The Nationals will hire former Padres skipper Bud Black as their next manager, reports James Wagner of the Washington Post. The team has yet to confirm the move or make an official announcement, as Major League Baseball frowns upon teams announcing major news on the days that World Series games take place. Black was said to be one of two finalists, with former Giants/Cubs/Reds manager Dusty Baker the other reported name under consideration.
Black, 58, served as the Padres’ manager from 2007 until June of this past season, when he was fired. On the heels of a highly active offseason, the Padres entered the season with high expectations but failed to deliver the results that the front office and ownership had hoped to see. Black’s dismissal surprised many in the game, as he was among baseball’s longest-tenured and most respected managers. His time in San Diego represents Black’s only Major League managerial experience. He managed the team to a 649-713 record in that time, the Padres routinely dealt with payroll constraints that hampered the team’s ability to field competitive rosters. Prior to his time in San Diego, Black was the Angels’ pitching coach from 2000-06, where he won a World Series ring in 2002.
Black will replace the recently fired Matt Williams, who came to D.C. without prior managerial experience and often looked overmatched with in-game decisions such as bullpen usage. However, perhaps more troubling were the reported communication issues that developed between Williams and the Nationals’ roster over the course of the 2015 season. Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post wrote an extensive piece about rifts that formed between Williams and some of the team’s veteran players. Williams also appeared unaware of the extent to which a dugout altercation between Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper escalated in the season’s final weeks. Given Black’s experience managing in the Majors, such communication issues and day-to-day problems don’t figure to arise under his watch.
Washington also dismissed its entire coaching staff following the season, so Black will be allowed to hand-pick each of the coaches who serve alongside him. As Wagner reports, Rick Renteria, who formerly managed the Cubs but served as Black’s bench coach in San Diego prior to that job, is an early favorite to serve as Black’s bench coach with the Nationals.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Whoo
What a bummer! I was holding out hope that he would be the next Braves manager! Oh well, we still do have Eddie Perez after Fredi is fired soon.
Not that I’m a big fan of the guy or anything, but Braves fans (at least the vocal ones here and on Twitter), have been calling for Fredi’s head for something like two years, and the Braves have given no indication they’ll move on from him. They just gave him a new contract, even (albeit only a one-year extension). I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one.
I understand that completely, but three things have happened since that extension.
1. New GM, may want his own man and could have that power.
2. An abysmal second half after the extension.
3. He lost the clubhouse completely in September.
There is still the chance!
The “new” gm is the guy that had already been handling most of the gm duties. He just didn’t have the title. The second half was so bad because Atlanta traded away most of the players that had been performing well in the first half. They lost their closer to injury and then traded their main setup guy. If a team clearly did their best to tank for draft position and international bonus pool money it was the Braves. Matt Williams is a better example of a manager that lost his clubhouse in September. Fredi didn’t lose the clubhouse, they just threw in the towel. Who can really blame them? I am not a Fredi supporter but your comments were pretty baseless.
Nah, not really. Especially when players reported dissatisfaction with their manager. Google it.
As far as a down second half, yes, you are right, they lost their clubhouse presence in KJ and Uribe for sure, but that doesn’t excuse the poor match ups Fredi has often placed pitchers and players in day in and day out for 4 years now.
With the new GM, I understand he was the mastermind behind all the trades, but you can’t tell me he’s been running it like a GM 100%. Your claim would be baseless! :P
The choice seems great all-around. I also like Bud’s background as a pitcher & I think he’ll manage the rotation & bullpen well. He may even attract FA relievers to D.C. (all things being equal).
^^^^
Personally, I intend to adhere to Major League Baseball’s longstanding request that fans not make significant comments during the World Series. :-)
Ooooh, me too. I don’t want to make those MLB boys mad. Grrr. Who knows what they might do?
As a Padres fan I gotta say the Nationals got a good manager. He didn’t have much to work with in San Diego
Why is EVERYONE always making excuses for Bud Black? B/c he’s a like able guy? Oakland, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati found ways to win with low payrolls during the same era he was managing the Padres. Why does Bud Black get a pass??
All 4 had better farm systems.
He didn’t say “low payroll.” He said “didn’t have much to work with.”
If you think Bud Black DID have winning teams to manage, by all means, make that argument. But simply having other low-payroll teams succeed in the same timeframe is meaningless.
Sooo…. You’re saying it was “Everyone” else’s fault but Black’s?
Payroll means absolutely nothing! Look at the Dodgers. It’s talent, and how that talent works well with others to make a great team. Horrible argument.
Dodgers made playoffs last 3yrs, correct? Mattingly have winning record with that large Payroll?? You made my point
and how much did the Red Sox spend to finish dead last? or the Tigers?
payroll =/=talent.
Great point
He had the lowest or the 2nd lowest payroll for all but 2 of his full seasons with the Padres. He never, not even in 2015, had a team where every position was manned by guys that would be a starter wherever they went. Most years he had one, maybe two guys that were MLB caliber position players starting and had to platoon at multiple positions out of necessity. Black led teams came in above expectations every year.
During the winter, will AJ Preller try to trade San Diego’s weather to Boston for Ramirez and Sandoval?
Great hire.
I imagine he’ll want to bring over some of the coaching staff from San Diego. He can have most of them for all I care. Except Darren Balsley. We’re keeping him c:
Great pitching coach and good manager with a better team now. I would’ve loved to Dusty get another shot, somewhat selfishly so the Angels could bring Black back as pitching coach. I won’t criticize this hire as I have others. Nationals (formerly the Expos) have a credible history of giving opportunities to minorities unlike other organizations. Wish the Nats and Bud Black the best.
Hah, I was genuinely scared they would hire Gardy. That would make this team intimidating. Bud Black? Psh, gonna be more of the same.