Bob Melvin to be replaced as Diamondbacks manager

PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks had high expectations for this season and have under-performed, leading to the team making a change at the managerial position.

Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reported Bob Melvin is out as manager and the Diamondbacks will have a replacement before the game Friday evening against the Washington Nationals at Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks went 3-5 on their recent road trip that concluded with a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres in 10 innings Thursday.

The Diamondbacks are 12-17 on the season, nine games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. At nine games back the Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies are the furthest teams behind first place in all of baseball.

"Bob has done great things for this organization," Byrnes said. "Having worked with him for nearly four years, I have a great deal of respect for his character and skills. This is a difficult decision, but I feel that our organization needs to move forward with a new voice. I am grateful for all the success and memories associated with Bob."

The Arizona Diamondbacks have replaced Bob Melvin with A.J. Hinch as manager of the team, the Vice President of Player Development.

Melvin, compiled an overall record of 337-340 in four-plus seasons with the club. He concludes his tenure as the winningest manager in club history, having led the D-backs to the 2007 National League West crown and the National League Championship Series. He was awarded the NL Manager of the Year honors at the conclusion of the 2007 season.

Earlier Thursday morning Diamondbacks CEO and President Derrick Hall joined Sports 620 KTAR's Doug & Wolf and admitted he believed something needed to be done.

"We know something has to be done," Hall told Sports 620 KTAR's Doug & Wolf. "We've been grossly under-performing now for five plus months and it's just not fair to the fans, it's not fair to the organization."

The Diamondbacks' expectations were to compete for the NL West division this season and, six weeks into the season, they have not played with any consistency.

"We've only played 28 games, you know we're four games under .500 but it's unacceptable," Hall said Thursday morning before the teams loss to the Padres.

The Diamondbacks' primary concern this season has been their lack of offense. Entering Thursday's game the team was last in the Major Leagues with a collective batting average of .225. The next lowest is the Oakland Athletics, who are hitting .234 as a team.

"We had this collective offensive funk in spring training and we had it for the last five months in 2008 so something has got to give," Hall said.