San Diego Padres Bud Black talks about time under Mike Scioscia, catching managers- MLB News
Bud Black has been an inspirational manager for a San Diego Padres team that has struggled in recent times. His best moments as the manager came in 2007 and in 2010, when his team posted a winning season and on both occasions, missed the post-season in the very end.
The 2012 season was also a memorable one in its own right. The team had a 76-86 record in regular season but posted a 49-37 record in the last 86 games. The team had a sudden uplift in performance post All-Star break, bringing joy to the fans and the team itself.
Recently in an interview with the MLB.com, Bud expressed his views about the change in ownership as well as managing under a number of general manager as there were many changes in that area. He was undeterred by such changes and believed that clear communication was the way to go.
Black also explained that how having a clear communication with a player can help both the team and the player in achieving their goals. Unclear signals can certainly not help achieve understanding and better results.
When he was inquired about the work he did with Mike Scioscia, who was the manager of the then World Series winning Anaheim Angels in 2002, a team whose two other coaches went on to be managers as well, about the impact of Mike on his managerial career.
Bud said that there was a constant discussion on the game and the ball club under Mike.
‘’There wasn't a day that went by when there wasn't great debate on something regarding baseball in general or specifically about our team,’’ Bud told MLB.com.
He also said that it was a positive aspect of the coaching team at the Angels and it is something he tries to instill in his own crew as it leads to creative thinking.
‘’No matter what, we always had great debate. It led to some creative thinking, some free thinking. It was awesome, and I try to instill that in our guys today,’’ Black said.
He believed that Mike had a role in the development of a number of his coaches who later became managers and all those debates were a lesson to understand how managing a team works.
When questioned about the majority of manager generally being catchers, Black said that there is no doubt that it is generally the case. Catchers get the best perspective in a match and they are able to keep their eyes on every perspective.
‘’Their conversations are endless with managers, with pitching coaches, pitching staff, the hitting coach. I mean, they've done it all in their careers going back to their days as a high school catcher. Even if you're a backup catcher, you're sitting on the bench studying the game, you're in the bullpen,’’ he said.
Bud Black knows his games and has learnt the tricks of the trade well. He is an ideal manager who has a deep insight of the game which is a critical factor for any manager at the top level.
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