Padres Reacts Survey: How do you grade Craig Stammen’s managerial tenure so far?
It’s early, but everyone has an opinion.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Manager Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres looks on before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country.
Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Craig Stammen was a reliever for the San Diego Padres long before he was their manager. By all accounts he was a beloved teammate who could relate to anyone on the roster no matter their age, background or nationality.
He was the perfect teammate. Perhaps this is the reason it was so surprising that Stammen, who was assisting the Padres front office with managerial interviews before general manager A. J.
Preller asked him to consider interviewing for the position, landed the job. Stammen went from being a teammate to the man in charge. Padres fans were right to wonder if Stammen could assume the leadership role and get the most out of players he played with like Manny Machado and Joe Musgrove.