Padres expected to dismiss manager Jayce Tingler, per report
While the Padres said Saturday that a final decision has not yet been made on their manager’s future, he’s expected to be let go.
In a turn of events that isn’t too surprising given the Padres’ epic second-half collapse, the team is expected to part ways with second-year manager Jayce Tingler at the conclusion of the season. The Padres vehemently denied a report by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman that they’ve already decided to dismiss Tingler, but the San Diego Union Tribune’s Kevin Acee reports that the expectation is that the manager and his entire coaching staff will be let go:
The Padres call report by @jonheyman that Jayce Tingler will be fired “premature.”
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) October 2, 2021
This is all typical firing season stuff.
As has been reported, this is AJ Preller’s call, and the expectation is Tingler and the coaching staff will be dismissed.
Tingler was heralded as a savior last season, becoming the first Padres manager since Bruce Bochy in 2006 to lead San Diego to the postseason. San Diego posted a 37-23 record during the pandemic-shortened season and defeated the Cardinals in an NL Wild Card series before falling to the Dodgers in the NLDS.
This season, the Padres — projected by many as preseason World Series favorites due to the additions of starting pitchers Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Blake Snell, closer Mark Melancon, and utility infielder Ha-seong Kim — kept their heads above water in the first half, even as the Giants surprisingly took the NL West by storm. They were 53-40 prior to the All-Star break and comfortably held the second NL Wild Card spot. While they missed out on a deal for future Hall of Fame Max Scherzer, they did acquire All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier and highly regarded reliever Daniel Hudson at the deadline.
Those additions weren’t enough to overcome the wave of injuries and undisciplined play that plagued the Padres in the second half, though. They’ve gone 25-42 since the All-Star break and are guaranteed to finish with a losing record, sitting at 78-82 heading into Saturday’s game against the Giants.
There’s been speculation that Padres GM A.J. Preller will seek out a veteran manager after striking out with a pair of first-timers, Andy Green and Tingler. If they go that direction, candidates could include Bochy, Mike Scioscia, Buck Showalter, and Ron Washington.