LEVI COOVERT / CONTRIBUTOR

 It was not long ago that the Padres introduced former Oakland Athletics’ manager Bob Melvin as their new manager on Nov. 1, 2021. Now, barely two calendar years later, he departed and headed back to the Bay Area where he previously earned so much success, but this time with the Padres division rival, the San Francisco Giants.

     In his two seasons with the Padres, Melvin managed a competitive team. However, just being competitive was the bare minimum for a team with superstars Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Juan Soto and Xander Bogaerts in the lineup. Those four superstars have played in eight All-Star games combined in the past three years, yet the Padres team never reached its goal of the World Series. They did come close in 2022, when they defeated their biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, three games to one in the National League Division Series (NLDS). This sent them to the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies. Bob Melvin, who had never made the World Series before as a manager, was four wins away, but instead, the Padres struggled with defeat. The Phillies beat them in five games, and San Diego was sent home for the off-season.

     Still, San Diego had hoped that taking down the Dodgers in the playoffs was a sign that in 2023, the Padres would be the new top dogs of the National League West (NL West). With an estimated payroll of $251 million (third highest in MLB), and 24-year-old phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. returning from his positive steroid test suspension in early May, San Diego had very few excuses for playing poorly in 2023.

    Fast forward to October 2023. The Padres finished 82-80 and missed the playoffs by two games. Not only did they finish behind the Dodgers yet again (the last year the Padres finished ahead of the Dodgers was 2010), they were also surpassed by the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are currently playing in the World Series. For a team with so many stars, it was natural for Melvin to take some heat. Despite having put together 12 winning seasons in his career (opposed to eight losing seasons), including six winning seasons in a row, and winning four division titles, Bob Melvin has never made it to the World Series. Some Padres fans questioned if he has what it takes. During a press conference on Oct. 4 General Manager AJ Preller told reporters that San Diego intended to bring Melvin back in 2024. His contract expired, but could easily be extended.

     Instead, the Giants, who recently fired their manager, Gabe Kapler, interviewed Melvin two weeks ago and on Oct. 24, announced him as their new manager. The Giants also underperformed in 2023, and despite having led the team to a 100-win campaign in 2021, Kapler’s tenure with San Francisco did not lead to sustained success in the regular season or playoffs. His firing occured on Sept. 30, with two games left in the season. Bob Melvin previously spent 11 years managing the Oakland A’s, with whom he won two division

titles and led seven winning teams, so a return to the Bay Area is somewhat explicable. Melvin addressed his managerial move to NBC News San Diego.

     “I really don’t want to get too much into the San Diego situation, other than the fact that I really enjoyed my time there. Some things transpired last year in a difficult year for the team with expectations… I think there was a narrative at the end that probably wasn’t going to go away…. this [other] opportunity came about… this feels like the right one for me. I very much enjoyed my time in San Diego. It just seems like…. it was just time to move on.”

    The Padres now begin the search for a new manager, who will be tasked with doing what Melvin couldn’t do, and delivering this team a long- awaited World Series Title. In the meantime, Melvin will begin to build up his new team in San Francisco. On Mar. 28, when the Padres play their home opener, they will host the Giants, and their old manager Bob Melvin.