The San Diego Padres will reportedly fire manager Jayce Tingler after a disappointing 2021 season in which the franchise missed the 2021 playoffs, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Jayce Tingler will be relieved of managerial duties by the Padres. Tingler is a solid baseball man who did a good job last season. But considering the team’s lofty expectations and late-season collapse, this news was eaxpected.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 2, 2021
Tingler guided the Padres to the postseason during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, but that wasn't enough to keep his job secure, as San Diego was eliminated from the postseason with a 10-8 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 25.
The Padres entered the 2021 season with expectations to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West, but it was the San Francisco Giants who rose the challenge, holding onto the division lead for much of the second half of the season.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller acquired Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Keone Kela, Blake Snell and Ha-Seong Kim during the offseason in hopes of making a deep playoff run, but those moves ultimately didn't pay off.
However, blaming everything on Tingler would be erroneous.
Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. battled a shoulder injury all season. Snell, Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet all missed time due to injury, and the catcher position faltered as Luis Campusano and Victor Caratini both finished with a negative WAR.
Tingler is 115-105 in his two seasons with the Padres. San Diego has two games remaining this season and will at least look to improve its record to 80-82. However, the Padres are set to face the Giants Saturday and Sunday night, so it won't be easy to stop the NL West's division leaders.
It's unclear who the Padres may target to be their next manager. But whoever fills the role will have some high expectations entering the 2022 season.
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