Padres to offer Bud Black contract extension through 2013

by Dex on Jul 19, 2010 5:45 AM PDT

Your beat reporter and mine, Corey Brock reports that the Padres will be offering Buddy a contract extension. I'll tell you a story about the time jbox and I met Bud Black at Spring Training. I was prepared to not be impressed by the guy, but I'll tell you what. I was impressed. Very even keeled. Quick to respond and handle himself gracefully. Hunkered when he needed to hunker. Was sly when the situation called for slyness. OK. That's not really so much of a story so much as a description of positive attributes, but I've been up since 3 in the morning.

His positive attributes have been reflected in the way he's managed games since he's been with the Padres. If you're a team that relies on walks and home runs to win games, then managing is easy. Highest OBP up front. Use a formula to determine whether or not to swing. 0-0, 3-0 are Red Light counts. 3-1, 2-1 are Green Light counts. Check the book for other counts. Etc. Don't bother with the steal. Don't bother defending the steal. Both are "low percentage of positive gain" moves. A robot could institute that. Young guys? Pshaw. Play the older veterans. According to formula, unless you're a .500 OBP guy at the AA level, you probably don't deserve to even start in the big leagues.

However, that's not what the team is about and I've come around to the idea that playing for the hit and run, the steal on both offense and defense, taking the extra base, instilling confidence in the young guys, truly playing and aligning defenses and not just shifting the infield over for a power hitter, knowing (like really knowing) how to handle pitchers and get the most out of them. This is Padres Baseball. All of this is Bud Black's game and I'm totally down with that.

Am I convinced that another manager wouldn't have us in first place at this point in the season? Not totally. But I'll take Bud Black over any other manager 7 days out of the week and twice on Tuesdays.

Congratulations Bud! Well deserved!

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Congrats Bud!

"No matter what you do, you're gonna die brotha." ~~ Desmond Hume

by All Things SD on Jul 19, 2010 6:02 AM PDT reply actions

P.S.

This was a “breaking news” lead in to Sports Center (at 6 am, so the 9 am east coast one), and I assumed when they said breaking news about the Padres it was about a trade.

"No matter what you do, you're gonna die brotha." ~~ Desmond Hume

by All Things SD on Jul 19, 2010 6:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I think they wanted you to assume that

That’s why they teased it that way.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Ik vindt de leuk

jtb yl1 thunder up tino

by Allen J. Kha on Jul 19, 2010 6:15 AM PDT reply actions

Good stuff

Well deserved

Mat Latos is the real deal...Go Lakers, Pads, and Bolts

by mrbarneydangles on Jul 19, 2010 6:37 AM PDT reply actions

Bud

His in-game management is still maddening to me, but the team is in first place, the young guys are playing well and the pitching staff is outstanding. Seems pretty clear that his personality works with this particular group of players. Congratulations, Bud. Don’t screw it up.

(Great caption.)

"Way to be all matchy, f________." - TTG's Awesome Friend

by Winfield's Ghost on Jul 19, 2010 6:42 AM PDT reply actions

It's the Angels school of though

Joe Maddon’s in-game management is maddening too, but he’s a darn genious

jtb yl1 thunder up tino

by Allen J. Kha on Jul 19, 2010 6:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd call it more the Bud Black school of managment.

As much as I often hate Buddy’s decisions, if he ran games like Mike Scioscia, I’d tear my hair out.

"This is no ordinary honey!"
Bolts From The Blue - Heavy with the facts, slightly less heavy with the opinions.

by Zach (maestro876) on Jul 19, 2010 7:43 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Refresh my memory as to which parts we don't like again

I know I used to get real annoyed with all of the pitchouts, but they don’t bother me anymore.

by Dex on Jul 19, 2010 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions

well, there was that one bad stretch where he kept going to Mujica and getting burned

but he seems to have switched Mujica and Webb on his priority list since then

by abara on Jul 19, 2010 7:55 AM PDT up reply actions

yeah

It is the starters/reliever choices sometimes.
For example Correia should rarely go more than 5 innings. He is a good 4-5 inning starter… but bad after the 5th.

Mujica is a good example in 1-2 run games.

But honestly, he does very well… I think it is always easy to criticize BAD decisions. It is often hard to reward the good ones that go unnoticed. For example, dealing with platooning players, letting players who are batting .220 play b/c they are REALLY good defensively. Being willing to pull Latos out in the 8th inning to save his arm a little, and then being willing to let him go all 9 innings the next outing.

I’m not sure I can think of another manager who I would want instead right now. No one is correct even 70% of the time in baseball. If you win 60% of the games, your team is amazing…

by Zen Blade on Jul 19, 2010 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Chase described him as a "player's manager" in the padres.com article

and I can easily imagine that to be the case, without any firsthand knowledge of the guy. MLB has Buddy’s postgame comments on video for the majority of the games this year and win or lose, he always has the same even-keeled demeanor. He comes off as open and reassuring and I think these things do have an effect on players in ways that you can’t quantify with stats.

Another thing that is important is the overall performance of the bullpen. Relievers are notoriously flaky in general and bullpens fluctuate wildly from year to year. We know the Triforce has legit stuff, but I think the fact that virtually every guy out there has good to outstanding numbers speaks to Bud getting the best out of them as a group. He’s not a LaRussa who plays mad scientist with matchups and throws out four pitchers in an inning. He goes to a guy and lets him work through his inning. He doesn’t bring in a guy who looks dynamite against a batter or two, then say, “okay, now I’m going to this other guy (who may not have his good stuff today) because he might give me a 5% better chance to get the third out.”

