Giants' Jeff Samardzija: Bruce Bochy a 'dying breed,' most managers are ‘puppets’

San Francisco pitcher Jeff Samardzija gave outgoing manager Bruce Bochy, who plans to retire after the 2019 season, a ringing endorsement.

“He lets the players run the team,” Samardzija said Tuesday. “He’s just a dying breed, you know?

"Unfortunately after this you’re going to have 30 puppets out there giving you cliche answers and it’s a shame, because Bochy isn’t that. He’s a person. He’s got great stories, he’s a motivator, and on top of all that, he loves his (young players). He doesn’t just look at them as pieces, he looks at them as people, and he really appreciates the work you do.”

Samardzija wasn't the only player in the Giants clubhouse who expressed their fondness for Bochy.

“He’s like the old school," said catcher Buster Posey, "John Wayne, tough guy. I think that’s a positive and I think sometimes it’s good to have that personality.”

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Bochy, 63, is one of the few old-school managers left in today's game and the longest-active tenured manager in the majors. He joined the Giants in 2007 after 12 years with the San Diego Padres. Despite a mediocre 975-969 career record in San Francisco, he led the Giants to three World Series titles in a five-year span from 2010-14.

Bochy needs 74 wins to become the 10th manager to reach 2,000 career victories.

His next stop will be the Hall of Fame.