azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
The Diamondbacks on Monday began their manager search in earnest, whittling down a list of candidates and starting the process of contacting them or seeking permission to interview them.
Besides Al Pedrique, who managed the team the final three months of this season, three with Diamondbacks ties are believed to be on the list: former player and current broadcaster Mark Grace; Class A Lancaster manager Wally Backman; and Bob Melvin, the former Arizona bench coach who was fired Monday by the Seattle Mariners.
Pedrique will be interviewed Thursday.
General manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said the front office came up with about 30 candidates and then narrowed the list to fewer than 10 names.
Garagiola said he would not identify candidates.
"It’s still an ongoing process," he said.
"There may be a name or two added yet."
The interviewees will meet with Garagiola, team president Rich Dozer and senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson.
"I would anticipate we will get to a point where we will have (finalists)," Garagiola said, "and then I would think ownership will be involved at that point."
Garagiola said he expects each interview to last at least 2-3 hours.
"I think it’ll (cover) the same areas that we wanted to cover the last time (after the 2000 season), and that was pretty wide-ranging," Garagiola said. "You go in a lot of different directions."
Grace retired a year ago after a 16-year career. Although he spent only his final three seasons in Arizona, he was a popular player in the Valley. He has said he aspires to manage.
Backman was named minor league manager of the year by The Sporting News after guiding Lancaster to the first- and second-half titles in the California League’s Southern Division. A fiery former major league infielder (six ejections this year), Backman managed four seasons in independent leagues and three years in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Melvin was bench coach under Bob Brenly in 2001-02 and went 156-166 in two seasons with Seattle. Upon announcing Melvin’s firing Monday, Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said he recommended Melvin to another team — believed to be Arizona.
Garagiola on Monday was unable to reach the agent for impending free agent Richie Sexson — the team’s other top priority — but said Casey Close "is going to hear from me every day."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29178
The Diamondbacks on Monday began their manager search in earnest, whittling down a list of candidates and starting the process of contacting them or seeking permission to interview them.
Besides Al Pedrique, who managed the team the final three months of this season, three with Diamondbacks ties are believed to be on the list: former player and current broadcaster Mark Grace; Class A Lancaster manager Wally Backman; and Bob Melvin, the former Arizona bench coach who was fired Monday by the Seattle Mariners.
Pedrique will be interviewed Thursday.
General manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said the front office came up with about 30 candidates and then narrowed the list to fewer than 10 names.
Garagiola said he would not identify candidates.
"It’s still an ongoing process," he said.
"There may be a name or two added yet."
The interviewees will meet with Garagiola, team president Rich Dozer and senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson.
"I would anticipate we will get to a point where we will have (finalists)," Garagiola said, "and then I would think ownership will be involved at that point."
Garagiola said he expects each interview to last at least 2-3 hours.
"I think it’ll (cover) the same areas that we wanted to cover the last time (after the 2000 season), and that was pretty wide-ranging," Garagiola said. "You go in a lot of different directions."
Grace retired a year ago after a 16-year career. Although he spent only his final three seasons in Arizona, he was a popular player in the Valley. He has said he aspires to manage.
Backman was named minor league manager of the year by The Sporting News after guiding Lancaster to the first- and second-half titles in the California League’s Southern Division. A fiery former major league infielder (six ejections this year), Backman managed four seasons in independent leagues and three years in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Melvin was bench coach under Bob Brenly in 2001-02 and went 156-166 in two seasons with Seattle. Upon announcing Melvin’s firing Monday, Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said he recommended Melvin to another team — believed to be Arizona.
Garagiola on Monday was unable to reach the agent for impending free agent Richie Sexson — the team’s other top priority — but said Casey Close "is going to hear from me every day."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=29178
