San Diego Padres: Andy Green puts his players on notice

Despite being the youngest manager in baseball, San Diego Padres skipper Andy Green has revealed his leadership and shown a great deal of insight.

In three days in 2015, the Padres had three managers: Bud Black, Dave Roberts, and Pat Murphy. Obviously in need of a bit more continuity, the search for a more permanent solution began as soon as the disappointing season ended. A.J. Preller and company chose Andy Green, the third base coach for the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 5’ 9” Green took a circuitous path as a player through the big leagues, minors, and Japan, then worked his way up the coaching ranks. Along the way he earned a reputation as a passionate student of the game, but also one who cared deeply about players.

Ask Green a question, then just sit back and listen. The man can talk, but he’s not just spewing a bunch of hot air. He has insights on baseball and life and just about everything else. He also doesn’t mince words when dissecting misplays and missed chances and downright bone-headed plays.

Speaking of such plays, Green specifically called out the face-of-the-franchise’s inexplicable brain lock in the eighth inning of the team’s loss to the Chicago White Sox last Sunday.

The Padres had moved ahead of the Sox 3-1 on a three-run homer by Hunter Renfroe in the seventh inning. But, in the eighth, the bullpen sprung a leak and let Chicago back into the game. However, the play that stoked Green’s ire came when Wil Myers turned his back on a runner on third. That runner, Todd Frazier, scored as part of an eight-run uprising that ruined Jered Weaver’s first quality start in a while.

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“Carelessness. Short-sightedness,” Green said of Myers’ lack of focus in his post-game interview. “Not paying attention to the situation. Not getting timeout (from the umpire). Not recognizing where runners are on the baseball field. No excuse for it. This is a major league baseball field. This isn’t little league.”

Green added that “Some young guys doing some really good things, and guys who have been around making some mistakes.”

When the Padres hired Green, the Padres had a number of guys who had been around including Matt Kemp, Melvin Upton Jr., Jon Jay and Derek Norris. Mid-season the team made a U-turn from trying to contend to rebooting.

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Now he’s tasked with guiding a much younger and undoubtedly more malleable roster, as well as a team expected to end up at or near the bottom in wins this season. His energy and enthusiasm will be sorely tested, but, with that scolding, Green put his players on notice especially the veterans.