Lou's Views #2: Dbacks Should Bid Farewell To Melvin & Coaching Staff

[AZ Snake Pit]

Seems like the key question here, to which I'd be interested to hear answers, is:

What would you have done differently to Melvin?

Put another way, where, specifically, has Melvin failed? Now, it's easy to make facile answer like "Not sign Ortiz", but the manager can only play the hand he's dealt.

So putting that aside, what changes would you have made to the lineups or tactics used this year, which is pretty much all the manager can control. And again, "Not playing Ortiz" is not an acceptable answer. [I'm sure pressure from above would prevent that]

 

[AZZenny]

Done differently TO Melvin? LOL...ah, the possibilities...

Yes, he only has what he's given to work with, and that's sad enough - but he is doing the same things in AZ that he did in Seattle - he has a crew of increasingly sloppy, low-energy veterans who 'like him a lot' but won't bust a sweat for him.
He brought the hitting coach that sucked in Seattle too - that was his call.
He doesn't trust the young players and puts them in situations likely to bring out the worst, not the best. He openly squashes their excitement as if it was a negative thing. He overworks young arms.(Seattle wanted him gone before they started bringing up an influx of younger players.)
He says one thing and does another, but most managers probably do that. Buck was one who didn't.
He shows no anticipation of the other side's likely strategies, and shows no awareness of his own players strengths and weaknesses statistically.
He hasn't done one single creative, unexpected, or remotely interesting play this season.
His coaches don't pay attention to what's happening. He protests the wrong calls.
He calls individual meetings with his players to see if THEY have any idea what to do! I mean, grow a pair and take charge!

And worst...
He keeps talking future imperfect tense - we should, we need to start, we'll have to...
Hey Clarabell! Just friggin' GET IT DONE!

 

[azsouthendzone]

Fire Melvin

This is beyond the embarassing point. Why are they wasting their time with this guy? Fire this moron and hire Grace.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

This is beyond the embarassing point. Why are they wasting their time with this guy? Fire this moron and hire Grace.

Good Idea: Firing Melvin
Bad Idea: Hiring Grace

 

[Brian in Mesa]

You must be registered for see images

The above picture is not even a year old (10/04/04).

 

[Brian in Mesa]

embarassing

embarrassing

You think Grace is ready?

 

[azsouthendzone]

He would add a spark to the club house. They need someone who actually had success as a player to manage this team. They also need to put Glaus on waivers, then move Tracy back to third and call up Carlos Quintin.Melvin was by far the worst choice to manage this team. why they fired Brenly in favor of the clowns they've replaced him with is beyond me. What if they did can Melvin, hired Grace, and then they won the division? Picking up 6 games on the Padres is do able.

 

[clif]

Hiring Mark Grace would be a bad idea.

- signed Chris Snyder

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

He would add a spark to the club house.

I guess there is a spark involved with chain smoking Marlboro Lights. Seriously, between Grace's normal goofball antics and his f-bomb laced tirade on the starting catcher, there's a good chance Grace will have already lost the clubhouse as a manager before he even accpets the position. The D-Backs need someone like Eric Wedge in Cleveland. A no nonsense tough guy that can also bring along a young team.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I guess there is a spark involved with chain smoking Marlboro Lights. Seriously, between Grace's normal goofball antics and his f-bomb laced tirade on the starting catcher, there's a good chance Grace will have already lost the clubhouse as a manager before he even accpets the position. The D-Backs need someone like Eric Wedge in Cleveland. A no nonsense tough guy that can also bring along a young team.

That reminds me of someone....hmm...former Met, used to manage in our farm system, anyone remember that guy?

 

[AZZenny]

Grace would be a disaster IMO - he's just another version of veteran-loving, stat-hating good ol boy. We really need an ass-kicking, smart, youngish disciplinarian - not just ill-defined 'spark'. Interesting, isn't it, that Kendricks is the one who chose Backman over Melvin initially, before the alcohol stuff came out. Moorad was reportedly mixed, and the in-house guys (Joe Jr., Sandy Johnson) preferred Melvin.

Glaus is doing everything we should realistically expect of him, at his age, stage of career, etc. - especially given a nagging injury. To expect him to suddenly improve beyond career avg numbers is our problem - not his. He's very close to his normal stats in all things except avg with runners on. He's also got among the best overall batting stats of any regular starter on the team this year.

He's not blocking anybody ready to come up, either, since really, Tracy sucked at third. Barden is probably not quite ready, but maybe mid-season next year. (He'd be an interesting Sept call-up.) We are jammed at OF and 1B, and good luck sorting that out.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

He's not blocking anybody ready to come up, either, since really, Tracy sucked at third. Barden is probably not quite ready, but maybe mid-season next year. (He'd be an interesting Sept call-up.) We are jammed at OF and 1B, and good luck sorting that out.

And Tracy has been so spectacular at 1B and RF? Tracy's either a 3B or a bat off the bench because he obviously can't handle the throws and fly balls and he's blocked at 1B. If it were up to me next year we'd be starting Glaus at 1B (inevitable considering his size), Tracy at 3B, Conor in LF and Carlos in RF.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

And Tracy has been so spectacular at 1B and RF? Tracy's either a 3B or a bat off the bench because he obviously can't handle the throws and fly balls and he's blocked at 1B. If it were up to me next year we'd be starting Glaus at 1B (inevitable considering his size), Tracy at 3B, Conor in LF and Carlos in RF.

