Bud Black wins NL Manager of the Year Award

Posted on November 18, 2010

Manager Bud Black of the San Diego Padres watches batting practice before the game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on October 2, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

San Diego Padres skipper Bud Black was named as the National League’s Manager of the Year for 2010 yesterday afternoon after he led San Diego to a 15-game turnaround despite the second-lowest payroll in the majors. The Padres finished 90-72 and led the NL West until a late slump saw them drop behind the eventual World Series Champion Giants on the last day of the season. Black was very deserving of this award, as his club made a remarkable run in the NL West and would have won the division going away if not for their 10-game losing streak in early September.

Black is one of the good guys in baseball who is well-respected by his players, the media, and the fans. I still remember when the left-handed pitcher with the sweet delivery came to San Francisco towards the end of his career as a free agent in 1991. Black had piled up some nice numbers in the American League and lost some of his stuff by the time he came to Candlestick, but he was fun to watch pitch and really fun to photograph. It’s funny, but anyone who does anything athletically left-handed always looks better than someone who does it right-handed. Bud Black was no exception during his playing days as I loved shooting him during games at both Scottsdale Stadium (see above) and Candlestick park (see below).

The Padres turnaround this past season was remarkable in so many ways. Their awful finish in 2009 resulted in them being picked last in the division by many experts. However, they did finish the 2009 season strong, and evidently that momentum carried over into 2010 as they got off to a blazing hot start that carried them for most of the year. I am glad to see that management stuck by Black during some lean years so he can reap the rewards of helping to rebuild the team in his own image. They pitch well, play good defense and score just enough runs to beat you- especially at PETCO Park. Black’s Padres will be right there to give the Giants a tough battle in 2011 if they wish to repeat as division champs. Do not overlook the Padres- especially with Bud Black at the helm. I will see them soon in Peoria!