Ready joins coaching staff

The Padres made a move Friday morning that has nothing to do with the impending nonwaiver trade deadline.

Randy Ready was promoted to become the team's new batting coach, replacing Jim Lefebvre. Ready has earned raves for his work as the manager of Triple-A Portland the past few years. He served as manager of the Pacific Coast League in the recent Triple-A All-Star Game.

Corey Brock has a news story up at padres.com, and you can find the Padres press release there, too.

No doubt hitting coach has been a hot seat job in San Diego in recent years. Friar John hasn't had a chance to talk to the folks in baseball operations or in uniform about the reasons for the coaching change, so he doesn' t have anything to offer beyond what Brock is reporting.

FJ knows this: Ready was one of his favorite Padres back in the 1980s. He batted .284 and had a .382 on-base percentage as a Padre from 1986-88. He played hard, and he played smart. In today's statistically savvy world, he might have been given more playing time and lasted longer in San Diego. Baseball-reference.com tells us his adjusted OPS was 130 -- outstanding.

Ready knows a thing or two about hitting. And he has had success working in player development. Let's hope that means he helps the Padres' younger hitters find consistent success in the Big Leagues.

FJ