Bob Melvin has done a great job at finding the right combinations, and he has been very creative at times. Until a few of our younger players make the 3/4 slots more obvious, we will continue to emphasize a 1-8 lineup mindset. 
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BASRA, IRAQ - OCTOBER 18: People gather around a Land Rover as it arrives at the village Al Houta on October 18 2008 near Basra, Iraq. The trip by the 51 Sqn Royal Air Force Regiment Force Protection Wing was part of a 'key leader engagement' (KLE) visit to the village close to the Basra Airbase to recruit local labour and engage with the village shiek. Visits of this type are seen as key in efforts to continue winning the support of the local Iraqi population. Although improved security in the region has brought some benefits such as improved trade and commerce, much of the infrastructure remains in a poor state of repair. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has indicated that the number of UK troops could be scaled down - especially as the security situation in the south of the country continues to improve.
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Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a campaign rally in the rain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 27, 2008.
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A puppy stands on a truck carrying people to be evacuated from the area in preparation for the approach of Hurricane Gustav in Batabano, on the southern coast of Cuba, August 30, 2008. Powerful Hurricane Gustav roared toward western Cuba on Saturday with 125 mph (205 kph) winds on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.
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BANGKOK, THAILAND - AUGUST 30: A member of Anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stands behind barbed wire outside Government on August 30, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The protesters want to unseat the seven-month old coalition government lead by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
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Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic reacts after winning his quarterfinal match 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 against Sweden's Robin Soderling during the Brisbane International tennis tournament held in Brisbane, Australia, Friday, Jan. 9, 2009.
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Florida Gators David Nelson (R) catches a touchdown pass next to Oklahoma Sooners Keenan Clayton (L) during the fourth quarter in the NCAA's BCS National Championship football game in Miami, January 8, 2009.
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Aboriginal traditional dancers from Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory who call themselves the "Chooky Dancers" perform during a media preview for the Sydney Festival on January 9, 2009. The Chooky Dancers, who have become an international hit on the internet after their unique dance interpretation of Zorba the Greek, will perform at the Sydney Festival which will be held on January 10-31.
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An Israeli attack helicopter fires flares as seen from the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. Lebanese militants fired at least three rockets into northern Israel early Thursday, ripping through a crowded nursing home and threatening to open a new front for the Jewish state as it pushed forward with a bloody offensive in the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 700 people.
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Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, with an altitude of 8,848 meters (29,028 feet), is seen in this aerial view taken from a passenger aircraft flying over Nepal at a height of 9,144 meters (30,000 feet), November 9, 2008. Everest is part of the Himalayan mountain range along the border of Nepal and Tibet. In background is the Tibetan Plateau. Picture taken November 9, 2008.
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A Tibetan man ploughs a field near Gyabon Hamlet located near the base camp of Mount Everest, also known as Qomolangma, in the Tibet Autonomous Region May 9, 2008. An envoy to the Dalai Lama said on Thursday Chinese negotiators had shown a willingness to engage with the Tibetan side during recent talks, despite major differences on important issues.
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The summit of the world's highest mountain Mount Everest, also known as Qomolangma, is covered in cloud as climbers from the Olympic torch relay team reach the top in the Tibet Autonomous Region May 8, 2008. Heavy snowfall during the past week had hampered efforts for the Olympic torch's ascent, but the team of 31 Chinese climbers, 22 of them ethnic Tibetans, reached Everest's summit with the Olympic flame this morning.
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Quotes about Bob Melvin
Bob Melvin has done a great job at finding the right combinations, and he has been very creative at times. Until a few of our younger players make the 3/4 slots more obvious, we will continue to emphasize a 1-8 lineup mindset.
was said
in AZ Snakepit
Don Wakamatsu is considerably more than Martha in spikes, but the occupant of the manager position has been among the lesser causes for the Mariners’ long, languid swoon from the heavens to omigod ... After all, the past two National League managers of the year are former Mariners skippers. Lou Piniella and Bob Melvin appear to know what they are doing in a baseball dugout, as long as the dugout isn’t in Seattle.
said Art Thiel
He’s sort of like [New York Yankees reliever] Mariano Rivera ... It’s not often that you get to end a game [with an interception] in a season. But to have three, and three big ones when we needed them, that’s great. Melvin’s doing a good job. He’s playing for Bob [Sanders] and making things happen and learning as he goes. He’s getting better and better every week. I’m happy for him that he is making those big plays. I’m happy for us too.
said Tony Dungy
Arizona is absolutely one of those teams I would consider. I love Josh Byrnes. I’m a huge Bob Melvin fan... I’ll have an opportunity to pick and choose and I will pick and choose a team that is in contention and I fully expect that team to be in contention.
was said
in AZ Snakepit
I don't know that Bob will be able to play 60 plays right out of the box ... But we've got to find ways to get Melvin in the game.
said Tony Dungy
We'll have to get Melvin in the game some ... I don't know that Bob's going to be ready to play 60 plays his first shot out of the box, so I would imagine we'll get Melvin in some that way. But we've got to get some other packages to get him in because he has done a good job.
said Tony Dungy
Quotes from articles mentioning Bob Melvin
We weren’t as good in the last third of the game as we needed to be ... Obviously, Tony has a history of helping teams in the later innings.
said Josh Byrnes
The absence of the picks allows us to redirect some money, but not a lot has really changed
said Eric Byrnes
Conor played really well in the outfield, and he’s been an important offensive guy for us. His skill set is a nice contrast
said Josh Byrnes
I think based on performance at the end of last year, Qualls has got a leg up on it ... We'll go into Spring Training and he's probably the favorite, yet we have three guys that have closed between he, Rauch and Pena. I don't want to minimize what he did and say that he's not the closer going in. He certainly is the favorite.
said Bob Melvin
in MLB.com
It hasn't really changed in the last couple years ... There's no set leadoff guy for us and really no set [No. 4] guy with Adam Dunn not being there, either.
was said
in MLB.com
Based on what he did last year, he certainly deserves a chance to be the everyday left fielder, and as we're sitting here, he is the left fielder ... But he gives us flexibility and the roster makeup is going to have a lot to do with it. If we move somebody around, that could change quickly.
said Bob Melvin
in MLB.com
