Melvin Stays; Sveum Goes

by TheJay on Oct 17, 2008 8:46 PM CDT Comment 55 comments

The Brewers' mustachioed general manager, Doug Melvin, inked a three-year extension today, extending his tenure with the Brewers through the 2012 season. Brewers.com has the story here, including a quote from the eighth GM in Brewers history.

"I appreciate that Mark Attanasio and the ownership group have shown confidence in me in extending my contract," said Melvin. "It was the goal for me and my staff to change the culture and performance of the Brewers organization. Now I am energized to sustain the success for the city and the great fans that supported us through the rebuilding years. To show how I feel about the community, my family and I are donating twenty-five thousand dollars a year to charitable causes in the city of Milwaukee."

The article also has news that will impact the Brewers during games. Interim manager Dale Sveum is no longer a candidate to be the Brewers manager in 2009. However, Doug Melvin says he will recommend Sveum be retained on the coaching staff by whichever manager he hires.

Furthermore, hitting coach Jim Skaalen will not return next year after the team declined to offer him a contract. There's no current news on the other leftover members of the Yost coaching staff, but further announcements "will be made in the coming days." Hopefully, they don't forget (wink, wink) to mention extensions, etc., until spring again.

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Thanks for the years Dale

I personally am sad to see Mr Sveum go. I don’t know if he was the guy to lead the team but seemed like a great guy and wanted to be here in Milwaukee.

by pjpaulus on Oct 17, 2008 9:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As much as I had my doubts about Sveum, some of these guys they named…well…can they pick a candidate who HASN’T BEEN FIRED 900 TIMES? Grady Little…uggggggh no.

by morineko on Oct 17, 2008 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If it's Showalter...

… I’m going to puke.

I feel bad for Dale “my heart was ripped right out of my chest” Sveum. Reading between the lines, my guess is that Sveum was given some indication they’d like him back last week before Melvin started getting phone calls from outside the organization. So Dale might have thought it was a done deal until today.

I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Oct 17, 2008 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

same here

I hope that Sveum gets the chance to manage at a higher level again (even if it is AAA—that’s a start)

Showalter would be the absolute worst manager for this team. He’d combine the aspects of Yost that seem to have driven his players off the wall with none of Yost’s positive aspects. Crap, if they wanted that they could rehire Yost.

by morineko on Oct 17, 2008 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What makes you think that he was given indication that he was coming back? Just the timing?

by ol Pete on Oct 17, 2008 11:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because otherwise his reaction doesn't make much sense.

I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Oct 18, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He could have just had high hopes.

by ol Pete on Oct 18, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Before the meeting, sure. But after the meeting he should have had some idea,

… unless Melvin was surprised by the interest he was getting and didn’t tip his hand to Sveum that he was thinking of going another way.

I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Oct 18, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d feel bad for him if he stopped playing Corey Hart, Bill Hall and Jason Kendall in addition to that terrible lineup. Oh, and starting Junkball Suppan.

So if he did all of those things, I’d feel bad for him.

by HRF on Oct 18, 2008 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny

that they announced this late on a Friday night. I guess after last year’s Nedly extension we should be glad that they announced anything! The e-mail I got from brewers.com said that Skaalen asked to stay with the organization even though he won’t be the “hitting” coach.

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Oct 17, 2008 9:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

as Jeff Foxworthy once said

you should walk up to your worst enemy at work on Friday and say “‘I heard the boss talking to the secretary. I heard you’re gonna get fired!’ They’ll be worried about that shit all weekend.”

I guess Brewers.com is more official than the Journal-Sentinel, so we can assume that Sveum is out. However, Skaalen will be worried about this shit all weekend with mixed messages brewing.

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 17, 2008 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone has been watching movies lately...

We find it’s always better to fire people on a Friday. Studies have statistically shown that there’s less chance of an incident if you do it at the end of the week.

"If loving CC is wrong I do not want to be right"
"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender"

by kirbir on Oct 17, 2008 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ahhh

that’s why Dale asked me where his red Swingline was.

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Oct 18, 2008 5:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a red swingline

and can pull off the milton voice pretty well. it’s about my only decent impression.

I can’t do accents, but I can do geek and nerd and dork. They’re distinct you know.

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 18, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We named our Senior Design team Initech

our logo is a red stapler

by tcyoung on Oct 18, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oooh...25 grand

shiver me timbers.

he makes what? like a mil or two a year?

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 17, 2008 9:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, Let's look at it this way

If Melvin makes a million a year and gives $25,000 to charities, that would be 2.5% of his salary.

I know nothing about you, but let’s assume that you make $40,000 a year. To be equal to Melvin, 2.5% of that salary would be $1000.

The question is: Do you donate $1000 every year to charities.

by brewfan2 on Oct 18, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...no

because my earnings over cost-of-living aren’t up to par. Cost of living where I am is 8.5% higher than milwaukee. Poverty line is 15K, so I’d only be earning 25K over what it costs to scrape by, whereas melvin would be earning…well…roughtly 1M over poverty line. So…all and all, that means I’d only have to donate about $580 to match melvin. I don’t think that’s inclusion-on-a-press-release-worthy.

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 18, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing it's more than that

Other than “celebrity” GMs like Beane and Theo, I don’t think GMs make more than 250-400k. Maybe upper end or a little higher for someone like Doug who’s successful and has been around forever. The numbers usually aren’t released except in those special cases.

FWIW, the average US household donates 3.1% of income to charity. I wouldn’t really measure Doug against that though — it was probably part of the negotiations. Doug asks for X, Mark doesn’t want to go that high, they settle on X, but with that amount given to Brewers charities, so the money goes where it would’ve anyway and Doug has a better negotiating position for his next job or next extension.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Oct 18, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They were going to keep Sveum as manager

until they read about how that gritty rule violation call was actually Yount’s doing.

