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Colorado Rockies: Matt Kemp on Bud Black’s managerial style

By Noah Yingling

SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 1: Matt Kemp #27 of the San Diego Padres, left, and Bud Black #20, center, argue as they are both ejected from the the game by umpire Dan Iossogna, right, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Petco Park June 1, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 1: Matt Kemp #27 of the San Diego Padres, left, and Bud Black #20, center, argue as they are both ejected from the the game by umpire Dan Iossogna, right, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Petco Park June 1, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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Colorado Rockies designated hitter/outfielder Matt Kemp was a guest of MLB Central on Tuesday and he was asked about Bud Black’s managerial style.

One of the new additions to the 2020 Colorado Rockies has been Matt Kemp, who the Rockies signed to, essentially, replace Ian Desmond, who opted out of the 2020 season. Kemp, 35, brings a veteran presence to the Rockies clubhouse as prior to this season, he played in parts of 14 seasons in the majors.

In one of those seasons (2015), he played with the San Diego Padres, where his manager for the first 65 games of the season was Bud Black. Black was part of the reason why Kemp decided to sign with the Rockies, as well as his career numbers in Coors Field

Kemp was a guest of “MLB Central” on MLB Network on Tuesday and he was asked about what he enjoyed about Black’s managerial style, both with the Padres and Rockies.

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In that 2015 season, when Black was fired after starting the season with a record of 32-33, the Padres started off the season well as they were 10-5 through their first 15 games but then they lost seven of eight to end April. Kemp was much like the team as he started off well and, even after that team slump, he was hitting .326/.357/.478, which was a drop from .361/.394/.541 before losing seven of eight.

For the Padres from May 1 through Black’s firing after the game on June 14, the Padres went 21-20 but Kemp struggled mightily, as he hit .205/.250/.261. Obviously, those numbers aren’t good for your number three or four-hitter, which Kemp was.

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Kemp is playing much better in 2020, as he enters Tuesday with an OPS+ of 100 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and a slash line of .250/.357/.417.

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