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SAN DIEGO – On the first Wednesday in October, the Padres thought they might get ready for a playoff game. Maybe even a playoff series.
Instead, with no postseason baseball to show for their disappointing 2021 season, San Diego parted ways with manager Jayce Tingler, the team announced on Wednesday, the latest and biggest reshuffle from a club that could see several this winter.
Tingler, who had one year left on the three-year contract he signed after the 2019 season, recorded a record 116-106 in two seasons at San Diego. That includes a mark of 37-23 in his debut season – the abridged 2020 campaign in which Tingler led the Padres to their first playoff appearance in 14 years.
San Diego’s surprise breakthrough in 2020 was followed by a wave of acquisitions in the offseason, which drastically raised expectations going into the 2021 season. Tingler’s Padres did not meet them. On Wednesday, he was relieved of his duties and offered himself the opportunity to remain with the organization in another capacity.
“Jayce has accomplished a lot in his two seasons with the Padres, leading our team through an unprecedented pandemic and into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years,” general manager AJ Preller said in a statement. “I have immense respect for him as a coach, colleague and friend. After a lot of thought and consideration over the past few weeks, we felt that a change was needed at this point to finally reach our championship potential in San Diego. “
The Padres, who have presented themselves as World Series contenders, fell far short of their ambitions in 2021. They finished the season under .500 (79-83), and their disgrace was precipitated. The Padres played 17 games over 0.500 on August 11. They posted the worst baseball record after that.
Injury undoubtedly played a role, and the Padres pitching staff were particularly hard hit. The front office also made the decision not to kick off the launch on the trade deadline, leaving Tingler shorthanded in the rotation.
Yet even taking these factors into account, the Padres underperformed. The team passed out from fighting the NL Wild Card down the stretch. Their two biggest stars – Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. – argued publicly in the dugout during a game in St. Louis.
Now a critical decision awaits Preller – who should be retained. Preller will make his third executive hire after Andy Green and Tingler. In his seven seasons as general manager, the Padres have only made the playoffs once.
After hiring two new managers, some expect Preller to look for a skipper with a track record in the big leagues. Then again, that was also the wait after Green’s sacking in 2019. Preller chose Tingler, who had even less managerial experience than Green.
The biggest challenge for a new Padres manager might be finding good favor with a veteran clubhouse who is set to win now. There is no grace period. The Padres see themselves as contenders again in 2022, with most of their core returning.
But this core could also be reworked. Wil Myers, the longest-serving chaplain, is entering the final year of his contract and is a candidate for consideration. (Myers, of course, has been the subject of trade speculation for years, but this winter the task of dealing with him is easier than ever.) It would be trickier to move Eric Hosmer’s contract, but with a field cluttered interior, that could be on Preller’s to-do list too.
Of course, the Padres rework extends beyond the pitch and the dugout. The Padres parted ways with pitching coach Larry Rothschild in August, then severed ties with farm manager Sam Geaney in September. Scouting Director Mark Conner has also been reassigned to the role of Special Assistant.
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