SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres picked Triple-A manager Pat Murphy to serve as the big league club's interim manager for the rest of the season Tuesday, a day after firing Bud Black.
Murphy, 56, has been with the Padres organization since 2010 and has managed the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in El Paso the last three seasons.
"It's definitely an opportunity that he's earned," Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said. "It's a chance for him to go out, the team to go out, and show what he's capable of."Black, in his ninth season as manager, had a 649-713 record — 32-33 this season — but never took San Diego to the postseason. Last year the Padres finished 18 games behind Los Angeles in the NL West.
"I just have to learn, to get up to speed," said Murphy, 180-172 over the past three seasons at El Paso. "I need to try and get as much information as I can and try to hit the ground running.
Before joining the Padres, Murphy coached at four different colleges, including Arizona State (1995-2009) and Notre Dame (1988-94), and compiled a record of 1,000-457-4 in 25 years.
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