Pat Murphy, the Padres' Triple-A manager, will be interviewed as a candidate to replace Bud Black as manager, sources confirmed, and some view him as the favorite to win the job.

Murphy and Dave Roberts, who will manage the Padres' first game post-Black Monday night at home vs. Oakland, are the two known candidates to replace Black, at least on an interim basis.

Padres GM A.J. Preller suggested they were looking for an interim manager to manage out the season after dismissing Black with a 32-33 record.

While Roberts will get the first game or games, it seems possible Murphy has the inside track. Some close to the situation say Preller seeks someone fiery, and that would seem to point to Murphy, they also say.

The Padres declined Milwaukee's request to interview Murphy for a major-league coaching job shortly after Craig Counsell was hired as their manager, a hint they had bigger plans for Murphy.

Roberts, who has been the Padres' bench coach after serving previously as first base coach, is well respected as a great baseball man and a fine gentleman, and is well known as a former Padres player and also the Red Sox player who executed the famed stolen base in Game 4 of the ALCS that allowed the Red Sox to start their remarkable comeback against the Yankees. But Murphy has gained admirers managing the Padres' Triple-A team the last three years. "Players respond to him," one source said.

Murphy coached collegiate teams at both Notre dame and Arizona State University. Counsell was one of his players at Notre Dame.

Pat Murphy
Pat Murphy may have the inside track to become the permanent interim manager. (USATSI)