BB Gone!

[WizardOfAz]

The Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday fired manager Bob Brenley in a move that was anticipated after weeks of poor performances by the team.

The Diamondbacks won the last two games against the San Diego Padres but suffered an 11-game losing streak prior to those wins.

"This is never an easy decision to make, particularly with someone as well-liked and respected as Bob," said Jerry Colangelo, the team's chairman and chief executive.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/0702brenly.html

 

[justAndy]

...

I do hold him somewhat responsible for: poor basic fielding by the young guys, batters ALWAYS swinging for the fences, even when a non expert like me could see that choking up and just getting out to right field for a sac fly would have been a better tactic...

 

[IndyDevil]

Have the D'Backs named a replacement yet?

 

[NickelBack]

Joe Jr next?

 

[IndyDevil]

Joe Jr next?

One can only hope....

 

[IndyDevil]

Have the D'Backs named a replacement yet?

Ooops, I spoke too soon....a replacement will be named at a news conference later today.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Sources tell KTAR Sports that Al Pedrique has been tapped to be the next manager.

Who is that?

Mike

 

[AZZenny]

He was manager in Tucson last couple years - managed to winning seasons despite being constantly stripped of his better players - has been our very competent 3rd-base coach this season. I noticed on TV it was he who disciplined Scott Hairston yesterday for his bunt sign gaffe the night before.

He (or whoever) will be interim - Yount must have declined, and this will also be easier to change in the off-season than if they had appointed Yount.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

It was fairly obvious that Brenly is not the type of manager this teams needs as it goes for a youth movement. The constant lineup changes, position switches, calling out players through the media, closed door high volume meetings may work with veteran teams but it only hurts young ones.

I remember reading something Allan Trammell said as he was coaching the Tigers last year about how when young players mess up, you can't be too negative or hard on them, but rather be reassuring and nurture their talents. Brenly is obviously not cut out for this and it was a good move to get rid of him even though the current position of the team is far from his fault.

Let's be honest, this team in its current shape is going absolutely nowhere. I'm hoping Colangelo at his press conference to announce Pedrique's hiring will also announce his intentions of a firesale proportional to the '98 Marlins. There's no point in having 40 year olds players with value if you're going young.

 

[Ryanwb]

I still say the 2001 team could have been coached by a monkey and the D'backs still would have won. His bonehead coaching style was apparent then when he brought Kim back in game 5.

Fast forward to 03 and 04 when he actually has to make manager like decisions and he is just aloof...

 

[IndyDevil]

Pedrique takes over for BB, Mark Davis takes over for Kniffin (WOO-HOO!!!), Sherlock becomes the third base coach....I couldn't hear (damn DSL at work) who the new bench coach was, but Yount decided his loyalty to BB precluded any job with the new staff, and I believe he quit.

 

[AZZenny]

Bench coach is Lorenzo Bundy, from Tucson. Tommy Jones is 1st base coach, which disturbs me a bit - what does that do to the Minor League program? And I wanted TJ as GM.

JC went on to say the team will be studying the youngsters closely the rest of the season to see (basically) who stays on the team; that the new direction is - Rebuilding is here, now; Pedrique is the man to do that.

 

[SweetD]

WOW this is bad. I will not be buying next years X-box baseball game we are going to suck.

 

[BC867]

I am a happy fan. Happy with our new Manager, since I first posted about Al Pedrique some time ago. Happy with our new Coaching staff.

Al's first announcement was that Alex Cintron will be his SS. The last time Al managed him, Alex was hitting .390.

The first time Pedrique sits next to a young player on the bench, during a game, and gives him words of encouragement or constructive criticism . . . instead of hiding in the corner of the dugout and talking to his players through the Press . . . I will give him a standing ovation.

 

[Phill11]

I am a happy fan. Happy with our new Manager, since I first posted about Al Pedrique some time ago. Happy with our new Coaching staff.

Al's first announcement was that Alex Cintron will be his SS. The last time Al managed him, Alex was hitting .390.

The first time Pedrique sits next to a young player on the bench, during a game, and gives him words of encouragement or constructive criticism . . . instead of hiding in the corner of the dugout and talking to his players through the Press . . . I will give him a standing ovation.

I hope Cintron performs well.

Chuck Kniffin (SP?) and Yount are out too?

Colangelo was very unprofessional singling out Webb.

 

[SweetD]

BB was a good coach for Vets, the D-backs are taking a different route. Youth and rebuilding. This might hurt our chances of signing Sexon

 

[ajcardfan]

The first time Pedrique sits next to a young player on the bench, during a game, and gives him words of encouragement or constructive criticism . . . instead of hiding in the corner of the dugout and talking to his players through the Press . . . I will give him a standing ovation.

That's going to sell a lot of tickets. Diamondbacks fever...catch it.

 

[az240zz]

Well, we will see how this plays out. I wonder of RJ will ask to be traded since Colangelo committed to rebuilding. I don't know about Cintron! His erratic play and poor batting makes me wonder if last year was his peak. His pitch selection was questionable and it appeared that he was trying to hit homeruns and not line drive singles and doubles.

Lets hope the new manager can do a bettar job in handling the bullpen.


az240z

 

[az240zz]

I hope Cintron performs well.

Chuck Kniffin (SP?) and Yount are out too?

Colangelo was very unprofessional singling out Webb.

What did he say about Webb?

az240z

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

BB was a good coach for Vets, the D-backs are taking a different route. Youth and rebuilding. This might hurt our chances of signing Sexon

That might be a good thing. Signing Richie Strikeout to the eight figure a year deal he's going to want would be a dumb move anyway, especially coming off a shoulder injury.

Colangelo called out Webb? What a jackass. He's had barely a year playing in the league and has an ERA under 4.00 with a horrible defense playing behind him. He should be calling out Garagiola for his average drafts and worse trades.

 

[SweetD]

JC is on 1060 right now!

 

[Ryanwb]

BC is on 1060 right now!

Bryan Colangelo? Isn't he the GM of the Suns?

 

[SweetD]

Bryan Colangelo? Isn't he the GM of the Suns?

JC BC who???

 

[BC867]

I don't know about Cintron! His erratic play and poor batting makes me wonder if last year was his peak. His pitch selection was questionable and it appeared that he was trying to hit homeruns and not line drive singles and doubles.

Not just Cintron. The same with Overbay. The same with Spivey. The same with Hillenbrand. It wasn't each player who fell into the same bad habits. It was the team doing what the Manager wanted them to.

Lyle Overbay is showing every day, consistently, what he can do as a line-drive hitting RBI guy. I still expect Cintron to challenge for a batting title during his career. And Hillenbrand to be a consistent line-drive hitting RBI machine as he was with Boston.

What did he say about Webb?

Basically he said that Brandon has been underachieving this season. He has been. I don't think that's a knock on Webb. It's a reflection on both the Manager and Pitching Coach. They're the ones who were fired today.

 

[AZZenny]

Yeah, and basically talking about Webb and also some of the pitching injuries was in the context of why Kniffin had to go. But I felt naming Webb as an example of pitchers not living up to expectations was unprofessional, especially since MOST of that is due to Joe Jr.'s unrealistic expectations when he picked them up to begin with.

I was SO hoping Joe Jr. would have the grace to step down.