Mailbag: What is Melvin's future?
01/09/2006
PHOENIX -- I wanted to start off the first mailbag column of 2006 with Happy New Year wishes to everyone. Thanks for all the great questions this week, let's keep them coming as the Hot Stove winds down and Spring Training inches closer.
What is manager Bob Melvin's status? I read that he's in the last year of his contract and the Diamondbacks are building toward 2007. What does that mean for him? I thought he did a good job last year. -- Brad R., Phoenix, Ariz.
The D-Backs aren't entirely building toward 2007 as I think they feel they are going to be competitive in 2006, but when making decisions this offseason, they did it with the idea of building for long-term sustained success rather than quick fix solutions. Melvin is in the final year of a two-year contract he signed in November 2004. The contract also includes two club options, which, as of yet, have not been picked up. It would seem only fair that they exercise at least one of his options prior to the season. That would show that he is included in the organization's plan for long-term success and quiet speculation about his job status before it can begin.
I can tell you that you are not the only one to ask about Melvin's future. He is an excellent communicator and is universally well respected in the clubhouse. When some questioned the job he did last year, the players supported him both on and off the record to a man, and that is pretty rare. I've spoken with a number of veterans this offseason that would like to see Melvin have a little more job security going forward.
Why isn't Claudio Vargas going to be in the rotation? Did he not show some promise last year?-- Brandon S., Tempe, Ariz.
Vargas did show some promise last year and he may very well end up the No. 5 starter come Opening Day. As for why he doesn't have a spot locked up, I think you need to take a look at the way he finished the season. After an impressive run in July and early August, Vargas hit a rough patch. In his final seven starts, he allowed 32 runs on 57 hits. It could be that he was tired from the innings he pitched, or it could be that he wasn't as good as his earlier streak suggested.
Why haven't the D-Backs held a press conference to introduce any of their new acquisitions? They've made some great moves for the future. It'd be nice to be introduced to Johnny Estrada, Damion Easley, El Duque, Orlando Hudsdon, Luis Vizcaino, and Chris Young, not to mention re-introducing Miguel Batista. I see press conferences for other teams introducing just about everybody, but none for the Snakes.-- Rob S., Mesa, Ariz.
Rob, I took your question to Derrick Hall, the D-Backs senior vice president of communications. He informed me that there were scheduling problems in terms of getting the players the Valley at the times the moves happened, but that there will be an introductory press conference for Estrada later this month.
Am I wrong for thinking that the reason Brad Halsey had an up-and-down year in '05 is because every time he got into the fifth inning, Melvin broke up his rhythm by calling his pitches for him? Because that is exactly what I saw every time.-- Joe C., Phoenix, Ariz.
I heard it was mentioned during a broadcast that Melvin called some pitches for Halsey, but that is not true. Melvin leaves the pitch-calling to his catchers, though he will call for pitchouts, slide steps or throws over to first. That's what the D-Backs' catchers are looking for when you see them looking toward the dugout with runners on base.
In your recent article on the Diamondbacks' pitching, you did not mention Kevin Jarvis, who was signed as a free agent this winter. I know that Jarvis has had some good years in the Majors and led the Pacific Coast League in ERA last year. What kind of chance do you think he has of making the roster and becoming the fifth starter?-- Len, Phoenix, Ariz.
I think Jarvis does have a chance to win the fifth spot; it's really a long shot, though, and I didn't mention him in the article specifically because of that. With all the candidates the D-Backs have for the No. 5 spot, finding innings for them all this spring will be a challenge. The likeliest scenario for Jarivs, if he does have a strong spring, would be for him to start the season at Triple-A Tucson and earn a callup when another starter gets injured or is ineffective. That said, you can't completely rule out his chances of making the team out of Spring Training.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
PHOENIX -- I wanted to start off the first mailbag column of 2006 with Happy New Year wishes to everyone. Thanks for all the great questions this week, let's keep them coming as the Hot Stove winds down and Spring Training inches closer.
What is manager Bob Melvin's status? I read that he's in the last year of his contract and the Diamondbacks are building toward 2007. What does that mean for him? I thought he did a good job last year. -- Brad R., Phoenix, Ariz.
The D-Backs aren't entirely building toward 2007 as I think they feel they are going to be competitive in 2006, but when making decisions this offseason, they did it with the idea of building for long-term sustained success rather than quick fix solutions. Melvin is in the final year of a two-year contract he signed in November 2004. The contract also includes two club options, which, as of yet, have not been picked up. It would seem only fair that they exercise at least one of his options prior to the season. That would show that he is included in the organization's plan for long-term success and quiet speculation about his job status before it can begin.
I can tell you that you are not the only one to ask about Melvin's future. He is an excellent communicator and is universally well respected in the clubhouse. When some questioned the job he did last year, the players supported him both on and off the record to a man, and that is pretty rare. I've spoken with a number of veterans this offseason that would like to see Melvin have a little more job security going forward.
Why isn't Claudio Vargas going to be in the rotation? Did he not show some promise last year?-- Brandon S., Tempe, Ariz.
Vargas did show some promise last year and he may very well end up the No. 5 starter come Opening Day. As for why he doesn't have a spot locked up, I think you need to take a look at the way he finished the season. After an impressive run in July and early August, Vargas hit a rough patch. In his final seven starts, he allowed 32 runs on 57 hits. It could be that he was tired from the innings he pitched, or it could be that he wasn't as good as his earlier streak suggested.
Why haven't the D-Backs held a press conference to introduce any of their new acquisitions? They've made some great moves for the future. It'd be nice to be introduced to Johnny Estrada, Damion Easley, El Duque, Orlando Hudsdon, Luis Vizcaino, and Chris Young, not to mention re-introducing Miguel Batista. I see press conferences for other teams introducing just about everybody, but none for the Snakes.-- Rob S., Mesa, Ariz.
Rob, I took your question to Derrick Hall, the D-Backs senior vice president of communications. He informed me that there were scheduling problems in terms of getting the players the Valley at the times the moves happened, but that there will be an introductory press conference for Estrada later this month.
Am I wrong for thinking that the reason Brad Halsey had an up-and-down year in '05 is because every time he got into the fifth inning, Melvin broke up his rhythm by calling his pitches for him? Because that is exactly what I saw every time.-- Joe C., Phoenix, Ariz.
I heard it was mentioned during a broadcast that Melvin called some pitches for Halsey, but that is not true. Melvin leaves the pitch-calling to his catchers, though he will call for pitchouts, slide steps or throws over to first. That's what the D-Backs' catchers are looking for when you see them looking toward the dugout with runners on base.
In your recent article on the Diamondbacks' pitching, you did not mention Kevin Jarvis, who was signed as a free agent this winter. I know that Jarvis has had some good years in the Majors and led the Pacific Coast League in ERA last year. What kind of chance do you think he has of making the roster and becoming the fifth starter?-- Len, Phoenix, Ariz.
I think Jarvis does have a chance to win the fifth spot; it's really a long shot, though, and I didn't mention him in the article specifically because of that. With all the candidates the D-Backs have for the No. 5 spot, finding innings for them all this spring will be a challenge. The likeliest scenario for Jarivs, if he does have a strong spring, would be for him to start the season at Triple-A Tucson and earn a callup when another starter gets injured or is ineffective. That said, you can't completely rule out his chances of making the team out of Spring Training.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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