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The Padres announced today that Andy Green has been fired as manager. Former D-backs catcher Rod Barajas takes over on an interim basis. It’s a bit of an odd point in the season to make a change, with just eight games left. but not unprecedented. You might remember Kirk Gibson was let go even later in the 2014 season with Arizona, Alan Trammell taking over for the last three contests. But in the wake of last night’s loss, their eighth in the previous nine, and a 24-40 record in the second half after reaching the break at a .500 mark, it perhaps was only a matter of time. The farm system there is good, but I think they jumped the gun with the big free-agent signings of Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado.
I’m quite surprised to discover that Green is the first firing of the 2019 season. I wonder if we ever have had a season when no team got rid of their manager? On a quick scan, it looks like 2017 might have been a firing-free season, as Baseball Reference records only 30 managers for that year. However, there were a few who got pink-slipped after their team’s campaign was over, including Dusty Baker in Washington, and the Red Sox’s John Farrell. 2000 looks to be another potential candidate. It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw new managers in most of the NL West next year, with the Rockies and Giants also changing hands. That’s not going to be Arizona’s problem though.
In the visitors’ dugout, attention will be focused on the return to the mound of Luke Weaver. It will be an abbreviated outing, probably a couple of innings at most. Still, good to see him back at all, considering it has been almost four months since he was last seen (May 26th). A couple of healthy outings would be a nice note on which to finish Weaver’s season, since we would like him to be part of the rotation for several years to come. We may see Taylor Clarke and/or Jon Duplantier, each of whom last pitched on Tuesday, come in thereafter, but at least with September rosters, and Merrill Kelly having gone seven innings yesterday, there should be no shortage of arms available.