Washington Nationals select Bud Black as new manager
The former Padres skipper reportedly selected to become sixth manager in club history
The rebound process for the lost summer of 2015 for the Washington Nationals began Wednesday when the team reportedly came to an agreement with Bud Black to become the club’s new manager. An official announcement is yet to be made by club officials.
The vacancy was created shortly after the disappointing close to the year for the Nationals, who saw a year that began with World Series aspirations spiral to an 83-79 record, good for a second place finish in the National League East.
As a result, the first move that general manager Mike Rizzo made was to fire manager Matt Williams, who despite being just a year removed from winning the NL Manager of the Year, had seemingly lost control of a team that displayed more fight between itself than it did on the field.
The decision to bring in Black aligns the team’s minor rebuilding effort with a manager that spent a half a season looking for a new job after departing from a similar situation. Black’s former employer, the San Diego Padres, also had their sights set on a long postseason run after a blizzard of offseason activity that saw them resurface much of their roster. However, after a slow start that saw the club treading water with a 32-33 record in mid-June, Black was relieved of his duties.
Despite this decision, the Padres’ season continued in the same direction, ultimately finishing in fourth place in the NL West. Meanwhile, Black’s reputation stayed strong as ever. Long credited for often getting better than predicted results out of the San Diego teams he guided, Black won the 2010 National League Manager of the Year when he carried the Padres to a 90-72 record and within a game of the NL West championship.
For his career, Black carries a 649-713 career record from 2007-2015, and won a World Series as pitching coach of the 2002 Anaheim Angels, where he spent seven years prior to taking over in San Diego.
Black will inherit a talented, yet challenging roster in his new position, as well as one that will be seeing some noticeable changes this winter. Mainstays in pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister, as well as outfielder Denard Span and shortstop Ian Desmond are all likely headed to new destinations via free agency. And the club will also still have to address the issue of what to do about closer Jonathan Papelbon, who had a temultous short stint with the team after coming over from the Philadelphia Phillies at July’s trade deadline.
Black will become the second new manager this offseason, following new Seattle Mariners skipper Scott Servais. Currently there are still managerial openings to be determined by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Florida Marlins, whom are reportedly narrowing in on former Dodger manager Don Mattingly currently.