Making Bud Black The Problem Won’t Find The Padres A Solution
- Updated: June 18, 2015
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Now that Bud Black‘s been fired — which was probably inevitable the moment A.J. Preller started making moves this winter — the Friars can finally start winning!
Haha, just kidding, you should know that’s ridiculous. The Padres’ problems that have nothing to do with Bud Black, and his removal doesn’t do a damn thing to improve any of their issues.
Look, first off, let’s be honest; Bud Black should’ve been let go this winter, the moment Preller took the job. Considering how Peller has quickly and decisively changed the identity of the team through trades and acquisitions, it would hold that he also probably wants some kind of control over a manager of his choosing.
Perhaps keeping Black was a decision that came down from on high in the ownership boxes; perhaps Preller just genuinely liked Black, who is a good manager, and wanted to give him a shot with the new-look Padres. Whatever it is, Black ultimately didn’t stand a chance for any Padres club unless they sat in first place in the NL West all year.
And you know what? That’s OK. Managers get fired. It’s a part of the game. None of those guys are surprised by it, nobody is taking a business decision personally, and Bud Black has been around long enough to know how the process works. He’ll land on his feet. (Hey, Bud: if/when Walt Weiss gets fired in Colorado this winter, take a look at the Rockies, eh?)
Anyways, there’s a bigger issue than Black’s dismissal; his removal doesn’t fix the Padres biggest problems, and getting a new skipper isn’t going to suddenly make the Padres turn the corner in the NL West.
Remember when I wrote this in February? James Shields didn’t fix the Padres’ biggest problem — their sub-par infield, on both offense and defense — and Bud Black’s replacement won’t, either. Jedd Gyorko has been a disaster this year, eventually playing his way to a demotion. Alexi Amarista and Will Middlebrooks are at the plate doing exactly what we all knew they would before the year: nothing.
The infield isn’t the only group that’s struggling; the Padres are 10th in the league in hitting and haven’t corrected their 2014 offensive woes despite the newcomers. Matt Kemp is having an uncharacteristically bad season. Wil Myers can’t healthy. The Upton brothers have returned to earth (Justin) and the cellar (Melvin). Shields aside, the pitching staff has disappointed and Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, and Odrisamer Despaigne have had issues in the rotation.
Some of these things we knew would happen before the year (infield, offense), while some are surprises (the rotation). You can pin all that on Bud Black, and argue that his removal means a new way to run the team and a reinvigorated roster.
OK; I won’t disagree with that argument — firing a manager can often fire up a team (though it sure didn’t fire up the Padres against Oakland on Monday and Tuesday…). But there’s a reality check needed here, too.
The Padres have always needed a better infield defense and more options at the plate than what they had going into the year. That was well-known in February, and it’s still the case now. I’m not arguing against Black’s removal, but until Preller finds a better overall group of infielders, a stronger lineup, and possibly another starting pitcher (Cole Hamels? Johnny Cueto? Me?), don’t expect the Padres to magically win the NL West under new manager Pat Murphy.
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