Murphy extolled by Padres players for poise, intelligence
Pat Murphy's fate after this season is uncertain, but if the San Diego Padres players had their say, they'd stick with their interim manager for 2016 and beyond.
Murphy, who is managing in his first season in the majors after the Padres fired Bud Black a couple months into the season, hasn't had much more success than Black, but he's quickly earned the respect and admiration of the Padres' dugout.
"Murphy's done a great job," said pitcher James Shields. "It was a tough situation to come into especially because of the fact that Murphy and Buddy were such good friends. He's definitely a very intelligent manager. One of the reasons I came here was because of Buddy, but I'd be totally comfortable with [Murphy] coming back."
It isn't just Shields who vouches his support for the first-time manager. Another one of the club's new additions had positive remarks for the skipper as well.
"The little bit of time I spent with Buddy, it was great, but Murphy has come in and done a great job," Upton said. "It's been really, really tough on him. Coming in in the middle of the season would be tough on anybody. But he's handled this well, man. He's behind us and we're behind him."
Heading into Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Murphy (27-28) holds a very similar record to fired manager Bud Black (32-33) this season, which has fans wondering if he has convinced the Padres' front office that he's their guy.
With his future on the line, Murphy says he hasn't been wrapped up in his status after the season.
"I'm looking at it as we just have a ballgame tonight. I'm being honest," Murphy said. "I don't even know what day it is. I'm just thinking about making the right decisions and putting us in a position to have the right outcome. I'm not thinking about my situation at all. I know it's there. I'm not denying it's there. I know I'll have a job somewhere next year. I think I will."
(h/t MLB.com)
