SAN DIEGO — The Padres will be without Bob Melvin for at least Monday night’s game against the Cubs and perhaps longer as the manager deals with a gastrointestinal issue, a team spokesperson said.
Bench coach Ryan Christenson will serve as the acting manager for as long as Melvin is sidelined, as he did last week when Melvin missed the opener of the series against the Marlins with the same issue.
Melvin will continue to have input into the team’s lineups and decision-making. But Christenson will run the in-game decisions, supported by a coaching staff that features one-time manager and longtime coach Matt Williams, currently the Padres’ third-base coach. Christenson noted he would likely lean heavily on Williams’ expertise, as well as that of pitching coach Ruben Niebla and hitting coach Michael Brdar.
“I’ve got everybody,” Christenson said, when asked who would assume his role as bench coach. “I’ve got Matt Williams. When we’re on defense, he’s right there with me, and he’s obviously got the managerial experience.
“I’m continually talking with Ruben about the pitching decisions, and Michael’s right here about any pinch-hitting ideas that we might have. So there’s plenty of other people in the dugout that we can bounce stuff off of, with Bob not being present right here.”
The team offered no specific timetable for Melvin’s return, other than to say that “he may miss a few games in the coming days.” The Padres open a three-game series against the Cubs on Monday night, then begin a nine-game road trip, starting Friday in Atlanta.
The Padres hired Melvin in October, after he’d spent 11 seasons with Oakland. He’s led San Diego to an impressive 19-10 start, even while superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and a handful of other impact pieces remain on the injured list.