Padres manager accepts blame for team’s failings

“Looking back,” said former Padres manager Bud Black at a press conference held behind an Allied Gardens liquor-store dumpster, “I can see that I made some mistakes. [New team owner AJ] Preller isn’t always super clear in the communications department, but I guess I should have realized that when he spent all that money for an All-Star outfield, he expected to win some ballgames as a result. I should have told Wil Myers not to get hurt. I should have told Justin Upton to hit the ball. And I should definitely have told Matt Kemp to play like he used to play in Los Angeles. There’s a lot of bad feeling toward L.A. in San Diego right now, what with the whole Chargers thing, and Kemp wasn’t helping matters by making it look like San Diego is some kind of loserville in comparison. Oh, and the pitchers. I should have told them not to give up so many home runs. Although I have to say, I kinda thought that one went without saying.”