Despite some speculation to the contrary, Bud Black will return as the Padres’ manager next season, GM A.J. Preller tells Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com.
“Like I said from the beginning, I viewed it as Buddy is our manager,” Preller said. “I had a chance to really enjoy the last month, to get to know him more on a day-to-day basis, getting to be around him and getting his thoughts on the team and his thoughts on baseball in general.”
When asked specifically if he looked forward to working with Black for an entire season, Preller told Bloom: “Yes, I’m looking forward to that for sure.”
The Padres exercised an option on Black’s contract for the 2014-15 seasons in November of 2012, so his deal is already in place for next year. Preller cited the team’s energy and work ethic as the main factor in the team’s decision to keep Black.
While the Padres’ 73-81 record isn’t what they had hoped for, they have reason for optimism going forward. Preller went on to tell Bloom that management is on board to make the Padres competitive again in the NL West.
I don’t know. I think Bud is a good baseball mind, but it seems the Padres always finish middle of the pack under him.
Maybe this is just me, but if I was in the Padres front office, I’d get frustrated because Blakc always has his team’s go on these second runs which only to finish with a lower draft pick. However, it’s not like their front office does well with high draft picks (I.e. Matt Bush, Donavan Tate, etc.)
Buddy finishes in the middle of the pack with back of the pack talent. I would like to see how Buddy does with above average talent.
We saw the results of this in 2007 and 2010. Missed playoffs.
Wasn’t there a bad call and a Trevor Hoffman melt down in there some where? Even those teams were light on talent.
There’s a reason why Black got manager of the year in the NL in 2010. The 2010 Padres weren’t expected to do much, and came very close to getting the NL West Crown. Adrian Gonzalez basically carried what was an anemic offense.
Adrian Gonzalez and Jake Peavy were never talented. Might as well throw in Chris Young ( I don’t give Kevin Towers enough credit for that deal).
All three of those were talented players; however, since 2010, t he overall talent on the Padre roster has been in a decline. The Padres have not had a Championship worthy roster since 1998. Sure, there have been some good players, but not a 25 man roster that could compete for a championship.
cant squeeze a dime out of a penny guys……Buddy has done a great job with the minor league teams he has had to deal with.
One more year of bunts, match-ups, and playing call-ups as pinch hitters.