Is Mike Shildt The Right Hire For The Padres?
Mike Shildt has found a second chance as an MLB manager, this time for the San Diego Padres.
After serving as a player development coach and third-base coach on occasion, the team hired him on a two-year deal last week. He does have a track record of some success, but nothing major.
Of course, he took the reins for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2018 season before earning the 2019 NL Manager of the Year award. He led the Cards to 91 wins in the regular season before falling to the Washington Nationals in the NLCS.
Shildt has shown plenty of gratitude for his new role, especially when you consider his questionable dismissal from St. Louis after the 2021 season. Furthermore, he spoke very highly of the late Peter Seidler and his ownership of the Padres. All of this is great, but on-field success is where it really matters. Will Shildt be able to steer a potentially very unstable ship?
Let’s talk about it!
A Team In Limbo:
There is no shortage of rumors surrounding San Diego these days.
They must cut down on their payroll following Seidler’s death, and you could look at just about any of their stars. Juan Soto is the name that has generated the most buzz. However, it’s even possible that Platinum Glove winner Fernando Tatis Jr. could be on the way out as well.
You’d think that if one is traded then the other will stay as a franchise cornerstone, though it’s tough to get a gauge of this team. There are so many free agents and complicated contracts that no one has an idea of how they’ll look in April.
One of Shildt’s strong suits, however, is team defense.
The 2019 Cardinals were a very solid group, featuring Gold Glovers in the outfield, infield and behind the plate. Translating that to San Diego would certainly give them a chance to remain competitive. His 252-199 record as a bench boss is also a sign of encouragement. Despite repeated collapses in the postseason, he is a steady hand who should at least help in the short term.
Mike Shildt is gonna have his hands full with the Padres. He’s a good guy, and a pretty good manager who was hard done near the end of his time in St. Louis. His story is definitely one worth keeping an eye on.
