In the midst of a disappointing season after improving the team’s talent over the offseason, the San Diego Padres have fired manager Bud Black following a 32-33 start to the campaign.
Manager Bud Black has been relieved of his duties. pic.twitter.com/OhE7A5dLa2
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 15, 2015
Per the team’s announcement, Dave Roberts will take over until the team finds a full-time replacement.
Black, who has been the Padres manager since 2007, finished his eight-plus year tenure 64 games under .500. After putting up 89 wins in his first season, Black only led San Diego to a winning record once over the course of the next seven years.
It’s not too surprising of a move considering San Diego changed its entire front office structure during the winter, bringing in A.J. Preller to be the team’s new general manager. With control over personnel decisions, Preller probably wants to get his own guy in there.
Currently one game under .500 and in third place in the National League West, the 2014 campaign has been a disappointment for the Padres. That’s only magnified by the additions of Matt Kemp, the Upton brothers, Wil Myers and James Shields, among others, during the offseason.
Roberts, 43, will take over for Black for the time being. The former outfielder, who played 10 seasons in the Majors with five teams, has been a coach with the Padres since 2011. He has no managerial experience of any kind.
Photo: USA Today Sports