San Diego Padres getting ready to call Mike Shildt
By David Hill
The San Diego Padres quest for a manager appeared to have gotten a gift last week. The Cardinals’ shocking decision to move on from their own manager, Mike Shildt, gave the front office the exact kind of candidate they had been hoping for. And, unlike some other names bandied about, Shildt has been in the game recently.
It is not a surprise that the Padres are interested. According to reports, they are getting ready to give Shildt a call to see if he would be interested in heading to the west coast.
The Padres are expected to interview Mike Shildt for their managerial opening, sources tell @Britt_Ghiroli and me. Shildt, who was fired by the Cardinals on Thursday, oversaw three playoff trips in four seasons as St. Louis’ manager.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) October 18, 2021
San Diego Padres interested in Mike Shildt
This does not mean that his phone is ringing right now with A.J. Preller on the other line. The Padres, much like virtually everyone else in the baseball universe, want to know more about why he was fired. His dismissal was quite sudden, and the nebulous “philosophical differences” given as to why he was let go only adds to the intrigue.
More Padres. Only experienced managers need apply. light
Nonetheless, Shildt checks the boxes of the type of manager the Padres need. He has guided his team to the postseason in each of the past three seasons, with their surge this season leaving San Diego in the dust. He has won at least 90 games in each of the previous two full major league seasons, and has done so while working to get the most he can out of what has really been a flawed team.
That is the type of manager that the Padres need. The flashy name should not matter when it comes to the bench. Instead, they should be focused on results, which Shildt has produced. The fact that he spent his entire professional career in the Cardinals’ organization, learning the Cardinal Way and their culture, would only help.
As Preller and the Padres have learned, it is one thing to assemble what is essentially a fantasy league roster of talent. It is another thing to get those players to win on the diamond. Having the right person on the bench can make a major difference.
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The San Diego Padres are reportedly interested in former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt. This call needs to happen sooner than later.