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SAN DIEGO – Bob Melvin praised the Padres organization, its fan base and the talented roster he inherited during a press conference Monday when the team introduced him as the new manager.
“It all came together quickly, had a great feeling from the start and culminated on a day like this,” said Melvin. “I couldn’t be happier.”
The former Oakland Athletics skipper, who has spent the past 11 seasons with the team, set an 853-764 record. On Monday, Melvin signed a three-year deal to become the 22nd coach in Padres history.
Melvin said his “first catch” in his decision to become the new manager was when he met AJ Preller, the president of the baseball company and general manager of the Padres.
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“When I got here and met AJ in his gym shorts and t-shirt and four basketballs behind him, that was the first catch, but when he had a few conversations with him his passion for baseball is immense,” said Melvin. “We went out and had a couple of dinners and you’d think dinners usually last a couple of hours – they turn the lights on at 11:30 to get his attention because we’re having these long baseball talks.”
He also expressed his appreciation for the team’s chairman, Peter Seidler, and his passion for the team and the people of San Diego.
Melvin inherits a team of five All-Stars – including Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jake Cronenworth.
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“To be able to come here and like AJ said, ‘It’s all about winning now,'” Melvin said. “When you have a squad like this and all of the people who are giving you the resources and the support to do it, I don’t know if there’s a better goal in baseball to get through, so I’m lucky man.”
When his track and field team traveled to San Diego, Melvin explained how excited his players would be to be at the ballpark because of the fans.
“We came here on a Tuesday night, there were 40,000 people here and it was electric,” he said. “You would have thought it would be the playoffs and everyone in our shelter liked it. We all look at each other and say ‘Wow’. “
Melvin replaces Jayce Tingler, who was fired after the worst breakdown in the team’s history, losing the Padres from a game lead for second wildcard place in the NL on September 9 to being eliminated with more than a week in the season.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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