The Spuds announced the hiring of their new manager this week, Paul Wilson, after a short period of contract negotiations.It became apparent that a change was needed when Boise kicked off the month of May with a 1-16 run, one of the worst stretches of baseball in the club’s history. It came to a head when Manager Joey Gordon publicly criticized Yasutoki Sato for lack of hustle, and the rest of the team defended Sato, turning against their manager. The Spuds’ front office had little choice but to fire Gordon, and the team spent nearly two weeks under the interim guidance of bench coach Warner Lewis while the managerial search was underway.
Wilson, a 46-year-old from Santa Ana, CA, who previously managed in the UMEBA, signed a three-year contract last week, and joined the Spuds on their current road trip, earning his first BBA win in the third game of the series in Rockville. The Spuds then went on to sweep both New Orleans and Phoenix, with the team finding a groove unlike any they’ve had yet this season. With an 8-4 record in Wilson’s first weeks at the helm, early indications are that the team is taking well to their new manager.
A former player, Wilson never made it to the big leagues, topping out at AAA in 2029 as a utility infielder in Omaha’s system. He had a knack for drawing walks, a penchant that he has brought to his managing philosophy, where he preaches working the count and maximizing getting on base above all else.
“Honestly, it’s all the players and the work they’ve put in,” Wilson said about the team’s recent success. “I haven’t done much except make a few pitching changes during the games.”
But if you talk to some of the players, they certainly don’t downplay Wilson’s impact.
“Skip’s been working with us on slowing the game down, not pressing, finding our pitch,” said self-appointed team spokesman Jude Carter in a post-game interview. “You can already see a lot of the guys having much better at bats, and it’s translating to more wins.”
The Spuds hope to continue their hot streak when they return home this week to host San Antonio and El Paso.
