Jayce Tingler to become next manager of the San Diego Padres
Credit: USA Today
The search for the next Padres manager is over. After nearly a month of interviews, Jayce Tingler will be handed the keys of the San Diego Padres dugout and will be tasked with completing a near-decade rebuild. He is currently managing for a winter ball team for Escogido in the Dominican Republic.
There was no shortage of candidates for what was an attractive position. From internal options like bench coach Rod Barajas to former Angels manager Brad Ausmus, AJ Preller had his possibilities and opted for the up-and-coming Tingler over the other two final candidates Ron Washington and Mark Loretta.
Tingler, while lacking the managerial experience of Washington, has all the tools to become a great manager. The 38-year-old has served a multitude of positions with Texas, ranging from interim bench coach to assistant general manager to minor league field coordinator. Tingler is well versed in analytics and fluent in Spanish, while his role as Major League Developmental Field Coordinator will serve him well with a younger team like the Padres. He is well regarded around the league for both his knowledge of the game and his work ethic.
Jayce Tingler has been hired as manager of the San Diego Padres, sources familiar with the decision tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 24, 2019
Tingler is well known by Preller, thanks to the two working together with Texas. Both have a similar philosophy in terms of player development and coaching staff, and it is well known that Preller has been pushing Tingler to the higher-ups of the Padres organization.
Preller now has his man, but once again, he will be turning to a first-time manager. Despite the history between the two, the last first-time manager for the Padres didn’t turn out so well. However, this doesn’t mean that every coach with little experience managing is Andy Green 2.0. Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins led his team to capture the AL Central. Aaron Boone and Dave Martinez of the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals, respectively, have guided their teams to the playoffs in just their second year of managing. AJ Hinch took the Astros to the ALDS in his first year on the job after the Astros beat the Yankees in the 2015 AL Wild Card Game.
Just because the men above had success doesn’t mean Tingler will, though. With Preller’s seat getting warmer and warmer, to say that he took a massive gamble in hiring Tingler is a vast understatement. The analytical Jayce Tingler has all the tools to succeed as a manager, but he will have to prove himself as the Padres open up their window of contention.
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It sounds like Jayce has a big job to do. Good Luck Coach.
Ron Fowler shoots off his mouth about what an embarrassment last year was, and then he lets Preller hire this guy? Maybe there are worse owners (as long as the Wilpons own the Mets) but the real problem with the Padres is the dumb as a bag of rocks owner.
Let’s now see how Tingler will fill out his staff. Will he clean house and bring in his own people. Here’s to hoping he brings in coaches who stress fundamentals, plate discipline and hustle. Analytics are fine but hitters like Margot and Urias should become level swinging hard line drive hitters, not swinging for the fences all the time. The first thing Tingler should do is make personal phone calls to each player and discuss what they are doing this off season to better themselves next season.
This is Prellers guy. If they don’t win, they’ll both be gone.
Preller rolled the dice and hired an inexperienced manager who have similar baseball philosophies. I thought it was time for the G.M. to get out of his comfort zone and hire an experienced manager who knows how to win. That counts for something. I hope this is not an extension of Preller’s developmental era that started with Andy Green. Is this the sign of an organization who seeks mediocrity at best? The fans wants a professional team that competes, and not the on field product we’ve had to endure for over a decade. The owners may have to do some soul searching if this hire is unable to motivate and require fundamentally sound baseball from this ball club.
Preller could have heeded the desires of chairman Ron Fowler and hired an established manager to the relief and praise of the fans. Instead he chose to stick with his original plan and hire the guy he thinks will execute the plan. Preller isn’t changing course to satisfy an owner or the fans and save his job, he’s sticking with his game plan and the people he thinks can make the plan work. That’s a bold, gutsy move right there, for a guy whose job and reputation may be on the line.