Major League Baseball
Notebook: Melvin returns to comfort zone

By The Associated Press and Chicago Tribune

ROY DABNER / AP Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin speaks at a news conference Friday in Phoenix.

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PHOENIX — After the Wally Backman fiasco, the Arizona Diamondbacks felt fortunate to have Bob Melvin as a handy — and willing — backup choice to manage the team.

The low-key Melvin, fired last month by the Mariners, so coveted the Arizona managing job that he brushed aside any concern about being the team's second choice.

"This is the one I really wanted," he said. "This is where I feel most at home."

That home, though, is in disarray. Melvin faces major challenges in rebuilding a team coming off a 51-111 season. And the franchise must mend an image damaged by the events of last week.

Melvin, bench coach under Bob Brenly when the Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001, brings a familiar face and a likable demeanor to the task.

Melvin, 43, has lived in the Phoenix area for nearly a dozen years. When he was fired after two seasons as manager of the Mariners, his eyes were on the Arizona job. He was one of three finalists — and reportedly the top choice of many in the organization — but he lost out to Backman, whose fiery temperament and aggressive style won over managing partner Ken Kendrick.

Backman was introduced as the new manager Monday. Three days later, Melvin's phone rang. The Diamondbacks wanted another meeting, and they asked if he would still be interested in the job. After The New York Times reported about Backman's two arrests, the Diamondbacks belatedly hired a company to do a background check. What they discovered led them to change course.

At a news conference Friday, Kendrick announced that Backman — who never signed a contract — would not get the job. Instead, Melvin agreed to a two-year deal with club options.

"We made a mistake, and we've decided to turn the page and move forward in a different direction," said chairman Jeff Moorad, who has known Melvin for about 20 years. "That direction, though, is one we're very optimistic about."

Melvin wants to return to the old-school professionalism that was the trademark of Arizona's best teams.
 
"The one thing that we did very well here was play as a team," Melvin said. "Sometimes it's not the highest payroll. Sometimes it's not the most All-Star Game appearances among players on your team. It's getting 25 guys to go in the right direction and buy into it, and believe in their roles."

Melvin played catcher for seven teams in the majors, hitting .233 in 692 games.

Melvin was hired to replace Lou Piniella in Seattle, and the team went 93-69 in his first year. But Seattle faded to 63-99 this year, and Melvin lost his job.

The kind of team Melvin will have is a big question. The Diamondbacks want to re-sign Richie Sexson, but the slugger rejected the team's latest offer and will test the free-agent market. Arizona needs at least one starting pitcher, a center fielder and at least one middle infielder.

Arizona has a relatively young team, one Kendrick thought Backman could best lead. Melvin is perceived as mellow.

"There's a lot of fire in this guy, too," Kendrick said of Melvin. "He's been a leader. He's succeeded as a leader. He understands the concept of playing the game hard and playing the game to win. They are different personalities, to be sure, but I don't think there's going to be any lack of fire in his belly to go out there and win, and that's what we want."

Ortiz hammers 514-foot home run

TOKYO — Even Boston slugger David Ortiz was amazed by his home run — a 514-foot shot that hit the lights down the right-field line at the Tokyo Dome.

"I knew when I hit it that I got all of it," Ortiz said after a team of major-league players beat the Japanese stars 5-3 in Game 2 of their series. "I thought for a second that it might land in the Dominican (Republic)."

Notes

• A Louisville Slugger signed by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson sold for $137,500 at an auction in Louisville, Ky. A bat used by Ty Cobb went for $132,000, a record for a Cobb bat. A Cleveland Indians jersey worn by Satchel Paige was sold for $110,000.

• Trade speculation surrounds Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa. The latest rumor has Sosa going to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Shawn Green.

Earlier, there were rumors about Sosa being traded to Colorado for Todd Helton.