In a season stuffed with disappointing groups, the San Diego Padres stand proud of the pack. They have spent lavishly — each relating to bucks and industry capital — the previous few years to construct a core of prime-aged superstars, but the result’s a 73-78 file and a shuttle to the golfing direction in October. It stands to reason why GM A.J. Preller’s seat is getting heat.
On Tuesday, The Athletic detailed San Diego’s disappointing season, and one unnamed Padres participant went so far as to mention the connection between Preller and manager Bob Melvin is “unfixable.” For what it is value, Preller said he and Melvin do not at all times see eye-to-eye, despite the fact that he referred to as it “healthy debate.” Here’s more from The Athletic:
Several Padres folks interviewed for this tale described instances by which Preller advised avid gamers something and Melvin advised them every other. One participant, whilst cautious to not absolve himself and his teammates of blame, likened the placement to a poisonous dating between oldsters by which the youngsters undergo.
“If nobody’s on the same page and you’re getting two stories from two different people, there is not trust there,” the participant stated. “The players are going to feel like, well, who can I confide in? Who can I talk to?”
Melvin, a three-time Manager of the Year, joined the Padres ultimate season and led San Diego to the NLCS. He is the group’s 7th manager in Preller’s 9 complete seasons as GM (together with interims) and their 3rd full-time manager within the ultimate 5 years. Melvin was once anticipated to assist resolve to the group’s underperformance problems from 2019-21 and supply balance within the dugout.
Instead, the Padres are once more underperforming this yr, despite the fact that it will have to be famous a few of their problems have been recognized entering the season. San Diego lacked intensity, specifically past their best starters and core relievers, and that intensity had held them again now and then. The roster is best heavy, and when the blokes on the best do not carry out as anticipated, it might make everybody glance unhealthy.
“I think we just didn’t want it,” Manny Machado stated not too long ago. “… I will say that. I think that’s everyone’s fault. It’s everybody’s fault. We didn’t want it as a team. It falls down to the team. That’s not necessarily one player. It’s not an individual sport. So I think ultimately, it comes down to all of us. We should have wanted it more.”
To state the most obvious, the GM and manager will have to be at the identical web page. You do not have to agree on the entirety, other evaluations are a just right factor, however you will have to be collaborative. It does not sound like that is the case with Preller and Melvin. The standings recommend the Padres will make adjustments after this season. Will Preller actually rent a fourth manager in six years?