Three Thoughts on Rangers at Astros, Gm 2

Huge first inning lead spurs on a nervous finish, but yet another road win.

Knocking out Rangers’ Three Thoughts from the Los Angeles Chargers press-box because we need to get it done.

The Texas Rangers keep winning in their remarkable run through the American League Championship Series.

Monday afternoon was another victory on the road in Houston, this time by a score of 5-4. Amazingly, they have figured out how to win seven consecutive playoff games and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series as it heads home to Arlington for what should be a stirring Game 3 start from Max Scherzer.

These are my three thoughts:

1. Everything Bruce Bochy is trying seems to be working right now and that must be a wonderful place for a manager to be.

You cannot tell the story of the 2023 Texas Rangers without a discussion about the relative importance of hiring a championship manager who knows his way through October. Bochy has been a part of three parades since 2010 and when you have that resume, people might try to talk you out of retirement and get you to come raise the levels of a franchise that cannot find its way. Chris Young did just that.

The story goes that he thought Bochy would be just the guy to help the Rangers find their way. And, boy, was he right.

So, when you second-guess the guy, you know you are going against the man who has won it all so many times and therefore, we begin to treat him infallible. And, it makes sense, of course, even if it is ridiculous. There is nothing magical about winning that would suddenly enlighten one to where they are incapable of a mistake for the rest of their life.

Yet, they did win it all three times, so his decisions seem to have a pretty decent chance of working, right?