Ryan Braun: He loves it.

by SRB on Oct 17, 2008 10:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

was it?

i missed that. whoever it was was pretty astute.

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 18, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Yount actually made the same mistake in the 80s, so he remembered the rule.

Victorino was actually pulling a Yount

by tcyoung on Oct 18, 2008 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like we have the first action of the Brewers Offseason

Can’t say any of it surprises me. I think I’m happier about the Skaalen news than the Sveum news, although I get this feeling in my gut that they will just go out and get someone with the same damn philosophy or some former Brewer…or both. What’s Rob Deer up to these days? I just hope they can find someone who can teach a little plate discipline.

My only regret is that I have but one life to give to my blog

by MadJimiBrewha on Oct 17, 2008 11:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know. It seemed like a regular process where Skaalen would talk about what the batters should do and sometimes they did, but usually they just ignored it. I mean for years. If the manager does nothing when Prince and Ryan are waving at eye high fastballs, its not because Skaalen failed. You’d see Billy actually swing at balls in the middle of the batter’s box. I don’t think it was because he thought it was a strike. His calculation was that the fans would love him again as soon as he started hitting home runs.

by ol Pete on Oct 17, 2008 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baby steps here.

We need to stop hiring guys from the glory days as manager so I give the ‘Stache credit on that front. However, per Tom H. at the JS:

Melvin wouldn’t reveal the names but from people I’ve talked to, the group could include Buck Showalter, Bob Brenly and Ken Macha.

Blech! Not sure those are much better than Sveum. Later in the article it gets worse:

Other possible candidates might be former Los Angeles and Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy and former Boston/Los Angeles manager Grady Little, as well as Willie Randolph, fired this year by the Mets, and former big league skipper Davey Johnson, who piloted Team USA in the Olympics.

Jim Tracy or Grady Little? Please god, no.

I am hoping for Davey Johnson, as he wins wherever he goes. Even Bobby Valentine would interest me more than the retreads listed here.

by Brew Believer on Oct 18, 2008 12:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That name interests me a bit more than the other ex Met skipper.

by Lavender on Oct 18, 2008 12:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everytime I see that picture...

…. I think of the Beastie Boys “Sabotage” video.

I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Oct 21, 2008 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bring in davey!!!

I untuck my shirt!

by Michael M on Oct 18, 2008 2:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Davey Lopes?

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Oct 18, 2008 6:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

apparantly he's good at telling players when to steal...

(a bit off topic i know)

by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 18, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this guy

I untuck my shirt!

by Michael M on Oct 18, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OMG davey lopes HATES the brewers.

i tried to get him to sign my all-time brewers jersey when he was in town with the phillies; and he said; brewers? im not signing that. so, i folded it over so he couldnt see that it said brewers; and got him to sign it a few days later. success!

MY BREWERS PICS ON FLICKR

by Jamie in LA on Oct 18, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

heres a pic of the jersey...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jengber/2952484148/

PIC OF MY SIGNED BREWERS JERSEY

by Jamie in LA on Oct 18, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, very cool

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Oct 18, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let me know when you are putting that up on Ebay

I’ve got a few nickels for you

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Oct 18, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha!

thanks guys; i have been working on it for awhile now. still need some key guys like yount, molitor, gantner, etc. but looking good so far…

PIC OF MY SIGNED BREWERS JERSEY

by Jamie in LA on Oct 18, 2008 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it just a coincidence

or did you have both Gagne and DelaRosa sign in the pits on purpose since they both stunk as Brewers? Nice jersey!

by Infield Fly Rule on Oct 21, 2008 6:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha!

if you look closely; de la rosa signed his name upside-down. hes actually not an easy autograph if you can believe that… gagne is very nice.

PIC of my Signed All-Time Milwaukee Brewers Jersey by 65 Players!

by Jamie in LA on Oct 21, 2008 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He probably doesn't like being reminded that he's an awful manager.

I have an unreasonable dislike of Bill Hall.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Oct 18, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's one guy we shouldn't overlook

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Oct 18, 2008 6:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i have that card signed. ha!

MY BREWERS PICS ON FLICKR

by Jamie in LA on Oct 18, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quoth the Moustache

“Some of these [candidates] are the people that you’ve seen talked about and seen in the newspapers. All have been let go of jobs, but I’ve been a big believer that sometimes the second time around, people are better.”

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Oct 18, 2008 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

can we eliminate the manager position and create a counsell of coaches.. or is that against the rules?

by tcyoung on Oct 18, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like the Cubs' College of Coaches

Wikipedia entry

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Oct 18, 2008 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

by the_h_is_o on Oct 18, 2008 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i miss zach jackson; and the BEST WEBSITE EVER!!!

http://zachjackson.com/

MY BREWERS PICS ON FLICKR

by Jamie in LA on Oct 18, 2008 2:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

YES!
YES!
YES!
The Jim Skaalen is fired Boner Jam of ’08 can now commence!

by HRF on Oct 18, 2008 3:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My money is on Ken Macha

Melvin wanted him first time around but he was snatched up by Beane,

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Oct 18, 2008 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and this is usually the time I wish Cito Gaston was available

but alas, the Jays wisened up and put him back in charge

I just sit back and root for the taser

by Hyatt on Oct 18, 2008 7:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

glad to see we agree jeff

on who the next manager should be (in reference to the changed blog status)

I untuck my shirt!

by Michael M on Oct 19, 2008 1:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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