On Tuesday, the Padres decided that Pat Murphy will be the team’s interim manager for the remainder of the MLB season, and this took place one day after they fired Bud Black due to a poor start. Now many fans and price per head providers wonder if things will change for the better with the Triple-A manager taking over.
Since 2010, a 56-year-old Murphy worked with the team, and for the past three seasons he was managing the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate located in El Paso,Texas.
“It’s definitely an opportunity that he’s earned,” said A.J. Preller, Padres GM. “I think it’s a chance for him to go out, the team to go out, and show what he’s capable of.”
It was Black’s 9th season as San Diego’s manager with a record 649-713, but the team never reached the postseason with him at the helm. However, price per head providers believe that things could turn for the better with Murphy in charge.
In 2010, he became the National League’s manager of the year after helping San Diego get a record of 90-72, which were the most wins that the Padres could muster since 1998, with 98, setting a record for the organization. Since then, San Diego did not have a single season that could be considered a winning one.
“Time will tell,” said Craig Kimbrel, Padres closer, after the team lost on Tuesday 6-5.
“But it was great to hear from him this morning. He gave us an idea of who he is and how he likes to manage and what he expects from us.”
During the offseason, the Padres made very big changes in their roster, and names like Matt Kemp joined the ranks of the team.
“I just have to learn, to get up to speed,” said Murphy. “I need to try and get as much information as I can and try to hit the ground running.
Before he joined the Padres, Murphy was coaching at four colleges, and these include Notre Dame (1988-94) as well as Arizona State (1995-2009). In the 25 years that he spent as a head coach in colleges, his record was 1,000-457-4.
Padres fans are well aware of how important it is for the team to improve in the MLB, and many believe that things will get better with Murphy in their ranks. What will ultimately happen remains to be seen, but price per head providers know that this change is very necessary – especially in the case of San Diego.
