azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 5, 2004 12:00 AM
Bob Melvin became available on the managerial, free-agent market on Monday, and although the Diamondbacks wouldn't say publicly whether they have interest in their former bench coach, it's safe to assume they do after he was fired as skipper of the Seattle Mariners.
General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said he didn't plan on revealing the names of any candidates he hopes to interview in the coming days, other than Al Pedrique, who went 22-61 after replacing Bob Brenly as Arizona's manager for the final 83 games of the season.
Melvin, though, was highly regarded in the organization during his two seasons on Brenly's staff in 2001 and 2002, and Mariners GM Bill Bavasi indicated that he has called a team familiar with Melvin and strongly recommended him for that club's vacant managerial job. advertisement
Was it the Diamondbacks? It has to be, considering that only two other managing positions are open at the moment - the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets - and Melvin has no ties to either.
Melvin, who also served as a bench coach with the Detroit Tigers (2000) and the Milwaukee Brewers (1999), led the Mariners to a 93-59 record last season. But this year's team tumbled to 63-99, and Bavasi felt he had to make a change.
Melvin, who has a home in the Valley, did not immediately return phone messages.
Pedrique is set to interview for the job Thursday. If the Diamondbacks choose to hire someone else, he said he would be willing to remain in the organization, preferably as the club's third base coach.
Garagiola wouldn't say how many candidates he planned to interview, but it appears to be no more than five. Mark Grace, the team's television analyst, has let it be known he has interest in managing the Diamondbacks but was waiting to hear whether he will be contacted for an interview.
Other possible candidates include Class A Lancaster manager Wally Backman, who guided the Diamondbacks farm club into the California League championship series; former major league managers Jim Riggleman, Grady Little and Jim Fregosi; and Ron Hassey, who is managing in the minors.
Will Clark and Eric Karros, clients of former sports agent Jeff Moorad, incoming Diamondbacks chief executive officer, could be offered jobs on the coaching staff.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1005dbacks1005.html
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 5, 2004 12:00 AM
Bob Melvin became available on the managerial, free-agent market on Monday, and although the Diamondbacks wouldn't say publicly whether they have interest in their former bench coach, it's safe to assume they do after he was fired as skipper of the Seattle Mariners.
General Manager Joe Garagiola Jr. said he didn't plan on revealing the names of any candidates he hopes to interview in the coming days, other than Al Pedrique, who went 22-61 after replacing Bob Brenly as Arizona's manager for the final 83 games of the season.
Melvin, though, was highly regarded in the organization during his two seasons on Brenly's staff in 2001 and 2002, and Mariners GM Bill Bavasi indicated that he has called a team familiar with Melvin and strongly recommended him for that club's vacant managerial job. advertisement
Was it the Diamondbacks? It has to be, considering that only two other managing positions are open at the moment - the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets - and Melvin has no ties to either.
Melvin, who also served as a bench coach with the Detroit Tigers (2000) and the Milwaukee Brewers (1999), led the Mariners to a 93-59 record last season. But this year's team tumbled to 63-99, and Bavasi felt he had to make a change.
Melvin, who has a home in the Valley, did not immediately return phone messages.
Pedrique is set to interview for the job Thursday. If the Diamondbacks choose to hire someone else, he said he would be willing to remain in the organization, preferably as the club's third base coach.
Garagiola wouldn't say how many candidates he planned to interview, but it appears to be no more than five. Mark Grace, the team's television analyst, has let it be known he has interest in managing the Diamondbacks but was waiting to hear whether he will be contacted for an interview.
Other possible candidates include Class A Lancaster manager Wally Backman, who guided the Diamondbacks farm club into the California League championship series; former major league managers Jim Riggleman, Grady Little and Jim Fregosi; and Ron Hassey, who is managing in the minors.
Will Clark and Eric Karros, clients of former sports agent Jeff Moorad, incoming Diamondbacks chief executive officer, could be offered jobs on the coaching staff.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/1005dbacks1005.html
