Buddy Black Joins Angel Front Office, Will He Manage Again?

No Comments November 27, 2015 Angels By John Stellman

Kudos to Angel owner Arte Moreno. The hiring of Buddy Black was ingenious. Black has a brilliant baseball mind and will become an invaluable member of the Angel family.

Black recently turned down a $1M offer to manage the Washington Nationals next season. He might have wound up in the World Series. Instead he wound up in Anaheim.

Black was hired as a special assistant to general manager Billy Eppler.

“I think he can affect a lot of different areas.” Eppler told Alden Gonzalez of MLB. com. “He can impact the front office, impact major league operations, impact minor league operations, impact scouting.”

Black Has Eppler’s Back

“With general managers these days, it’s a very demanding job,” Black confessed. “Those who are around him and close to him – his staff – Mike (Scioscia), others, he has to obviously lean on a number of people in the organization. I will be one of those guys that will lend Billy all the support that I can.”

It’s a homecoming for the 58-year old and former National League Manager Of The Year (2010) who was Scioscia’s pitching coach from 2000-2006. Black spent 15 years in the major leagues amassing a 121-116 record that included a World Series ring with the 1985 Kansas City Royals. He also has a 2002 ring with the Angels.

“Anytime you have the leaders in the organization – from ownership down to the front office down to the field staff – who have a passion and a desire to win, that’s a great combination,” Black admitted. “And I know the Angels have that.

The talent base obviously led by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols is a great way to start. I know what their objective is every year. I know Billy’s vision and Mike’s vision are aligned of where they want to get to. It’s going to be great to be a part of that.”

But for how long?

What’s In Black’s Future?

Black wavered on what direction his future may take.

“I think any of us in this game, we never know what lies ahead. And I think that we take those steps as they come. I’ll continue to do that.

I loved coaching the Angels. loved managing the Padres. We’ll see what lies ahead. But managing is a great challenge that I enjoy.”

Black managed the Padres from 2007 until midway through the 2015 season. His career record was 649-713 for a franchise not noted for opening up their pocket book. During that time, Black’s bullpen included Angel closer Houston Street.

The manager left a lasting impression on the reliever.

“Extremely intelligent, versatile with his style and philosophy,” Street said of Black.

Prior to his first tour with the Angels, Black spent four years in the Cleveland front office.

Roenicke Also Returns

Black’s not the only ex-Angel back for an encore.

Ron Roenicke managed the Brewers from 2011-2014 before being fired 25 games into the 2015 season. His 342-331 record earned him a position as Scioscia’s third base coach next season.

He previously held that position in Anaheim from 2000-2005 before moving to the bench where he served as Scioscia’s No. 1 lieutenant until 2010.

“We’re getting the band back together. I’m excited about it,” Black concluded.

Exactly what Angel fans hope to experience in Anaheim next summer…lots of excitement!

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...