Home Baseball Rangers’ Bruce Bochy remarks that their trade deadline acquisition shows ‘no fear’

Rangers’ Bruce Bochy remarks that their trade deadline acquisition shows ‘no fear’

Baseball — 08/07/2024

Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy has praised the team’s trade deadline acquisition, highlighting that the new addition demonstrates a remarkable level of confidence and fearlessness. According to Bochy, this player’s fearless attitude is evident in their approach to the game, and it has quickly become a valuable asset for the team.

“He’s got no fear. Comes at ya. You think he’s just a slider guy, but he’s not… he uses his fastball well,” Jones posted on X, formerly Twitter. “The biggest thing is that he has no fear and wants to be in that high-level situation.”

Bochy has seen quite a few “no-fear” pitchers with the Giants and Rangers in his Hall of Fame career. Between Brian Wilson and Sergio Romo out of the bullpen and Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Max Scherzer as starters, this is quite the compliment for the four-time World Series Champion.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Andrew Chafin (59) in action during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field.

It was not a great start for Chafin with the Rangers. His first appearance saw him give up two runs in one inning of work against the Boston Red Sox. Since then, he has not given up a hit in 1.2 innings and helped the Rangers snag two important wins. Every game is important for the Rangers and they need their big deadline acquisition to perform to make the playoffs.

The Rangers have an 8% chance of making the playoffs according to Fangraphs. The last defending champion to not make the playoffs was Bochy’s 2011 Giants team. The Rangers’ surprise run to the title in 2023 had many people picking them to enter the conversation of American League contenders. As the Yankees, Orioles, and Guardians have all had great seasons, the Rangers have struggled.

Chafin’s arrival is not the only push the Rangers are getting on the mound. Starting pitcher Tyler Mahle is starting Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros. It will be Mahle’s first start of the season and his first start ever with the Rangers. He signed a two-year contract last offseason while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

They also have a schedule that favors running down some of the teams ahead of them. After they finish with the Astros, the Rangers play the Yankees, Red Sox, and Twins in consecutive series. Each of those teams is ahead of them in the American League Wild Card race.