San Diego Padres newly acquired left-hander Sean Manaea is in an interesting spot.
Not only did he make his first Padres start against his old team, the Oakland A’s, but he is back with his old manager Bob Melvin, who managed the A’s last season and was ultimately lured away by the Padres.
On Sunday, prior to Manaea’s start, Melvin had a rather interesting and hilarious idea for his club’s new pitcher, and that was to have Manaea pitch in an A’s uniform but with a Padres hat.
Ultimately, that did not come to pass, but it was at least a funny idea.
Padres manager Bob Melvin: ‘I was thinking of having him pitch in an A’s uniform with a #Padres hat.’
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 3, 2022
It Was Worth A Try
This idea was definitely worth some consideration, as now Melvin and Manaea have something in common, that being that they both left the A’s organization and joined the Padres in the same offseason.
Manaea is hardly in uncharted territory, given that he basically is in the same situation, just with a different team.
They might as well have gone to San Diego together.
Perhaps the trade could have happened just moments after Melvin agreed to manage the Padres.
It didn’t, but it would have been quite convenient for both of them.
Melvin is now going to have the opportunity to manage Manaea in two different organizations in as many years, so having him pitch in an A’s uniform and a Padres hat wasn’t such a bad idea.
Perhaps they could have done a little twinning yesterday.
Or maybe if Manaea pitched in an A’s uniform and Padres hat, Melvin could have managed in a Padres uniform and an A’s hat, meaning that the two of them could have played a little opposites yesterday.
NEXT: Sean Manaea Was Put In A Bizarre Spot Against His Former Team