However, it appears that Dusty Baker might still have a real shot to come away with the gig. Both longtime managers had their second interviews with the Nats on Monday.
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Baker, a former manager of the Giants, Cubs and Reds, is 1,671-1,504 (.526) lifetime. Before becoming a manager, Black helped lead the Los Angeles Angels to a title in 2002 as the team’s pitching coach.
After a blockbuster offseason that saw Padres General Manager A.J. Preller pick up Craig Kimbrel, Wil Myers and Justin Upton among others, the Padres underperformed in 2015.
Black and Baker, both experienced big-league managers, appear to have separated themselves from a larger pool of at least eight initial candidates who met with Nationals officials over the last two weeks seeking the job. Black was named National League Manager of the Year in 2010, but despite winning 90 games, the Padres blew a late-season division lead and lost to the Giants on the final day, missing the playoffs. Black was let go after starting 32-33 in San Diego this year.
Black became Padres skipper in 2006 when Bruce Bochy bolted San Diego to take over the Giants.
Baker and Black have combined to win 2,320 games as Major League Baseball coaches, with almost three decades of experience.
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Williams had a good first year (he was Manager of the Year) before a rough NLDS loss to the eventual World Series champion Giants, and had an especially problematic second season as manager. Baker won NL Manager of the Year three times.
