Three teams picked new managers on Thursday. The Washington Nationals selected former San Diego manager Bud Black as skipper, Miami chose Don Mattingly to manage the Marlins, and the Padres picked Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green to lead their team.
The Marlins and Nats have had a revolving door for the managerial slot. Black becomes the sixth manager for the Nationals since 2008, when they moved from Montreal. He follows Manny Acta (2007-09), Jim Riggleman (2009-1011), John McClaren (2011), Davey Johnson (2011-13), and Matt Williams (2014-15).
The Marlins’ managerial vicissitudes outrank Washington’s; Mattingly will become their eighth manager since 2008, following Fredi Gonzales (2007-10), Edwin Rodriguez (2010-11), Brandon Hyde (2011), Jack McKeon (2011), Ozzie Guillen (2012), Mike Redmond (2013-15), and Dan Jennings (2015).
Black, 58, was fired by San Diego in June when the Padres record languished at 32-33. He never took the team to the playoffs, narrowly missing in 2010. They finished 90-72 but finished second in the division when they lost their last game to San Francisco, which won the World Series. He was named the NL 2010 Manager of the Year. He has a 649-713 lifetime record.
Black’s eight-year run featured seven losing seasons, but the Nationals chose him over former Reds and Cubs manager Dusty Baker.
Black, a former pitcher with a lifetime 121-116 record, served as the pitching coach of the Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels from 2000-06; the Angeles won the 2002 World Series with him in that slot. He inherits a strong pitching staff including Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzales, and Stephen Strasburg. That quartet underperformed in 2015, with a combined record of 49-37.
Mattingly reportedly receives a four-year deal with the Marlins; his five-year tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers featured three consecutive NL West titles, but only one appearance in the NL Championship Series, and no World Series appearances despite boasting MLB’s highest payroll. He boasts a 446-363 lifetime record.
Mattingly, a former batting champion, has his work cut out for him; the Marlins finished second lowest in the NL in home runs and RBIs, only surpassing the Atlanta Braves.
Andy Green will be named as the next manager of the #Padres later today. Sources.
— Scott Miller (@ScottMillerBbl) October 29, 2015
Andy Green, a former infielder who saw scant time with the Diamondbacks and Mets, beat out former Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and current Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Rick Sofield for the job in San Diego.
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