It was the quiet before the storm. Bruce Bochy stepped up to the mic after a flat Texas Rangers loss against the Twins. He took a deep breath and got ready to deliver a statement that sounded more like self-criticism than a recap. He very bluntly said, “That was one of our worst games. We were bad tonight. No getting around it.” It was as close as the future Hall of Famer has come to calling out his team’s heartbeat or lack of energy.
For a manager with three World Series rings and now 2,195 career wins, good for sixth on MLB’s all-time list, Bochy’s words carry weight. Texas, a team with postseason expectations, has been bleeding games lately. They’ve stranded runners at an alarming rate, including going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in that loss, and their once-potent offense has slumped to the middle of the league in OPS after ranking top-five last season.
That’s when a Red Sox veteran, Jeff Frye, jumped into the conversation and publicly defended Bochy. “I love Bruce Bochy, and I would have loved to play for him! This is not his fault!” he wrote. Then he went further, pointing directly at the clubhouse. “It’s very well known that the Rangers have terrible team chemistry and that will destroy a team. When your STARS are introverts and don’t embrace the LEADERSHIP role, this is what happens. Having a bunch of individuals in a team environment is a recipe for failure.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
And the numbers back it up, Rangers’ defense has been a bright spot. In August, they entered a prior game with top marks in Defensive Runs Saved (76) and ranked fourth in Outs Above Average (22). That tells you the pitching and fielding side isn’t broken. The problem has been the offense, and that only shows how crucial leadership and chemistry are when bats go cold.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
If anything, the episode highlights the unique challenge Bochy faces. He’s one of baseball’s great planners, but even so, he can’t manufacture leadership from the dugout. With the Rangers’ playoff hopes slipping, the question now becomes whether their stars will find their voices, or if Bochy will be left delivering the same message to an empty room.
From MVP to sidelines: Rangers stars’ abrupt end to 2025
The Texas Rangers had entered the 2025 season with hope. Corey Seager, their shortstop who helped them to a World Series title in 2023, was expected to be the heart of the lineup once again. Early this year, he delivered, showing glimpses of the power that made him one of baseball’s most feared hitters. But as the summer passed, a sudden setback changed everything. An appendectomy (removal of the appendix) on Aug. 28 sidelined Seager. And despite his light swings and field work efforts, the soreness lingered. By mid-September, manager Bruce Bochy had to make the tough call: Seager would not return this season. His stats, .271 average, 21 homers, 103 hits, and 50 RBI’s tell part of the story, but the emotional impact on the team has been far greater.
Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports
Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports
Seager wasn’t the only key piece lost. Marcus Semien, another cornerstone of the Rangers’ infield, also missed the final stretch due to injury. And let’s not forget about Eovaldi! With so many stars out, Texas’ early-season promise declined. Lengthy offensive slumps and inconsistent pitching overshadowed a series of strong plays. The team lost its playoff chances a bit more when they suffered a seven-game losing streak. Fans watched as the dream season slowly slipped through their fingers, the energy of the clubhouse replaced by quiet frustration.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Now, the spotlight shifts to the Rangers’ young call-ups. Rookies and bench players like shortstop Josh Smith and infielder Miguel Hernandez are stepping onto the field. They are continuously gaining experience under difficult circumstances and showing flashes of potential. The team now completely depends on them to close out 2025, but the absence of Seager and Semien is impossible to ignore. Still, there’s a silver lining; this forced opportunity for the younger players could help set the foundation for a stronger, more stable team in 2026.