pitcher in Giants’ camp. The younger Bochy had good news in regards to his father. Brett said his father is ” doing well and feeling great.” The younger Bochy would also go on to say “he’s joking and in good spirits and he’s ready to get back at it. You know him, he’s stubborn.” Giants’ fans are well aware of how stubborn the skipper is, and it’s part of what makes him such a good manager.
Oakland Athletics insider for CSN California, Joe Stiglich talked to A’s manager Bob Melvin, and he had some words regarding his rival from across the Bay.
Melvin says he sent message to Bruce Bochy and wishes him best. "Talk about scary .... Best manager in the big leagues" #Athletics
— Joe Stiglich (@Joe_Stiglich) February 20, 2015
Melvin echoes the thoughts of, not only Giants’ fans, but people who follow baseball in general. Hearing that someone has been admitted to the hospital for a heart procedure is one of the scariest things a person can hear. Mevlin’s praise, calling Bochy the “best manager” in baseball, is also a common thought among Giants’ fans, and some others.
Bochy’s father passed away in his early 50’s from a heart attack, and since then, Bochy has been under regular surveillance to prevent something similar. Bochy will turn 60 on April 16th.
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In the offseason, the Giants’ lost Michael Morse and Pablo Sandoval. While those are big losses for the offense, losing Bocy for an extended period of time would be the biggest loss the team could suffer. Bochy was the mastermind behind the three World Series runs, pushing all the right buttons at exactly the right time. His bullpen management is impeccable, and his ability to play the hot-hand is out of this world, and in October, those abilities are exemplified.
With Bochy out, for possibly one or two days, Giants’ bench coach Ron Wotus will run camp as the acting manager. Wotus is normally the man to take over in games when Bochy is ejected, so he does have some experience, albeit very limited, in managing a team.
The Giants are known for their “torture,” their close games, or ability to make games into close games. That kind of stress can not be good for the heart of the man who runs the show. Hopefully this procedure can take a little pressure away from Bochy’s heart.