Baseball in Fort Wayne

Following a 99 loss season, you can be certain that there will be speculation that the manager might not return on the next season. However, that’s not the case in San Diego. The Padres have announced that Bud Black will return for next season (despite the endorsement for the opposite from Friar Forum).

That being the case, I suspect he’ll be on a short leash and former Wizards Skipper, Randy Ready might be waiting in the wings. Another former Wizards manager, Bench coach Craig Colbert did not have his contract renewed by the Padres.

“I am grateful to Kevin Towers and the Padres for the opportunities I have had in this organization,” Colbert said. “I am very proud of my accomplishments as a player, coach and manager in my 14 years with the Padres’ organization.”

Colbert led the Wizards to a 72-65 record during the 2000 season. The only position player from that squad who had made his way to the big leagus is Ben Johnson. However, several pitchers have stood out from the 2000 team. Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, Cliff Bartosh, J.J. Trujillo, Dennis Tankersley, Jack Cassel (brother of the New England Patriots quarterback, Matt Cassel), Eric Cyr and Mike Thompson have all made it to the MLB level.

In related news, former Wizards manager, Tracy Woodson looks forward to another challenging season at the helm of the Valparaison baseball team this year.

“I’m excited about the challenge this year’s schedule provides us,” head coach Tracy Woodson said.  “This is something we want to do every year, playing a couple of top-25 opponents.”

With that, it appears the Padres will need, at the least, a new Bench Coach and a New Hitting Coach for 2008. My money is on Max Venable for Hitting Coach.

Any thoughts on those two spots?