Padres closer Trevor Hoffman understands why General Manager Kevin Towers sounded off after Monday's loss to the Cardinals.
“He's tired of watching losing baseball,” Hoffman said.
Towers, after seeing the last-place Padres fall to 16-30, spoke of potential “wholesale” changes and said the minors are stuffed with “hungry players” looking for an opportunity.
Manager Bud Black learned of the GM's venting after Towers had spoken to reporters. Yesterday, Black addressed the team and declined to say whether it was in response to the remarks of his boss.
Asked if the blast from Towers implied the Padres needed motivating, Black took a few seconds before replying. “This team needs to play better baseball,” he said. “We need to win games.”
The remarks by Towers implied that not every player is giving suitable effort. Has Black found the effort lacking?
“The players realize we have to play better baseball,” Black said. “We've played 46 games not to the expectation level after that amount of games. We have to play better.”
Shortstop Khalil Greene didn't regard the talk of a potential shake-up as news.
“I think you pretty much assume that as a player, really,” Greene said. “You're in the business of putting forth a team that's competitive, trying to put people in the stands and win games. All of those things combine to imply that if you play poorly there are going to be changes.”
Said first baseman Adrian Gonzalez: “The effort and work is there. It's applying the game plan to the game that is lacking. Once we get in the game, we try harder. We over-try. We don't let things happen.”
Said Greene: “It's result-oriented. It's hard to find a positive when you're not playing particularly well, individually or as a whole. As far as effort level, I don't think anybody is out there giving up or not focusing on the game, or out there not trying his hardest.”
Towers also said the constant losing should result in “horrible” morale among players.
“It certainly isn't a pleasant working environment in that sense,” said Greene, who was a regular for Padres playoff contenders the previous four seasons. “I don't think anybody would say it's enjoyable. It's frustrating, but it's your profession.”
The team's baserunning also drew criticism from Towers.
“We've had some baserunning lapses the last couple of days,” conceded Black, who, according to scouts and coaches, has perhaps the slowest and least athletic team in the majors. “We've lost some focus on the basepaths. These are correctable. What you don't like to see on the basepaths are guys not going hard. Guys are running the basepaths hard.”
Notes
Black said Wil Ledezma will remain in the starting spot he occupied for the injured Jake Peavy.
Catcher Michael Barrett yesterday hit a pinch RBI double for Triple-A Portland, one day after going 1-for-2 to start his rehab assignment.
It wasn't the first time Towers gave a harsh critique while standing in the clubhouse within earshot of players; in 2005, he chewed out Phil Nevin after a game.
The Padres saved about $500,000 when they released pitcher Glendon Rusch; they assumed roughly that amount by promoting pitcher Shawn Estes.
Tom Krasovic: (619) 293-2207; tom.krasovic@uniontrib.com
