With Jayce Tingler Out Could The Padres Turn to Buck Showalter?

The San Diego Padres fired manager Jaycee Tingler with a year remaining on his contract. 

In 2020, Tingler led the Padres to their first post-season appearance in 14 years during the COVID shortened season. Expectations were raised considerably after the Padres acquired the services of pitchers Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove as well as closer Mark Melancon to go along with the offensive juggernaut of Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Eric Hosmer. 

The Padres got off to a promising start and even briefly held the lead in the NL West in late May. At the All-Star Break, the Padres were 53-40 and 3.5 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the second NL Wild Card spot. San Diego went 26-43 after the All-Star Break to finish with a 79-83 record only 4.5 games ahead of the subpar Colorado Rockies.

Tingler's fate was probably sealed when Machado and Tatis, Jr. had a shouting match in the dugout at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 18th. The Cardinals, of course, would supplant the Padres for the second NL Wild Card spot. 

As with the Mets, I think the Padres need a veteran manager. One of the names I suggested for the Mets was Buck Showalter. I think Showalter would make even more sense in San Diego given his relationship with Machado. Showalter knows how to lay down the law. Indeed, Machado lobbied the Padres to hire Showalter after they dismissed Andy Green following the 2019 season. Given what the Padres just experienced, I think it would behoove A.J. Preller to listen to Machado.