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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Sveum: “My heart was ripped out”

I just spoke with Dale Sveum, and to say the least, he was devastated when given the news by general manager Doug Melvin that he won’t be the Brewers’ manager in 2009 and beyond.

Sveum, who served as the interim manager for the final 12 games as well as the NLDS against Philly after Ned Yost was fired, was told he no longer was under consideration for the job.

“My heart was ripped out of my chest,” said Sveum. “I was shocked.

“I thanked him for the opportunity. Now, I’m in a tough situation. I’m out of a job. The most disappointing part of it all is that I’m no longer going to wear a Brewers uniform. That’s the toughest part. I loved the Brewers and the organization.”

Sveum said Melvin told him he decided to look for somebody with more experience. There’s not much Sveum can do about that because he never managed in the big leagues until those final 12 games with the Brewers.

“I just wish there wasn’t so much emphasis put on veteran managers,” said Sveum. “I’ll match my knowledge of baseball and my ability to slow the game down with anybody.”

Why? You planned on bringing back Joey Meyer?

Repoz Posted: October 18, 2008 at 03:00 AM | 20 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Maholm Shuffle Posted: October 18, 2008 at 04:18 AM (#2986187)

Ned Yost has nearly 1,000 games of major league managing experience.

2. RJ in TO Posted: October 18, 2008 at 04:21 AM (#2986188)

Racer X, do you really want Harveys to stab you in the face?

Because that's whats going to happen if he reads this thread.

3. Al Kaline Trio Posted: October 18, 2008 at 04:43 AM (#2986190)

I thought not knowing you are too inexperienced was the new "it" factor.

4. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 18, 2008 at 09:07 AM (#2986216)

I feel bad for Sveum. He's not good at waving runners home from third, but he's a solid instructor and a good guy, and I would've liked to see him get a real shot with a team.

5. Belfry Bob Posted: October 18, 2008 at 10:37 AM (#2986224)

“I’ll match my knowledge of baseball and my ability to slow the game down with anybody.”

Come on, Dale, Mike Hargrove was slowing down games like nobody's business long before you ever gave it a thought.

6. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: October 18, 2008 at 10:49 AM (#2986225)

I agree with this decision.

The Brewers need fresh faces at manager and hitting coach. At least.

Sweep out the Yost remains AND shed this weird fascination with former Brewer players as managers.

I have no issue with Racer's post. I thought the same thing. It's true and funny. Good one.

I can tell folks ownership "influenced" this decision. Melvin may be faced with a choice at some point. Accept more oversight or leave. DM fought hard on Yost's behalf and given how things played out now has a credibility issue.

You can't tell everyone that Jack is the draft genius and then goof at manager and free agency and NOT cause your boss to wonder.

If it was MY team I would dump Doug as well and put JZ in charge.

Knowing that sometimes personnel guys are just that. But willing to risk it.

7. JoeHova Posted: October 18, 2008 at 11:38 AM (#2986229)

If it was MY team I would dump Doug as well and put JZ in charge.

I agree with this. Unfortunately Doug just got a 3 year extension. Also, I'm glad Sveum won't be the manager, but I feel bad for him personally.

8. Teufel's Graveyard Posted: October 18, 2008 at 11:49 AM (#2986230)

I'm assuming HW knows this, but for others, Melvin has been extended through 2012. I'm guessing Melvin has already made the decision that he will live with heavy ownership influence and has decided that for the most part he enjoys his current conditions.

There's one rumor Melvin has already chosen Showalter but that it won't be announced until after the WS to comply with Selig's desire to keep baseball news focused on the field during the playoffs. Macha is another candidate, he was the preferred choice for Melvin's first hire, but Macha took the Oakland job instead.

9. bunyon Posted: October 18, 2008 at 12:07 PM (#2986233)

I feel bad for Sveum, too. I feel bad for Yost.

But that is life. Business is business and people are people. There are lots of people in jobs they shouldn't be in and while I'd feel bad for them, they should be removed. It's too bad it's not as easy to get rid of incompetents in the real world as it is in MLB. And it isn't easy in MLB.

