Oct 27, 2009

MLB's Padres' Give Coaching Staff Contract Extensions

San Diego's Coaches All Agree to One Year Extensions

The San Diego Padres have given one year contract extensions to the franchise's entire coaching staff. The Padres' bench coach Ted Simmons, pitching coach Darren Balsley, first base coach Rick Renteria, third base coach Glenn Hoffman, and bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds all agreed to one year contract extensions that were offered to them by the Padres' organization. The only coach of the six on the staff yet to agree to the one year deal is hitting coach Randy Ready who is currently a candidate for the job as manager of the Houston Astros. Padres' manager Bud Black told the media on Thursday that he hopes that Ready gets the Astros job, but in the event that he fails to do so, he would definitely be back for one more season as the Padres hitting coach. Ready was manager of Triple-A Portland until July 31st when the Padres hired him to replace fired hitting coach Jim Lefebvre.

Whether or not Ready remains as the Padres' hitting coach next season remains to be seen; but regardless, keeping the other 5 coaches for an additional season will not likely change the sportsbooks' betting line odds on the Padres improving enough to make the playoffs next season. It is not clear whether the franchise's problems are a result of poor coaching, poor talent, or a combination of the two, but the fact remains that the franchise need to make some major changes throughout the organization in order to become a legitimate contender. The way things seem to be unfolding thus far, they don't really appear to be committed to doing so, and if that is the case they are an excellent bet to go nowhere again next year.

By Bryan Jackson
Staff Writer
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