Padres News: Who Is Andy Green?
It has finally happened. The end is here. The search for the San Diego Padres managerial position is over. In true A.J. Preller fashion, neither Ron Gardenhire or Rick Sofield were chosen. Both were rumored to be favorites for the job, but in the end the Padres chose D-Back’s third-base coach Andy Green for the job.
The 38-year-old Green has a history of success managing at the Minor League level. This past season was his first season in the Major Leagues as a coach and he obviously excelled at his job. Green is described as an energetic coach who is always looking to expose the opposing teams weakness.
After the Padres finished the 2015 season with a record of 74-88, fans knew some changes needed to me made. Interim manager Pat Murphy was not successful rallying the team and he was allowed to leave. Which he did, in accepting the job as the Milwaukee Brewers bench coach. Old skipper Bud Black has surfaced as well as the new manager of the Washington Nationals.
In the hiring of Green the Padres have signified a new era in baseball for the franchise. The expected hiring was going to be of Ron Gardenhire. That would have been the safe way to go, the way the old style of management would have surely gone. In taking a chance on Green, the front office opens the door to many possibilities. The San Diego Padres franchise is trying to find an identity and this new skipper could easily help nurture that new way of playing Padres baseball.
Green had a brief career in the Major Leagues where he played sparingly for the D-Back’s and Mets for four separate seasons. In 230 at bats he had two homer runs and a .200 batting average. Green was hugely successful in the Minors, but never found that consistency in the Major Leagues. The former University of Kentucky star went immediately into coaching after retiring from the game. He has a passion for the sport and that is very evident.
In 2011 Andy Green took over as the manager of the D-Backs Rookie League team. The next year he was the manager of the advanced Rookie League team (Missoula) that went on to be 2012 Pioneer League champions. He was then awarded the Double-A managerial position in Mobile. Green went on to win back to back manager of the year awards (2013-2014) in Alabama. He was the first person to ever win that award in consecutive seasons in the history of the Southern League. He has had success, that is obvious.
The fact Green has been so successful with the younger talent on the D-Back’s roster bodes well for the Padres. They wanted a skipper who can develop talent and it appears they have their man in Andy Green. With talented superstars like James Shields, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers, Green will have to both motivate the older players and cultivate the younger ones. Hopefully he can accomplish both and that will result in harmony in the Padres clubhouse.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.