azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
Al Pedrique became the second person this week to leave the Diamondbacks organization.
Pedrique, who managed the D-Backs the second half of this past season and had been asked to be the third-base coach in 2005, said Wednesday he will be joining an organization that he declined to name.
"I’m not coming back with the Diamondbacks," said Pedrique, who had been with the organization since 2001, including one season as manager at Class AA El Paso and two as manager at Class AAA Tucson.
Earlier this week, Sandy Johnson left his post as DBacks senior assistant GM to become a special assistant to New York Mets GM Omar Minaya.
Pedrique said the issue was getting a two-year contract as a coach. He said Arizona was unwilling to commit to more than a year until after he had been granted permission to talk to another team and had already made a
commitment to that club.
GM Joe Garagiola Jr. declined to comment on Pedrique’s situation until it becomes official.
"I thought I did enough of a good job, been with the organization long enough," Pedrique said. "If the manager (Bob Melvin) can get a two-year deal, why not the coaches?
"I hate to leave the Diamondbacks. I thought asking for two years wasn’t too much."
Pedrique began this year as Arizona’s third-base coach and took over as interim manager when Bob Brenly was fired July 2.
Although the D-Backs went 21-61 under Pedrique, the organization expressed appreciation for his work. He was interviewed for the chance to remain manager but was not one of the three finalists.
"I like the position," Pedrique said of his new job. "It’s a new role and new challenge."
Melvin’s coaching staff is expected to include Jay Bell (already named as bench coach), Mike Aldrete (hitting or first-base coach) and holdovers Mark Davis (pitching) and Glenn Sherlock (bullpen). Pedrique’s defection leaves two openings.
"(Melvin) continues to juggle a lot of names," Garagiola said. "I’m still hopeful that we can have (the coaching staff) ready to be announced next week."
BRENNAMAN STAYING
One person who will not be leaving soon is broadcaster Thom Brennaman.
With Brennaman’s former D-Backs broadcast partner Bob Brenly having accepted a job as color analyst for the Chicago Cubs, speculation in Chicago had Brennaman a candidate for the play-by-play spot. (Chip Caray and Steve Stone are not returning to the Cubs broadcast team.)
But Brennaman has a year left on his Arizona contract.
"I’m very happy here," Brennaman said Wednesday. "I don’t have any intention of going anywhere."
DEALING
Garagiola, attending the GM meetings in Florida, said he talked to a number of teams Wednesday.
"Some general discussions about need and a couple of specific discussions involving players," Garagiola said.
Arizona may have interest in New York Yankees center fielder Kenny Lofton; the Yankees are expected to make another push to acquire ace Randy Johnson. Philadelphia, Colorado and San Diego could also be eyeing Lofton.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31380
Al Pedrique became the second person this week to leave the Diamondbacks organization.
Pedrique, who managed the D-Backs the second half of this past season and had been asked to be the third-base coach in 2005, said Wednesday he will be joining an organization that he declined to name.
"I’m not coming back with the Diamondbacks," said Pedrique, who had been with the organization since 2001, including one season as manager at Class AA El Paso and two as manager at Class AAA Tucson.
Earlier this week, Sandy Johnson left his post as DBacks senior assistant GM to become a special assistant to New York Mets GM Omar Minaya.
Pedrique said the issue was getting a two-year contract as a coach. He said Arizona was unwilling to commit to more than a year until after he had been granted permission to talk to another team and had already made a
commitment to that club.
GM Joe Garagiola Jr. declined to comment on Pedrique’s situation until it becomes official.
"I thought I did enough of a good job, been with the organization long enough," Pedrique said. "If the manager (Bob Melvin) can get a two-year deal, why not the coaches?
"I hate to leave the Diamondbacks. I thought asking for two years wasn’t too much."
Pedrique began this year as Arizona’s third-base coach and took over as interim manager when Bob Brenly was fired July 2.
Although the D-Backs went 21-61 under Pedrique, the organization expressed appreciation for his work. He was interviewed for the chance to remain manager but was not one of the three finalists.
"I like the position," Pedrique said of his new job. "It’s a new role and new challenge."
Melvin’s coaching staff is expected to include Jay Bell (already named as bench coach), Mike Aldrete (hitting or first-base coach) and holdovers Mark Davis (pitching) and Glenn Sherlock (bullpen). Pedrique’s defection leaves two openings.
"(Melvin) continues to juggle a lot of names," Garagiola said. "I’m still hopeful that we can have (the coaching staff) ready to be announced next week."
BRENNAMAN STAYING
One person who will not be leaving soon is broadcaster Thom Brennaman.
With Brennaman’s former D-Backs broadcast partner Bob Brenly having accepted a job as color analyst for the Chicago Cubs, speculation in Chicago had Brennaman a candidate for the play-by-play spot. (Chip Caray and Steve Stone are not returning to the Cubs broadcast team.)
But Brennaman has a year left on his Arizona contract.
"I’m very happy here," Brennaman said Wednesday. "I don’t have any intention of going anywhere."
DEALING
Garagiola, attending the GM meetings in Florida, said he talked to a number of teams Wednesday.
"Some general discussions about need and a couple of specific discussions involving players," Garagiola said.
Arizona may have interest in New York Yankees center fielder Kenny Lofton; the Yankees are expected to make another push to acquire ace Randy Johnson. Philadelphia, Colorado and San Diego could also be eyeing Lofton.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31380
