azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Ed Price, Tribune
Bob Melvin’s background check came through squeaky clean.
After deciding they could not go forward with Wally Backman as their manager, the Diamondbacks on Friday announced they were instead hiring Melvin, a former Arizona bench coach and Seattle Mariners manager.
"The credibility of this organization and our obligation to the fans who support it is paramount," CEO Jeff Moorad said at a Bank One Ballpark news conference.
"In the end we made a decision that was not an easy decision, but a decision that we felt was in the organization’s best interest: To turn the page — which had only been printed a few days before — but to turn the page and turn back to Bob Melvin."
The team also announced that former Diamondbacks infielder Jay Bell would serve as Melvin’s bench coach.
Backman and his agent were unavailable for comment.
"He’s very disappointed but he understands and respects our decision," said Ken Kendrick, one of the controlling investors.
The D-Backs on Monday touted Backman as the right person to take over a team that went 51-111 this year. Kendrick introduced Backman as "absolutely a first-class person."
When it surfaced Tuesday that, in two separate incidents, Backman had pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and misdemeanor harassment in relation to a domestic dispute, the D-Backs admitted they had not done a thorough background check on Backman.
Yet Kendrick said then, "We would have hired him" even if the team had uncovered those episodes.
But, according to sources, even though Backman said there was nothing beyond what had already been revealed, the team found other troubles when it conducted an investigation.
That led the team to withdraw its contract offer to Backman.
"All of us take responsibility for not doing as thorough a job as could have been done in terms of background investigation," general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said.
Because Backman had not signed a contract, the team does not intend to compensate him.
According to the Tri-City Herald of Kennewick, Wash., Backman now faces a year in jail for possibly violating his probation in the drunkendriving case. A judge in Washington, where the DUI took place, ordered a Dec. 3 hearing.
Citing court documents, the Herald reported that Backman — whose bloodalcohol content was measured at more than 68 percent above the legal limit — was evaluated by a treatment facility and determined to be in the early stage of alcohol dependency. But when he did not seek treatment, his deferred prosecution was revoked.
Fan backlash this week was "not a lot," Kendrick said, "but I think it would have and it should have" played a part in the decision not to hire Backman.
Melvin, 43, served as bench coach under Arizona manager Bob Brenly in 2001-02, leaving to manage the Mariners. He was fired last month after Seattle went 63-99.
"I think the record of Bob Melvin and the coaches, when they’re announced, as well as who they are and the way they have and will conduct themselves will go a long way toward restoring faith in this organization," Garagiola said.
"Time will tell. If there are people who don’t want to let go of the fact we made a mistake and we said we made a mistake, well then they won’t let go of it.’’
Melvin had no qualms about being second choice.
"All the paper ballots and the absentee ballots are in," he joked, "and I’m the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31083
Bob Melvin’s background check came through squeaky clean.
After deciding they could not go forward with Wally Backman as their manager, the Diamondbacks on Friday announced they were instead hiring Melvin, a former Arizona bench coach and Seattle Mariners manager.
"The credibility of this organization and our obligation to the fans who support it is paramount," CEO Jeff Moorad said at a Bank One Ballpark news conference.
"In the end we made a decision that was not an easy decision, but a decision that we felt was in the organization’s best interest: To turn the page — which had only been printed a few days before — but to turn the page and turn back to Bob Melvin."
The team also announced that former Diamondbacks infielder Jay Bell would serve as Melvin’s bench coach.
Backman and his agent were unavailable for comment.
"He’s very disappointed but he understands and respects our decision," said Ken Kendrick, one of the controlling investors.
The D-Backs on Monday touted Backman as the right person to take over a team that went 51-111 this year. Kendrick introduced Backman as "absolutely a first-class person."
When it surfaced Tuesday that, in two separate incidents, Backman had pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and misdemeanor harassment in relation to a domestic dispute, the D-Backs admitted they had not done a thorough background check on Backman.
Yet Kendrick said then, "We would have hired him" even if the team had uncovered those episodes.
But, according to sources, even though Backman said there was nothing beyond what had already been revealed, the team found other troubles when it conducted an investigation.
That led the team to withdraw its contract offer to Backman.
"All of us take responsibility for not doing as thorough a job as could have been done in terms of background investigation," general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said.
Because Backman had not signed a contract, the team does not intend to compensate him.
According to the Tri-City Herald of Kennewick, Wash., Backman now faces a year in jail for possibly violating his probation in the drunkendriving case. A judge in Washington, where the DUI took place, ordered a Dec. 3 hearing.
Citing court documents, the Herald reported that Backman — whose bloodalcohol content was measured at more than 68 percent above the legal limit — was evaluated by a treatment facility and determined to be in the early stage of alcohol dependency. But when he did not seek treatment, his deferred prosecution was revoked.
Fan backlash this week was "not a lot," Kendrick said, "but I think it would have and it should have" played a part in the decision not to hire Backman.
Melvin, 43, served as bench coach under Arizona manager Bob Brenly in 2001-02, leaving to manage the Mariners. He was fired last month after Seattle went 63-99.
"I think the record of Bob Melvin and the coaches, when they’re announced, as well as who they are and the way they have and will conduct themselves will go a long way toward restoring faith in this organization," Garagiola said.
"Time will tell. If there are people who don’t want to let go of the fact we made a mistake and we said we made a mistake, well then they won’t let go of it.’’
Melvin had no qualms about being second choice.
"All the paper ballots and the absentee ballots are in," he joked, "and I’m the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks."
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=31083
