Padres (32-33) send skipper Bud Black packing

The San Diego Padres have fired manager Bud Black, the club announced Monday. The official statement:

The club will immediately begin the formal search for an Interim Manager for the remainder of the 2015 season. Until that process has concluded, Bench Coach Dave Roberts will serve as the Manager beginning with tonight’s game against Oakland.

The Padres entered the season with heightened expectations after a wild offseason of trades landed them the likes of Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Craig Kimbrel and more — in addition to the free agent signing of James Shields.

They were looking great through 15 games, too, sitting 10-5. Since then, the club has sputtered and currently sits 32-33, losers of four of their last six.

Black, 57, was in his ninth season as Padres’ skipper. He was the 2010 NL Manager of the Year, when his club won 90 games and missed the playoffs by a game. He took over a team that made the playoffs two consecutive seasons and hasn’t made it once. His tenure ends with a 649-713 record.

Black is widely respected and it should be noted that his record came during several periods of rebuild, a change in ownership and several changes in the front office.

Still, the firing isn’t all too surprising, given that new GM A.J. Preller didn’t hire Black and the aggression he’s shown in making transactions since taking over last summer.

Dave Roberts will manage the Padres while the club searches for a new manager.

Bud Black is no longer the Padres manager. (USATSI)

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