Ron Fowler was taken aback by the question.

“Yes,” the Padres’ executive chairman said haltingly Tuesday afternoon, “he’ll be the manager next year.”

Andy Green, who last August signed a contract extension that runs through 2021, is the man the organization tabbed to navigate the rough waters of a building process and the man they think will steer them to a championship.

“I’m mystified,” Fowler said. “I don’t know of anything that is going on that would give any indication that’s he’s not (going to be manager after this season). It’s troublesome. We have not said anything that would indicate there is a problem. We understand how frustrating it is right now.”


The Padres are 55-85 and virtually assured of finishing last in the National League West. By many statistical measures, their record chief among those, they have regressed. Their on-base percentage and batting average have also slid from last year.

Those in the front office have indicated for some time they understand regression is a part of growth.

And there have been some noticeable improvements, especially in the past couple months, in some players the organization deems key to their future. Those include outfielders Travis Jankowski, Manuel Margot Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes, as well as catcher Austin Hedges.

The Padres have had 15 players make their major league debuts this season, second most in the majors. More than one-third of their games (53) have been started by rookie pitchers. That is third most in the majors.


The question to Fowler came a day after the public airing of comments made by veteran player Wil Myers complaining about the team doing basic drills late in the season.

Green’s focus on learning with a young team is something Fowler finds necessary and commendable.

“I think he’s emphasized the fundamentals,” Fowler said. “He’s worked with the players to try to get them to improve, to understand the message we have in the entire system, which is plate discipline, putting the ball in play and a different approach with two strikes.

“It’s very difficult to deliver that message at the major league level. … But that’s, in fact, what our organization is all about. The issues you see with baseball in terms of strikeouts and home runs — that’s not Padres baseball. I don’t care if that’s the way it is everywhere else. We don’t want that.”


The Padres were 68-94 and 71-91 in Green’s first two seasons as their manager.

kevin.acee@sduniontribune.com