A. J. Hinch to succeed Melvin as D-backs manager

[dbackjon]

Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin has been fired and will be replaced by former catcher A.J. Hinch, who served as Arizona's VP of Player Development, SI.com has learned.

Hinch is expected to be introduced at a Friday news conference.

Early speculation had centered on third-base coach Chip Hale or bench coach Kirk Gibson, but general manager Josh Byrnes preferred a non-traditional hire in an attempt to shake things up.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/b ... index.html

Call me underwhelmed

[AZGrizFan]

Christ on a crutch. They had the answer right on the fucking bench. Gibson was the guy. What is the fascination with CATCHERS???

[dbackjon]

Christ on a crutch. They had the answer right on the fucking bench. Gibson was the guy. What is the fascination with CATCHERS???

I will keep this straight...


A lot of great managers have been catchers - they are in a way the manager on the field...

[AZGrizFan]

Christ on a crutch. They had the answer right on the fucking bench. Gibson was the guy. What is the fascination with CATCHERS???

I will keep this straight...


A lot of great managers have been catchers - they are in a way the manager on the field...

OK, now THAT'S funny. Catchers....

[UNHWildCats]

catchers usually make good managers...

ask any red sox fan who they want as manager in 10 years and Variteks name probably will come up 90% of the time....

Now, Melvin obviously is the exception to the rule that catchers make good managers lol

[TwinTownBisonFan]

same with utility infielders

seriously though... HINCH???

I cannot BELIEVE Chip Hale is a 3b coach... i remember when he was the twins minor league player of the year. and the next big thing , along with Pedro Munoz...

[dbackjon]

Some were touting Hale as the next Manager - he won the AAA title at Tucson.

[AZGrizFan]

There were so many obvious choices:

Gibson
Williams
Grace
Hale

etc., etc., etc.

HINCH???

[UNHWildCats]

maybe they wanted to stick this with someone and give one of their better options a fresh start next season?

[AZGrizFan]

maybe they wanted to stick this with someone and give one of their better options a fresh start next season?

Actually, the word on the street here is that BECAUSE they didn't go with some big name within the org that this is probably a long term, rebuilding project (Hinch was the Director of Player Development).

[SuperHornet]

Why the smack on catchers? The best manager in the game today was one of the best catchers who ever lived.

[Col Hogan]

Why the smack on catchers? The best manager in the game today was one of the best catchers who ever lived.

Terry Francona was a first baseman.....not a catcher...

[SuperHornet]

Screw Francona. I was talking about Mike Scioscia. Of course, one of the worst in the majors is also a catcher. And one of the best who ever lived was an ex-pitcher who never made it. Go figure....