Black not surprised Farrell ended up a manager

BOSTON -- Padres manager Bud Black and Red Sox manager John Farrell, friends and former teammates from their playing days with the Indians, met for the first time in their current roles on Tuesday.

Black and Farrell are the only two current former Major League pitchers who are managers. They played together with the Indians from 1988-90, where they became friends. In 1989, the two combined to go 21-25 with a 3.49 ERA in 64 games, 63 starts.

It came as no surprise to Black that Farrell ended up as a manager.

"He's a good baseball man. He knows baseball. He thinks like a player. He's got a great feel for the game, a great feel for his players," Black said.

Black was asked why baseball has been resistant to this point in hiring former pitchers as managers. He said there's no real easy answer to that question.

"I can't answer that in two minutes," Black said during his pregame gathering in the visiting dugout. "… I think, for me, it's not so much about the position the guy played but more the person and what it takes to manage or any leadership position."