I think that kind of stuff does have an effect on his players’ mindset as they go into games, and if sports superstition teaches you anything, it’s that mindset (placebo) dictates a lot about how they react to individual situations. When you have a team that is consistently outperforming its statistical projections over a long period of time, it tells you that the team is in a good environment. Luck doesn’t carry over an entire season.

by abara on Jul 19, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Well for one

Bud Black has obviously instilled using a little more brain in baserunning. The Angels are usually on of the worst in the league at running the bases, but the Padres first foray into into has put us slightly below average (but still costing us ever so slightly).

For example, using Baseball Prospectus baserunning metrics the Angels have cost themselves about 11 runs in stolen base attempts (and almost 14 overall on the bases) while the Padres have only cost themselves a little under 3 runs (and are just below 0 runs overall on the bases).

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Do you have a comparison with last year with Chone?

jtb yl1 thunder up tino

by Allen J. Kha on Jul 19, 2010 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Chone made them a lot better on the bases

He could single-handedly lift them out of “killing themselves” range to “helping themselves” range.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Baserunning is more than attempts / outs

In almost every game, the opposing team throws away the ball trying to beat an aggressive Padre runner. Not only does that score runs or advance runners, but it demoralizes the opposition – especially their pitcher.

"I post like canned meat."

by Hormel on Jul 19, 2010 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions

Obviously its more than attempts/outs

Who said it was?

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Do the Baseball Prospectus baserunning metrics

you were using consider baserunning other than stolen bases vs outs?

"I post like canned meat."

by Hormel on Jul 19, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Its also worth noting

That the guy that invented their baserunning metrics had to quit Baseball Prospectus. He was hired by a major league team. In 2008 he became the Director of Baseball Systems Development for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions

In 2008 he became the Director of Baseball Systems Development

That sounds awesome!

for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Oh…

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Jul 19, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I knew something like that was coming

I was thinking something like, “You’re very generous for considering Pittsburgh a major league team.”

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL @ the caption

and that’s tough to do.

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Jul 19, 2010 7:42 AM PDT reply actions

You could've worked in a line about Jackie Robinson

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Jul 19, 2010 7:44 AM PDT up reply actions

I have to admit that I used to hate hime, but he has done an extraordinary job this year and last.

If he can beat the Cards in the postseason, I’ll build a little shrine to him to go next to Tony’s.

Bart: But, dad, you're giving in to mob mentality.
Homer: No, I'm not! I'm hopping on the bandwagon. Now, come on, son. Get with the winning team.

by Boilermaker19 on Jul 19, 2010 9:19 AM PDT reply actions

Hooray.

Good news. Good post. Good caption.

I need new pants.

by jodes0405 on Jul 19, 2010 10:21 AM PDT reply actions

Yay Budward Black!

Gaslamp Ball Game OT: "Makes you happy in the pants"
MLB Network: "Keep believing!"
Heat: "Uhh, no. We know."

by tonoxtono on Jul 19, 2010 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

Buddy

If you get a chance, ask him for some stories about being a member of the 1985 World Series champion Kansas City Royals. He told me “We had a lot of fun that year.”

by RoyalsFan on Jul 19, 2010 10:27 AM PDT reply actions

Still want more of a firebrand as a manager

But if things are going well, they are going well.

One note that the Padres’ FO must heed though: NEVER LET DARREN BALSLEY GO. EVER.

by TheFan09 on Jul 19, 2010 10:28 AM PDT reply actions

Dave Duncan or Darren Basley?

Not trying to flame or anything, but I’m curious to know how the two compare when both are top pitching coaches.

jtb yl1 thunder up tino

by Allen J. Kha on Jul 19, 2010 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

My personal opinion

The only difference is that Duncan has had a lot more time to gain reputation, including picking up a couple of World Series rings and working with Tony LaRussa.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

A good 20 years worth, haha

jtb yl1 thunder up tino

by Allen J. Kha on Jul 19, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

But, nevertheless

Pretty much just as effective with pitchers.

No, I don't think you're an idiot. Please don't go trying to prove me wrong about that.

Bolts from the Blue - General Manager: It is what it isn't

by Wonko on Jul 19, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions

Duncan is renowned

(I agree with Wonko)

But Balsley is our guy, and since he’s already ours like I said we shouldn’t let him go. He’s been nothing but positive for the organization and the pitchers under our control.

by TheFan09 on Jul 19, 2010 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Love the caption.

F**king brilliant.

"You're like the nicest internet person I know." - theodore donald kerabatsos

by Jordan_Ming on Jul 19, 2010 10:58 AM PDT reply actions

What do you guys want for our pitching coach back?

Or perhaps an actual pitcher?

We’ll give you gold…

"You gotta have nuts." / "Coming Around 3rd, especially if I'm ticked off, that's going to happen." - Torii Hunter

by Commander_Nate on Jul 19, 2010 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

It is rare that managers get traded.

In the past a manager has been traded for an announcer and a player. In 1960, the Indians and Tigers traded managers. See the other great trades in the link below.

http://www.seattlepi.com/baseball/271626_s2dbarter25.html

"I post like canned meat."

by Hormel on Jul 19, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions