Padres express shock over firing of Bud Black

In response to the firing of now former Padres manager Bud Black, there was shock coming from various players on the team. Black seems to have left a good impression on many of the players who just joined the team this year.

According to U-T San Diego, right fielder Matt Kemp said, "We were all shocked.”

Fellow outfielder Justin Upton said:

"I think the guys took it tough, including myself … We felt that Buddy was doing a pretty good job here with the new team and getting us to jell.”

Former bench coach and now interim manager Dave Roberts expressed the same feelings:

“There was some surprise, obviously, for everyone in that clubhouse.”

The firing was particularly tough for Roberts. Though he aspires to be a big league manager, he told the U-T that he didn’t envision it happening under these circumstances. Roberts called Black a “friend” and “mentor.”

(h/t U-T San Diego)

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