Padres General Manager Kevin Towers reached the midpoint of his managerial interviews yesterday and labeled each of the three candidates he's talked with thus far “strong in kind of different ways.”
Towers met with Trey Hillman yesterday after interviewing Bud Black and Jose Oquendo earlier in the week. The Padres will meet with Giants coach Ron Wotus today, former Dodgers batting coach Tim Wallach tomorrow and former Giants manager Dusty Baker Monday.
“Hillman is an evaluator,” Towers said last night. “He's got a scouting background. He managed in the Yankees organization and won a pennant as a manager in Japan this season.”
“Black is a pitching guy with local ties,” Towers said of the Angels pitching coach who resides in Rancho Santa Fe. “He's been to a World Series. He's got 15 seasons of major league experience and he's got front-office experience with Cleveland. He understands the process.”
As for Oquendo:
“He's a member of one of the best-prepared staffs in baseball,” said Towers of the St. Louis coach. “He's bilingual and a former player. He's conditioned as a player and coach to going to the playoffs.”
Towers said the Padres won't likely expand the field beyond the six candidates they already have.
“With these six, we'll find the right guy,” said the general manager.
“We'd like to get this done by the end of next week. Our plan is to send the names of two of the six to (club owner) John Moores and Sandy (Alderson) early next week and have a decision by Thursday or Friday.”
The Padres' annual awards banquet is next Thursday night.
Black yesterday said there were no surprises during his interview with the Padres – not even the addition of Baker as a late addition to the list of candidates.
“I didn't know in advance about Dusty, but I wasn't surprised by it,” said Black. “Dusty is a close friend of mine. If a team has a chance to interview a candidate of Dusty's caliber, they should make the most of it.”
Black said “I am very interested” in the Padres' job.
“The timing is right for me. The situation and location are right. I'm a West Coast guy. This is where I want to live and work. It's been a good process. The Padres and I had a very good baseball conversation.”
Black will interview with the Oakland A's on Monday.
Bill Center: (619) 293-1851; bill.center@uniontrib.com
