D-backs to face former manager Melvin
Jun 30, 2011, 5:40 PM | Updated: 7:03 pm
Kirk Gibson and Bob Melvin worked together as bench coach and manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks until Melvin was let go in 2009.
Although they did not work as closely together as in years past, the two were reunited this season. Melvin was named a special baseball advisor, while Gibson was the manager of the club.
However, on June 9, things changed.
The A’s fired Bob Geren and hired Melvin to be their interim manager.
Melvin is 9-9 since taking over the Athletics and will go head-to-head against his former colleague when Gibson and the Diamondbacks visit Oakland for a three game series.
“It will be interesting,” Gibson told reporters. “He will want to beat me good, I know that. He’s done a great job over there. I know his style so I will try to keep the distraction part out of it. We certainly respect each other and it will be a good series.”
Both teams will be entering the series playing .500 baseball as of late, but the D-backs are looking to gain ground on the San Francisco Giant, while the A’s, who are seven games out in the American League West, will be using the next couple few weeks to determine whether they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
Sports 620 KTAR’s Craig Grialou contributed to this report
