Former pitching coach Bryan Price does not believe the Diamondbacks should have fired manager Bob Melvin or hired inexperienced A.J. Hinch to replace him.
"The hiring of A.J., I thought, was a poor decision," Price told the Marin (Calif.) Independent Journal on Saturday, nine days after he resigned from the D-backs when his good friend Melvin's firing was announced May 7. Hinch, 34, was named manager the next day, when his lack of experience in managing or coaching at any level was overlooked. He was the D-backs' player personnel director.
"A.J. has worked hard to get his credibility in the business in that side of the game," said Price, referring to the front office. "But he doesn't have any credibility between the lines as a manager. That, for me, just wasn't going to work."
Price, Baseball America's 2007 minor league coach of the year when the D-backs won 90 games despite being outscored by 20 runs, was recently hired as a special assistant by the World Series-champion Phillies. He will scout the minor league system and also will help scout possible June draftees.
Price said he likely would have stayed in his position had the D-backs chosen to elevate bench coach Kirk Gibson or third base coach Chip Hale, a successful minor league manager.
"To me, it was a slap in the face, not only to Bob, but to Chip and to 'Gibby' and to anybody who has actually managed or coached in the past," Price said. "I thought it bypassed people who were more prepared to finish out the year.
"There was no way I could stay. It was really hard to leave the pitchers. They are a phenomenal group and very talented group. Great catchers. A really close-knit group of guys. It hurts to know that I left them hanging."
