Padres extend manager Black's contract

Baseball Betting Lines

07/19/2010 - San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres announced Monday that they have extended manager Bud Black's contract through the 2013 season with club options for the 2014 and 2015 campaigns.

"I am really happy to announce that the Padres have reached an agreement on a well-deserved contract extension for Bud Black," said Padres general manager Jed Hoyer. "This news comes at time when the team is playing well, but my faith in Bud goes far beyond wins and losses. He and his staff are exceptionally well prepared, he embraces the challenge of teaching young players and, most importantly, the players compete for him every night."

San Diego currently resides atop the National League West with the best record in the circuit at 54-37 and holds a four-game lead on the Colorado Rockies.

The 53-year-old Black took over the Padres in 2007 and steered the team to an 89-74 mark in a season that ended with a dramatic, 9-8, 13-inning loss to the Rockies in a one-game playoff to decide the National League wild card. The 89 wins were the most for the team since a franchise-record 98-victory campaign in 1998 that resulted in a division title and World Series appearance.

During his three-plus seasons at the helm, Black has led San Diego to an overall mark of 281-297.

He had spent seven seasons as the pitching coach for the Angels, including the 2002 World Series championship year, before earning his first shot at a managerial job. Black had also spent three seasons (1996-97, 1999) as a special assistant to then-Cleveland Indians general manager John Hart.

Black posted a 121-116 record with a 3.84 ERA in 398 games (296 starts) over a 15-year career with Seattle, Kansas City, Cleveland, Toronto and San Francisco. The left-hander was also a member of the Kansas City Royals' 1985 World Series title team.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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