M’s meet up with ex-manager Melvin

  • By Kirby Arnold / Herald Writer
  • Saturday, March 19, 2005 9:00pm
  • Sports

PEORIA, Ariz. – Bob Melvin said it was just another game – his new team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, vs. his old team, the Seattle Mariners – although Bryan Price wasn’t buying it.

“I remember when he was with us, he really wanted to beat Brenley,” said Price, the Mariners’ pitching coach.

In Melvin’s two years as the Mariners’ manager, he took special delight in the spring training games against Arizona, where he was the bench coach under manager Bob Brenley.

Melvin, fired last Oct. 4 by the Mariners, is managing the Diamondbacks now, and Saturday was his first opportunity to see his old team.

“I was excited about today to come and see these guys,” Melvin said. “It’s another spring training game, really and truly. You don’t alter your schedule, what you’re doing with your guys, because of a game like this.”

Melvin said he feels comfortable with Arizona, where he spent several years as a coach before the Mariners hired him before the 2003 season.

“A lot of the personnel aren’t here, as far as players,” he said. “But I’ve known some of these guys from the minor league system, all the support staff guys, the front office, the clubhouse. All of those people, I know.

“It makes for a more comfortable situation coming in, but it’s not like I didn’t get comfortable in Seattle, too. I really enjoyed my time there. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had.”

Melvin said his Seattle experience taught him some things – he wouldn’t be specific – about managing that he is applying to his new job.

“You learn things in any job,” he said. “I’m not going to go into some of the things that I’m applying here now that I didn’t before, but certainly with any job, you don’t know what you don’t know when you’re going in. I hadn’t been a manager before. There were a lot of things I didn’t know.

“One thing I thought about, once you get fired, all of a sudden you’re an experienced manager and you have some experience when you go interview. That’s the one thing that I didn’t have before.”

Welcome-back gift: Price, staying true to his promise not to embarrass Melvin in front of his new team, avoided any cruel pranks for his close friend.

“I gave him a couple of Cal shirts and some candy,” Price said. He and Melvin attended the University of California.

The candy?

“Bob always had lots of candy around, and I think we put on 15 pounds over the course of a season,” Price said.

Health update: Closer Eddie Guardado said his right hamstring felt fine Saturday, one day after he threw in the bullpen for the first time since being injured. Guardado is scheduled to throw in the bullpen again today, then pitch a simulated game early this week.

“I’m fine,” he said. “I can’t complain.”

Bugged: The Mariners sent pitcher Ryan Franklin home Saturday because he had the flu, an illness that he was battling Friday when he pitched five scoreless innings against the Giants.

“Maybe he needs to bottle it and keep it,” said manager Mike Hargrove, who has seen numerous players perform well while they were sick. “You feel so rotten that you know the only chance you’ve got is to concentrate really good. It’s amazing how you can perform whenever things are tough.”

Dobbs still a factor: Hargrove said Greg Dobbs remains in contention for a bench spot, and the fact that he’s a left-handed hitter works in his favor. The Mariners could use a left-handed hitter off the bench.

“Dobbs obviously has some pop in his bat and that makes him attractive,” Hargrove said. “A lot of times it depends on who in your lineup you’ll pinch-hit for. There are not a lot of guys we’ll pinch-hit for. Maybe one or two, and both of them are right-handed hitters, so a left-handed bat makes more sense.”

Of note: Hargrove said he’s still waiting for a left-handed relief specialist – the candidates are Matt Thornton, George Sherrill and Nate Bland – to emerge in the final two weeks of camp, although he isn’t worried about the situation. “We’ve got an idea and we think we’re going to be OK,” Hargrove said. “We just have to keep looking at these guys and decide which are the best options.” … With pitchers working deeper into games and available innings becoming more scarce, the Mariners sent three – Felix Hernandez, J.J. Putz and Shigetoshi Hasegawa – to the minor-league camp Saturday to pitch in a game there. … Hargrove said the Mariners probably will make another round of roster cuts next week.

Talk to us

More in Sports

Angel of the Winds Arena stands ready and waiting Friday afternoon for Kraken fans to arrive for the preseason game against the Edmondton Oilers. (Jake Goldstein-Street / The Herald)
Patterson: After past fails, can arena football thrive in Everett?

The turbulent past of arena football in the city stems from the opening of the Everett Events Center, now Angel of the Winds Arena, in 2003.

Stanwood players react to their coach bringing them the Stilly Cup on Sept. 30, 2022 in Arlington. The Spartans snapped a 12-game losing streak in the rivalry matchup last year. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
4 games to watch in Week 5 of the prep football season

An in-depth look at the best games the area has to offer, plus a full schedule of the local action in Week 5.

Hall of Fame inductee Gina Carbonatto accepts her award during the 2023 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
GALLERY: 2023 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame banquet

A look at Wednesday’s ceremony honoring some of the most decorated sports figures in the area.

Everett's Max Soterakopoulos points to his name on the leaderboard after winning his division the Regional Qualifier for Drive, Chip and Putt, held last Saturday at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place. (Photo coutesy of Chris Soterakopoulos)
Community roundup: Everett youth golfer headed to The Masters

Plus, Mill Creek Country Club’s Val Patrick honored by LPGA, updates on local NFL players, and more.

Stanwood's Michael Mascotti relays the next play to his teammates during football practice on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022 in Stanwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Game picks for Week 5 of the prep football season

Find out which teams the experts and readers pick to win in Week 5.

Sultan’s Derek Feltner tries to stay upright after picking up an offensive fumble and getting a few yards against Granite Falls on Friday, Sep. 30, 2022, at Sultan High School in Sultan, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Week 5 prep football leaderboard

A look at the area’s top passers, rushers and receivers through four weeks of the season.

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Sept. 27

Prep roundup for Wednesday, Sept. 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Jayshon Limar (17) moves with the ball during a football game between Lake Stevens and West Linn at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. West Linn won, 49-30. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Associated Press high school football poll for Week 5

Lake Stevens falls from No. 1 in Class 4A; Arlington jumps to No. 6 in 3A.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Sept. 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Sept. 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Most Read