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New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

Benjamin Grimm Jun 09 2011 12:07 PM

Slumping A's fire Bob Geren, name Bob Melvin new manager By Seth Livingstone, USA TODAY The Oakland A's, in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, fired manager Bob Geren and replaced him with Bob Melvin on Thursday. Melvin, like Geren, is a former big league catcher. He previously managed the Seattle Mariners (2004-04) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2005-09), compiling a 493-508 record. Geren, a close friend of A's general manager Billy Beane, had not only lost games recently, he seemed to have lost the confidence of veterans in the clubhouse, most notably pitcher Brian Fuentes, who had been demoted from the closer's role. The A's have received better-than-good starting pitching all season. The offense, defense and bullpen let Geren down at times. But communication -- or lack of it -- might have been Geren's real undoing. Things got ugly when the bullpen, including Fuentes, faltered and the A's lost their sixth consecutive game 4-1 to the Angels last month. After the game, Fuentes, who had been filling the closer's role with Andrew Bailey on the DL, was critical about how his manager used him and that lack of communication. "There's just no communication," Fuentes said. "Two games on the road, bring the closer in a tied game, with no previous discussions of doing so. And then, tonight, in the seventh inning, I get up. I haven't stretched, I haven't prepared myself. If there was some communication beforehand I would be ready to come into the game -- which I was, when I came into the game, I was ready. Just lack of communication. I don't think anybody really knows which direction he's headed." Fuentes, replaced as closer by Grant Balfour, was asked how he thought Geren has handled him. "Pretty poorly," he said. How much communication does he have with Geren? "Zero." According to the Oakland Tribune, Geren also indicated he was reluctant to use unproven pitchers in crucial late-inning situations. Former A's closer Huston Street of the Colorado Rockies told the San Francisco Chronicle that Geren "never good at communication." Street added : "I don't want to speak for anybody else, but it was a sentiment reflected in many conversations during the two years I spent in Oakland, and even recently when talking to guys after I left. For me personally, he was my least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports from age 6 to 27. I am very thankful to be in a place where I can trust my manager."

metirish Jun 09 2011 12:16 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

But communication -- or lack of it -- might have been Geren's real undoing. this gets mentioned it seems every time a manager gets fired, bad when losing and good when winning.

Edgy DC Jun 09 2011 12:19 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

So, essentially, his sin was bringing the closer into two tie games on the rroad without asking permission? What is wrong with baseball?

metirish Jun 09 2011 12:21 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

Fuentes has a previous of being a dick right?

Ceetar Jun 09 2011 12:26 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

Edgy DC wrote: So, essentially, his sin was bringing the closer into two tie games on the rroad without asking permission? What is wrong with baseball? If the way he's portrayed in Moneyball is even 10% true, Billy Beane is a raving lunatic.

Edgy DC Jun 09 2011 12:26 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

Billy Beane is not what's wrong with baseball. He's certainly not the reason that managers have to kowtow to getting saves for their designated saviors.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 09 2011 12:34 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

I suppose it's possible that Geren is a poor communicator and I'm certain his relationship with Fuentes sucks, but Huston Street? You're the real douchebag here.

Ceetar Jun 09 2011 12:41 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

Edgy DC wrote: Billy Beane is not what's wrong with baseball. He's certainly not the reason that managers have to kowtow to getting saves for their designated saviors. More citing that as ammo to the firing. the DH is what's wrong with baseball.

Edgy DC Jun 09 2011 01:17 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

A lot of things are wrong with baseball. I kind of mean "What's wrong with baseball that a manager should be fired for that?" I'm trying to be clear here.

Ceetar Jun 09 2011 01:22 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

Edgy DC wrote: A lot of things are wrong with baseball. I kind of mean "What's wrong with baseball that a manager should be fired for that?" I'm trying to be clear here. Are we going with the official reasons here? I doubt that's the whole reason he was fired.

Edgy DC Jun 09 2011 01:25 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

No, he wasn't officially fired for that. Things reportedly came to a head over that, accrding to the article. I clearly can't start a conversation.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 09 2011 01:28 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

IIRC, there have been grumblings about Geren (see Street's comments) for a few years. Part of the reason he's even KEPT the job so long is that he's had Beane's vote of confidence.

Edgy DC Jun 09 2011 01:37 PM Re: New manager in Oakland: Bob Melvin!

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I suppose it's possible that Geren is a poor communicator and I'm certain his relationship with Fuentes sucks, but Huston Street? You're the real douchebag here. Brandon and Anna agree.