10. JoeHova Posted: October 18, 2008 at 12:39 PM (#2986242)

I feel bad for Sveum, too. I feel bad for Yost.

I didn't feel as bad for Yost because he had repeatedly proven his incompetence. Sveum had done that as a 3rd base coach, but hadn't had the chance yet to do so as the head guy. I think that's why I feel a little bad. It must be tough to get what was (presumably) your dream job (not necessarily the Brewers job, just being an ML manager in general) and be let go after 3 weeks, which is not really enough time to prove if you would succeed or fail, imo.

11. bunyon Posted: October 18, 2008 at 01:31 PM (#2986259)

Sure, but lots of guys do this as players. Plenty of players get 1 AB or pitch a third of an inning or spend September in the majors never again to be called up. In one respect, it sucks. In another, it's a hell of an achievement. He got three weeks, which sucks, but he did pretty well in that time. And I'd suspect he'll land a job somewhere, so it isn't like he'll starve.

12. JoeHova Posted: October 18, 2008 at 01:51 PM (#2986263)

I'm not saying he'll starve, I'd think he's doing fine financially. I'm not trying to say Sveum getting fired is some sort of tragedy. I guess I'm sorry I offended you by saying that I felt bad for him.

13. bunyon Posted: October 18, 2008 at 02:02 PM (#2986268)

Oh, geez, I'm sorry if I came off offended or if I implied you thought Sveum's firing was a tragedy. I got what you were saying and it's one reason I feel bad for him too. I just was pointing out that that sort of "achieving your dream" for ballplayers (and a lot of folks, really) can often come with some melancholy. I can definitely see feeling worse for Sveum than Yost, but still, even though he richly deserved it, getting canned (especially so publicly) must really hurt. On a human level I feel bad for Yost (and I'm not trying to say you don't).

Anyway, I must have sounded different than what I meant; sorry.

(Actually, that seems to be the trouble with the proposal I'm writing - everyone that reads it gets something else out of it than what i meant. Mayhaps I'm not a good writer.)

14. JoeHova Posted: October 18, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2986282)

No need for an apology. Good luck with your proposal, I'm sure you'll get it right.

15. Justin T contains indigenous nudity Posted: October 18, 2008 at 03:16 PM (#2986296)

Maybe it's just because I think of Sveum as a crappy third base coach, but I always thought it was obvious that he was a 12-game band-aid. Sveum seems like the guy who made eye contact with a hot chick from across the bar and started planning for their kid's college. I don't think he had any business getting so attached to the job that losing it would make him feel like his heart had been ripped out.

16. bbc is prejudice bout men Posted: October 18, 2008 at 04:04 PM (#2986312)

man i feel sorry for these guys if they get stuck with showwalter

harveys is dead right about needing to get rid of the remnants of the yost regime. And the hitting coach SUX

bunyon,

i share your pain about writing and not being a sam m.

i always wish i could write like sam and tell a story like joe posnaski

17. BeanoCook Posted: October 18, 2008 at 04:28 PM (#2986321)

No more 1982 Brewers, thank god.

Seriously, since when did all of the fans start crying over someone getting fired or in this case, not hired, in professional/college sports? People/media cover hiring and firing in sports like they are crimes.

18. JoeHova Posted: October 18, 2008 at 04:36 PM (#2986328)

Nobody said it was a crime. Being fired is part of life, especially for coaches. It's not the end of the world. I didn't even like Sveum that much, but why can't I (or anybody else, if they want to) empathize with him a little? It's not like I'm overly sentimental, in this same thread I said Doug Melvin should be fired. I just can understand why Sveum would be dejected.

19. Pat Rapper's Delight Posted: October 18, 2008 at 05:06 PM (#2986345)

2009 Brewers manager: Buck Showalter, Jerry Narron, or maybe Phil Regan.

20. Obi One Kenobi Nil (BFFB)