SAN DIEGO -- From the outside, the Padres’ decision to hire Craig Stammen as their next manager came as a stunner to much of the baseball world.

For one, Stammen wasn’t among the reported list of finalists (though it was always apparent there was at least one more name in the mix). For another, Stammen hasn’t previously held a coaching role, having retired only two years ago after a 13-year career as a big league pitcher.

But to those inside the Padres’ organization, the move made plenty of sense. So … here are four reasons why San Diego hired Stammen as its 24th manager:

1. He blends player relationships with baseball acumen

Upon his arrival in 2017, Stammen instantly became a leader in the Padres’ bullpen. It was sometime around then that he worked his way onto the radar of general

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