Baseball: Strike 3, he's out. Mariners fire Melvin

Bob Melvin was fired as manager of the Seattle Mariners on Monday, a day after the team ended the season with its 99th loss.

Melvin, who lasted two seasons, was told of the decision during a morning meeting at Safeco Field, and general manager Bill Bavasi called a news conference for later in the day. In May, the Mariners exercised the option on Melvin's contract for 2005 despite a 9-16 start. He led the team to a 93-69 record in 2003 after Lou Piniella left for Tampa Bay.

In a news release, Bavasi said it was a difficult decision to fire Melvin. He credited the manager, his coaches and the team for playing hard and trying to win through the end of the season.

"This decision is not meant to place blame completely on Bob. There is plenty of blame to go around for all of us," Bavasi said.

The Mariners left spring training expecting to contend for a playoff spot. Instead, they finished 63-99 and barely avoided their first 100-loss season since 1983.

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it is too bad that bob melvin had to pay the price for an underperforming team, by all accounts bob is a good guy, maybe too good of a guy, this team was destroyed by the front office, bad trades, not going after free agents, and apparently over rating the talent in the minors have all contributed to the mariners downfall this year, best of luck to bob and his coaches.....wouldn't edgar martinez make a great batting coach?

since the players didn't perform for the mild mannered melvin i have to wonder if the mariners aren't looking at larry bowa who has been fired from the phillies, bowa would be like lou pinnela who had a lot of success in seattle, someone who wouldn't be afraid to kick the players in the butt when they needed it

It will be interesting to see who they get as the arn't that bad a side to be honest...