Was Andy Green firing justified?
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres fired Andy Green, but was his dismissal the correct decision?
There is no doubt that the 2019 season was disappointing for the San Diego Padres.
Not that the team expected a World Series Championship, but management did predict more fight from the Friars. The first half of the current season showed that the Padres do indeed have a bright future. However, since the All-Star break, the Padres have entirely fallen on their face.
Going through the motions is a way to describe the current play of the team as the season winds down. They look lackadaisical on the field and have the feeling of a team that has thoroughly checked out as a unit. It has not been enjoyable to watch them play the game of baseball. The fans are upset.
For that reason, the 19th manger in the history of the organization, Andy Green, was fired on Saturday morning.
A.J. Preller reports that he had been weighing this decision for months and felt it was time to make a move. Recent media scrums showed a dejected Green after the games. He would not speak about his frustration, but you could see that he was not pleased. In the end, Green’s stoic demeanor may have been what sealed his fate. Perhaps if he let loose and showed some emotion to this young team, the results may have been more favorable in terms of their play on the field.
On October 29, 2015, the Padres welcomed Green to the family. He was brought in to help cultivate and develop a team that was rebuilding, even though management refused to use that word. The first-year manager spoke of Championships and a Padres-way that needed to be established early in his tenure. All seemed to buy into his philosophy as it was refreshing to hear. The Padres, as a franchise, needed to have a better attitude and the Kentucky native understood that fact. Green brought that philosophy, but as time went on- his approach and “talk’ may have worn thin with all.
Speaking like Bill Belichick and bringing that type of swagger is excellent for an organization. But on a franchise that has not accomplished anything, it started to bother people. Within the media and the players themselves, they questioned if Green was the correct man for the job. Over the last few months, there were multiple reports from different sources about this situation. It just would not go away.
As Andy Green leaves the team, he departs with a 274-366 overall record. Not exactly a success, but you do have to factor the horrible team he inherited in his first two seasons. You could even argue that he was never given the keys to a team that was set up to win. In the end, his lack of emotion may have sealed his fate as the Padres manager of the future. One would expect the new manager to have more “personality” when it comes to portraying yourself to the world, especially in this new era of social media.
With two years left on his current contract, Andy Green was let go by the San Diego Padres. It was probably the correct move. If there were any doubts in his abilities, then the team needed to change gears to get to that promised land. The new manager and what he brings to the team will be a crucial factor in getting there.
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.
I think Andy Green needed some more experience at the game before taking on an obviously challenging situation. I looked in particular at his managerial decisions on the July 13 game this year against the Braves. He used up all of his position players by the 10th inning and then had to have reliever Luis Perdomo hit with the bases loaded against the Braves closer in the bottom of the 10th.
A experienced manager would have at least one position player left for a critical situation.
Mr. Green HAD to go! The team has clearly quit. Some of this is due to AJ’s failure to trade for major league help at the trading deadline; Tatis Jr. injury; and the failure of the team to play fundamental baseball (hitting the cutoff man, sacrifice bunts or flys, catching the BALL, backing each other up in the outfield, etc). The timing allows mgmt to talk with each player before they pack up and leave for the winter break. Long, thoughtful conversations with core players needs to take place. Trades are going to happen, hopefully, in the off season. We need an ace (Cole or Strasburg) and at least one outfielder. Spring training needs to teach and remind players how to execute FUNDAMENTAL baseball. Whoever the new manager is NEEDS to demand each player can handle and perform the fundamentals!
P.S. Wish Dick Williams was available.
They should have let Andy Green finished the season up
They better actually win in 2020
A big NO on the following…
Bochy, Ron Washington, Scioscia and Madden!!!
On the other hand Moises Alou might be interesting.
AJ is fine. It is unknown at this time how much the owners have pressured him to add certain players. Like was done in his first season. Let him finish what he started. The future looks bright!
With less than 10 days of the regular season, why could this not wait until the end of the season? If you didn’t want him to remain manager before the season ended; there were opportunities earlier in the season. As a Padres fan, this is very disappointing on how the upper level management/executives/owners handled this.
You want to get first crack at available managers, that’s why.
Their next manager better be someone with experience and credibility. Green’s major problem was his thin resume — he was a career minor leaguer, and did nothing but lose as a manager in the MLB. He was an intense, cerebral guy who lacked a human touch — much like the GM who hired him.
Dude, you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. “Lacked a human touch?” That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I’ve known Andy since I was 9 years old, and keep in touch with him to this day! He is one man that does not, or will not ever LACK A HUMAN TOUCH! Don’t speak about what you don’t know. The problem is their nerd of a GM that doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing. Talk about inexperience…
I have to agree with you about Andy. I have nothing but respect for him and what he did as a manager. You can say what you want, but he most definitely did not “lack a human touch”… please send him my best. He was always very kind to my family and me.
If one players lacks hustle or phones it in, you bench him. If the whole squad quits, you fire the manager.
Someone needed to watch Bull Durham again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtmKIWa4tY
That appears to be the awful truth. The players didn’t exactly quit, but there was no fire, and the poor execution that turned winnable games into losses was unaddressed, game after game. They may be making a list, but the interim, Rod Barajas, who managed most of the current roster in his previous three years in El Paso, has already sat both Machado and Hosmer to get a look at the kids. If he’s auditioning to be the best in-house candidate, he’s helping his case already.