Lynch Hired to Head Padres’ Minor Leagues

Ed Lynch, whose goal is to delay studying for his bar examination as long as possibl was hired Thursday as the Padres’ director of minor leagues.

Lynch, 34, a former major league pitcher for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs, replaces Tom Romenesko, who was fired last week.

The Padres, in their continuing sweep of the front office and coaching staff, announced the firing of minor league managers Pat Kelly of triple-A Las Vegas and Jack Krol of single-A Charleston, and minor league coaches Nate Colbert and Steve Luebber of Riverside and Gary Lance of Las Vegas.

It certainly wasn’t the best of days for Colbert, the Padres’ all-time leading home run hitter with 163. He also was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on eight counts of bank fraud and four counts of making false statements on loan applications.

Jim Riggleman, who was fired two weeks ago as first base coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, will be the new manager at Las Vegas. Dave Trembley, former director of Pirate City, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ minor league facility, will take Krol’s place at Charleston.

Since dismissing Jack McKeon, vice president/baseball operations, on Sept. 21, the Padres have fired or released 27 front office administrators and employees, major league and minor league coaches and major league players.

The Padres also officially announced that they provided arbitration rights to first baseman Jack Clark, preventing him from becoming eligible for free agency, and did not offer arbitration rights to reserve outfielder Fred Lynn, allowing him to be a free agent.

The hiring of Lynch completes the Padres’ front office, with Randy Smith, scouting director, being the only holdover from the previous regime.

Lynch is scheduled to be graduated Dec. 20 from the University of Miami Law School. He had remained in contact for the past 2 1/2 years with Joe McIlvaine, and when McIlvaine as hired as general manager of the Padres, Lynch telephoned him with congratulations.

“He called me a few days later and asked if I’d be interested in the position,” Lynch said. “I said, ‘Definitely.’ He said he’d have to talk to other people and he’d get back in touch with me in 10 days.

“Well, yesterday was 10 days, and it was the longest 10 days of my life. I really can’t wait to start.”

* COLBERT INDICTED

A federal grand jury in San Diego issued a 12-count indictment against former Padre Nate Colbert. B2