Padres Manager Jayce Tingler Faces Unknown Challenges
San Diego Padres Manager Jayce Tingler. (Photo:©Charlie Riedel/Associated Press)
Jayce Tingler is patiently waiting to begin his professional career as a major league baseball manager with the San Diego Padres. But just like the rest of us, Tingler is caught between finally working in his dream job while navigating the uncertainty of these unprecedented times.
He’s a manager of a team that cannot practice nor play in games, but they can come together as one through video conferencing. It’s crazy how professional sports has quickly evolved into a virtual enterprise. Still, Tingler has a difficult balancing act ahead of him. He’s trying to build a new culture inside the clubhouse, while his roster is scattered across two continents. It’s no small task, but that is Tingler’s main responsibility until he receives an official report date back to work.
What Does The Padres’ Future Look Like?
Fortunately for Tingler, he nearly had a full spring training schedule with his team before the pandemic shut down all major league camps. Padres fans will know quickly whether or not he bonded with his players. No one is quite sure what to expect from this year’s team.
If the Padres are going to sprint out of the starting gate once the 2020 season begins, it might be dependent upon how Tingler shapes his managerial style on the team’s strengths and weaknesses. Granted, on-field play might be less sophisticated and a bit sloppy at times. But if the Padres are going to contend for a playoff berth, then Tingler may need to trust his starting nine. And the success of this crazy season might come down to the simple execution of the game’s fundamentals.
Right now, the great unknown in baseball is pinpointing an actual start date to the season. Sure, everyone has their thoughts and opinions, but no one has a definitive answer. Until an official announcement, everything else is pure speculation.
For Tingler, he will set the tone for the 2020 baseball season in San Diego. All eyes will be watching to critique the way he keeps his Padres focused on what they can control on the field and less on the outside circumstances that are beyond their control.
Why? Because, he’s the man in charge.