Padres let Bud Black keep his job (or There's a witch in our midst)

by Dex on Sep 30, 2008 7:27 AM PDT

There's some sort of witchcraft going on. As terrible as this team was, the Padres managed to place the blame on Craig Colbert, the one guy who appeared emotionally involved this season. What?

From Padres.com:

Black has guided the Padres to a 152-173 record during his two seasons as manager, including a 63-99 mark this season. The 99 losses were the most since 1993, when the Padres had 101.

1993... Why else does that sound familiar? OMGWTF. That was the Fire Sale Year! That was the year we got rid of everybody. When the manager is overseeing a team that brings to mind one of the worst years in franchise history, then that should be like an automatic dismissal, right?

I didn't say anything yesterday, probably out of disbelief. But it really does look like he's going to keep his job. More power to him. Here's hoping he turns it around next year somehow.

0 recs | 13 comments

Comments

Worst. Decision. Ever.

I was talking about this with my mom last night and we agree that Buddy’s bad decisions were magnified by the inability of the team to makeup for those bad decisions.

But this begs the question. Does every manager make bad decisions, but have good teams that can make up for them? Or does Buddy just suck ass?

No matter what happens this season, I will always remember sitting at Petco during one of CSB’s starts and just screaming profanity at the field. CSB had struggled mightily to make it through the sixth, but he did, with a lead intact. We had a few relievers warm and ready to go for the 7th, but Buddy decided, nah, let’s lose this game. And we did.

Idiot.

Phantom - September 30, 2008 reply

"Does every manager make bad decisions, but have good teams that can make up for them? Or does Buddy just suck ass?"

In my opinion, Buddy sucks ass. And I think last year’s team was good enough to get a few extra wins in spite of his poor decision making. This year’s team was not.

I like to flip the question, too – would a good manager have managed to lessen the damage this year, maybe have kept the team around 90 losses? I think so. When you see how poor the team is in executing fundamentals, baserunning and seemingly so unprepared at times, that goes right to the manager. Those things can be improved by a good manager, even if the talent is lacking. And those things can get you a few extra wins.

What’s most bothersome about keeping him around is that the team is obviously going to be playing the younger, less experienced guys next season and those players have to be grounded in the simple details of the game. I can’t believe they want Bud around those guys. I can understand that they like his calm amidst all the crap, but he seems like the absolute worst candidate to be working with guys who are new to the major league level.

This is the kind of move that really leads me to believe that Moores is going to sell, too.

Winfield's Ghost - September 30, 2008 reply

I completely agree

with all of this. Especially with the bit about younger players and Buddy’s potential influence (or complete lack thereof) on the kids. I’m not really sure how I feel about the possibility of Moores selling the team. The vast majority of sports owners suck. So the probability that this would be a net positive for us is relatively slim.

Phantom - September 30, 2008 reply

If Moores doesn't sell I will be SHOCKED.

Drama - September 30, 2008 reply

I'm so indifferent about this issue

The manager makes so little difference in-game that switching managers would have just resulted in somebody else who has their own flaws. According to the clubhouse (or at least the quotes that come through the media) is behind Buddy despite a losing season, so it seems the best idea would be not to upset the applecart. Buddy hasn’t done anything that deserved of firing. That being said, there is something somewhat positive about scapegoating because it settles the crazed masses so I would have been okay with a firing.

I would suggest that no one get too enraged or excited about this result, because it really doesn’t affect the outlook for the Padres.

Wonko - September 30, 2008 reply

where do i go to get a job like this?

i would LOVE to be completely inept and keep my job. just like show up at 10 (wait…), half drunk (umm…), yelling random insanity at the ceiling (ok this is hitting a little too close to home, let me rephrase).

i would LOVE to have a similar job to the one i have now, but get to work for 7 months out of the year and get paid millions to wear those sweet ass baseball pants.

yeah thats it.

justdave - September 30, 2008 reply

It is a pretty sweet gig

Basically, the job requirement is that you don’t create a mutiny in the clubhouse and you don’t piss off the media (I tie this to in-game decision making, because if you can spin it to the media then it won’t be painted as a bad decision).

Wonko - September 30, 2008 reply