Why Giants manager Bruce Bochy winning 2,000 games shows his greatness

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The Giants' magic number is down to one. 

In this case, the countdown isn't for the playoffs but something just as significant. The Giants' 7-6 15-inning win over the Red Sox on Tuesday night gave manager Bruce Bochy his 1,999th career victory. 

Bochy now is one win away from becoming the 11th manager in MLB history to have at least 2,000 career wins. Every manager in that prestigious club already is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Bochy punched his ticket years ago. 

But when Bochy does get that historic win, it will come with a catch: He already has 2,022 career losses.

With only 11 games left in the regular season and the Giants out of playoff contention, Bochy is guaranteed to end his career as an MLB manager with more losses than wins. Only two other managers who have won at least 2,000 games can say the same -- Connie Mack and Bucky Harris. 

Mack, who owns the record for most career wins with 3,731, coached from 1894 to 1950. Harris managed from 1924 to 1956. Each did so when job security was a breeze. They even served as player/manager for a stint during their coaching careers. 

Bochy, 64, is part of a whole different era.

While teams are constantly making changes and firing their managers, Bochy has been the steady face of the Giants through good times and bad. He's been the ultimate players' coach in a time where data and technology are taking over. He's been a boss and a father figure. 

Bochy became the Giants manager in 2007. Between then and now, the NL West has gone through managers like they're giving them away at a bake sale. In the last 13 years, the Dodgers have gone through four managers, as have the Padres and Rockies. The Diamondbacks have used six.

[RELATED: Giants, Red Sox tie MLB record that might last for years]

As Bochy has worn his black and orange Giants hat while hovering over the dugout the last 13 years, four other teams in the NL West have used 18 managers.

Bochy will end his career with three World Series rings and an unwavering amount of respect. In a time of change and constant turnover, the Giants skipper always has been there as the face of consistency and dependability.

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