Baseball
Related: About this forumGiants to announce Bob Melvin as manager: Sources (The Athletic)
When it comes to stability and continuity in the managers office, few franchises can match the San Francisco Giants over the past four decades. Now the Giants are turning to a three-time Manager of the Year to get them back on track.
After a swift interview process, they are poised to announce the hiring of Bob Melvin, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic on condition of anonymity.
The Giants moved quickly once the Padres granted permission to speak to Melvin, who had one year remaining on his contract to manage in San Diego but was known to clash with Padres GM A.J. Preller. Melvin met on Monday with several top Giants officials on the baseball operations and ownership level, including executive board member Buster Posey. Evidently, nothing emerged from those conversations to dissuade San Francisco officials that Melvin, a Bay Area native who turns 62 on Saturday, was the right choice for the current moment.
Melvin would be entering his 21st season as a major-league manager a successful second career that began when the Seattle Mariners hired him to replace Lou Piniella prior to the 2003 season. He won a National League Manager of the Year award during his five seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and added two American League Manager of the Year distinctions while leading the Oakland As to the postseason in six of his 11 seasons there from 2011 to 2021.
Read more: https://theathletic.com/4994369/2023/10/24/bob-melvin-giants-manager-padres/
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I wasn't thoroughly on board with this when I first heard about it, but then I heard he might be bringing back former Giants Matt Williams (3rd base), Ryan Vogelsang (pitching) and Pat Burrell (hitting) as coaches and I felt a little better. Still, he had all that talent last year in SD and couldn't do anything with it.
chicoescuela
(1,511 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,739 posts)that was 65 million more than the Giants. The Padres won three more games than the Giants in '23.
I just hope there is some chemistry that makes things work for the Giants with him at the helm.
Auggie
(31,764 posts)I like this hire. New hitting coaches will certainly be welcomed. Giants have the money to bring in immediate help. Not necessarily Ohtani, who I believe would be a mistake, but guys like free agent pitcher Blake Snell. Ohtani alone can't turn the Giants around. Spend the money on a few more bodies.
And just remember:
"Baseball's weird" -- Buster Posey
usonian
(13,470 posts)Giants (Farhan) failed at the deadline to get star class hitting and starting pitching.
Couldn't make up for that by platooning. That was à hallucination.
But now they have lots more cash and the first fruit of the minor league revival. Pat the Bat was part of it, coaching in the minors.
The Giants fizzled at the tail end but Bailey was a surprise, and Estrada, and a few others never slowed down. So off season is a big question and opportunity, along with the new players.
Who knows if the platoon system will be moderated. I am sure that BoMel asked. Moving fielders all over certainly hurt their piss poor defense. Last in the league, IIRC.
Don't count oh Shohei.