Stammen had never managed at any level. He would be tasked with learning on the fly in a win-now organization. But he also knew the ins and outs of that organization. And he’d already earned the respect and trust of his biggest stars, having played with them during his time as a reliever.
Now, one year into Stammen’s tenure, it’s worth re-examining his hire. The season contained all manner of ups and downs, and Stammen certainly wasn’t perfect. He also did plenty of good things and embraced the challenge of learning on the job. When it ended, Stammen was the first first-time manager to win at least 90 games in his first year with the Padres.