Conor in LF is a pretty strange idea coming from a guy that dogs on Gonzo's defense out there so much.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Conor in LF is a pretty strange idea coming from a guy that dogs on Gonzo's defense out there so much.

The idea of Gonzo flailing around out there for another year is more than I can stand, I dread the fact that he has a player option...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Conor in LF is a pretty strange idea coming from a guy that dogs on Gonzo's defense out there so much.

Conor projects to be an lethal hitter which would make up for his poor defense. Right now Gonzo's an average hittter and a poor fielder.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Conor projects to be an lethal hitter which would make up for his poor defense. Right now Gonzo's an average hittter and a poor fielder.

Sure he has a potentially electric bat, but his defense in LF is simply ugly, and I mean ugly. He makes Gonzo look good out there.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Sure he has a potentially electric bat, but his defense in LF is simply ugly, and I mean ugly. He makes Gonzo look good out there.

So was Berkman's and Manny's still is. The thing they have in common (like Conor projects to be) is they all can rake which makes up for their poor LF defense. There's no way Glaus will be able to hold up at 3B for the life of his contract so it's either Conor at 3B or LF.

 

[Lefty]

Sure he has a potentially electric bat, but his defense in LF is simply ugly, and I mean ugly. He makes Gonzo look good out there.

Gonzo is a below average fielder. He has no arm whatsoever and he rarely dives for balls that are catchable. Conor or Carlos could do no worse.

Gonzo's hitting has been average. He is horrible with men on third and less than two outs. He is not producing like he used to. If they would sit him and make him realize his time as a starter with the Diamondbacks is over, maybe he would ask for a trade and that would benefit both sides.

 

[AZZenny]

Conor's LF play was not that ugly. He will be at least as good as Gonzo was in his prime - by late AZFL he was throwing with decent strength and aim and getting a good read on the ball - and I saw hime 3-4 times a week on average.

I think moving this guy from 3B (where he was his whole HS and college career) to LF to 1B in 3 years has been a disservice - fine if you have top defensive talent to begin with, but if that's not your forte, never getting settled and polished any one position seems likely to emphasize your weaknesses. Tracy is another one - he was becoming competent at 1B, but now he's at the bottom of the learning curve.

Anyhow, I am fine with Mao's suggestions, but it may take some assassinations to accomplish. (And I am OK with that, too. Tsk)
(When Tracy's ball, I think it was, smacked into the dugout, I had a Eureka! That's the way to deal with Melvin - bean him! he's comatose to begin with, so no one would notice! However, my friend said I was getting way too mean about this.)

 

[devilfan02]

Bumping this up for more discussion on this matter.....

Thanls KLL. I think Melvin should be gone at all star break or by the end of this coming season at the latest. He provides no motivation and you can tell by the way the players act. They all look like they woke from naps during the National Anthem. It's rediculous. Also, he looks clueless about 90% of the time he's on the 3rd step of the dugout. I really wish Backman was here because I think he would demand everything out of his players. IMO, he's very similar to Ozzie Guillen who is demanding yet finds a way to be a players manager. Get Melvin out of here

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Thanls KLL. I think Melvin should be gone at all star break or by the end of this coming season at the latest. He provides no motivation and you can tell by the way the players act. They all look like they woke from naps during the National Anthem. It's rediculous. Also, he looks clueless about 90% of the time he's on the 3rd step of the dugout. I really wish Backman was here because I think he would demand everything out of his players. IMO, he's very similar to Ozzie Guillen who is demanding yet finds a way to be a players manager. Get Melvin out of here

Had Arizona's brass done their homework, perhaps Backman would still be manager, and might have even gotten some respect for wanting to give the guy a chance inspite of some of his past brushes with the law. Instead, they **** themselves and wound up looking like an embarrassment, and were more or less forced to go with Melvin.

 

[devilfan02]

Had Arizona's brass done their homework, perhaps Backman would still be manager, and might have even gotten some respect for wanting to give the guy a chance inspite of some of his past brushes with the law. Instead, they **** themselves and wound up looking like an embarrassment, and were more or less forced to go with Melvin.

Yup. Its like they buckled after they threw up all over themselves with the Backman debacle and felt they owed it to Melvin. I know GM's like Byrnes are not too concerned with their managers, but hopefully he quickly gives Melvin the boot

 

[FinleyLover]

We can only hope... that has been the one worry I have is now that we are "officially" in the youth movement, that Clarabell isn't going to fall into line with the program. I can see him sitting CJ every chace he gets for Clark to start at 1B, with Green, et al.
Don't get me wrong, I am one of the few who sings Clark's praises, but I thinkt the time is NOW for the kids to play everyday so the team will be a legit contender in 07 or 08. Clark did good things, and with the NTC he will most likely be favored at 1B, but it would be an absolute crime to let our kids waste away on the bench.

 

[devilfan02]

Who could be some possible replacements for the 2007 season???? I know its very hard considering some possible candidates might be currently managing another team. To be honest, I don't know where to start. Mark Grace's name will be out there but I don't know how ready he'd be. I would like that hire though. He would loosen up the clubhouse yet bring the intensity every game. I really wish we never screwed up the Backman situation, he would have been great IMO