Black-out, No…
Where there is smoke, there is usually fire…
If a couple of the key national media guys are reporting it, then the conversations must have taken place.
The storyline tonight at Petco Park is not whether the Padres can ruin the Giants pennant hopes by beating them up this weekend, but rather, the future of Manager Bud Black.
All this after 48-hours of reports from Peter Gammons (MLB Network) and Ken Rosenthal (Fox) that Padre leadership has had internal discussions about removing Bud Black. This after four straight sub .500-seasons. This after another year, 8 in all, since they were in postseason play.
The won-loss record is not impressive. Neither are the long list of mistakes the people above Bud Black have made in player procurement.
Start anywhere on the road map, and tell me how any of this is the manager’s doing?
The Carlos Quentin 27M-contract to a crippled leftfielder who cannot get on the field, nor stay on the field. The substandard play and off field problems of Cam Maybin. The continued off field issues with Evreth Cabrera.
A 15-year span where just 2-Padres first round picks, Khalil Green and Tim Stauffer, got to San Diego and made any type of contribution.
12-pitching surgeries in a 17-month span, including injuries that have wiped out the top four young pitchers in the organization.
Injuries to Yonder Alonso, Chase Headley, Yasmani Grandal. The Mat Latos trade.
A roster of utilityment to play the bulk of the season. A failed Domincan Republic program to date.
3-owners, a reduced payroll, 4-General Managers, and an ever changing philosophy of who and how to draft.
Bud Black has done more with less, than anyone in baseball over the last six years. In just one pennnant race in that time, he has still maintained pride in the organziation, accountability, provided counsel and leadership. His pitching coach Daren Balsley may be the best in the business, when you figure the scrap heap pickups and what he turned them into.
The call should be that of the new GM-AJ Preller, and his call, you have a year left on your contract, let’s retool the roster and go get a playoff spot.
CEO Mike Dee has fingerprints on every decision, from the hiring of the new GM, to the fan’s experience, to the Bud Selig Hall of Fame plaza hullabaloo.
It’s too early to hit the eject button on this manager. He deserves better talent to put a better product on the field.
Hoping Dee doesn’t do this; Prellar understands this; and Gammons and Rosenthal are wrong in their reports.
No “Black-out” this off-season.
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I’m with you Lee. But the problem is that executive management that is not acting can be perceived to be management that is not doing. Assuming the assessment of Bud Black is correct, and I agree, only a confident leadership team would hold steady. And you see this type of thing in all walks of business. Bud Black will be a successful Manager and/or Coach wherever he goes.
Pressure on this organization..struggled to get above 2M fans this year..not a good sign..will likely have one of lowest attendance figures-just above Tampa-Oakland-Cleveland..think this is a good baseball market.
I love Buddy Black but who would you get that is better?
After you fire Buddy, are you going to have trouble getting people to interview like you did with the GM job? How can you improve if people don’t respect your program?
Leave Buddy alone and improve the other areas of the ballclub and then we will talk!
Don’t think they need to change manager..need to change players..get some established veterans in here to compliment best young kids