Bob Melvin’s three-year contract gives Oakland Athletics fans hope: A fan’s take

By Eric R. Ivie

Associated Press sources are reporting that the Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement on a three-year contract with interim manager Bob Melvin, making him the team's permanent skipper.

As a lifelong A's fan, this news gives me hope of a brighter future for the club.

Melvin took control of a moribund A's squad when the team fired then-manager Bob Geren on June 9. While it was the first time in decades that an Oakland manager had been fired mid-season, it was the right move, mainly because Geren had lost the respect of his players.

The atrocious offense and the constant losing earlier in the season was bad enough, but when a manager's behavior and lack of communicationdestroy the confidence of the players, there is no hope. With current andformer players publicly lashing out at Geren, it was time for him to go.

Melvin took over a club that sat at 27-36, and the A's have gone 42-49 through Sept. 20 since his promotion to interim manager. No one can be expected to take over a 1972 Ford Pinto and turn it into a Lamborghini overnight, so while I had hoped in June that the 2011 season could be salvaged, that clearly hasn't been the case.

What has changed, though, is the players' outlook, as evidenced by a few quotes from players:

"Everybody in this locker room would be really excited," Cliff Pennington(notes)said on Sept. 20. "We love him. We're hoping that he's back."

"He's a good fit for this team and this organization," said Rich Harden(notes). "I know a lot of the guys here like him, and I'm one of those guys. I like him a lot and respect the guy. What he's done here, it's been a good change for the organization."

Hideki Matsui(notes), through an interpreter, said, "In a difficult situation that the team was going through, I think him coming in really saved the season, (even though) the results aren't there."

Matsui should know. He was batting a dismal .209 when Geren left. Since Melvin took over, he has batted .282, including .311 since the All-Star break.

Ryan Sweeney(notes) added, "He's definitely a players' manager. I've seen nothing but positive things since he's been here."

With the Athletics players wanting to work for their manager, rather than lashing out against him, it appears harmony has been restored in Oakland. That harmony—and maybe some offseason moves—should help the A's return to a competitive level in 2012 and beyond.

For more information on these matters, please call our office at 305 548 5020.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/yoelmolina_mo
Faceback page: www.facebook.com/lawofficeofyoelmolina
Linkedin profile: http://tinyurl.com/linkedinpagemo
Blog: http://tinyurl.com/molawblog

"Turn to us when you need help"