Brewers GM Melvin in; manager Sveum out

Oct 18, 2008 - 2:25 AM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin will be back for a seventh season, while interim manager Doug Sveum will not return - at least not in the same capacity.

The Brewers announced Friday that they have signed Melvin to a three-year contract extension to remain as executive vice president and GM after he led the club to its first postseason appearance since 1982.

However, the man calling the shots during the playoffs will not be retained.

The team announced that Sveum will "not be considered further for the managerial position." Under Sveum, the Brewers went 7-5 over the last two weeks of the regular season before bowing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Divisional Series.

Melvin was hired near the end of the 2002 season after spending a year as a consultant for the Boston Red Sox. He has led the Brewers to a 464-507 mark during his six seasons, including consecutive winning seasons - the first time the franchise has accomplished the feat since 1991-92. The team has been .500 or better in three of the last four years.

"This season, we reached a significant milestone by advancing to the postseason, and this could not have been accomplished without the efforts of Doug Melvin and his staff," Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said. "Since I first began working with Doug four years ago, one constant has been his unfailing leadership as we have worked toward building a consistently competitive team."

During his time at the helm, the Brewers have grown from a perennial also-ran - a team that posted 12 consecutive losing seasons before 2005 - to a legitimate contender, despite their small market size. Their farm system is the envy of much of the rest of the league, and they have fielded 10 All-Stars, a Rookie of the Year and a Hank Aaron Award winner over the last three seasons.

"I appreciate that Mark Attanasio and the ownership group have shown confidence in me," Melvin said. "It was the goal for me and my staff to change the culture and performance of the Brewers organization. Now, I am energized to sustain the success for the city and the great fans that supported us through the rebuilding years."

The Chatham, Ontario native previously served seven years as general manager of the Texas Rangers, leading them to the playoffs three times.

As for Sveum, he may return in some capacity, but that will be up to the new manager, whomever that may be. After two years as the Brewers' bench coach and one as third-base coach, Sveum took over as manager when Ned Yost was fired in September.

However, the Brewers said they will be looking in a different direction for next year's club.

"Dale is a solid baseball man," Melvin said. "He is a loyal and hard-working individual who will get a high recommendation from me to our new manager to remain on the coaching staff."

Milwaukee also announced that hitting coach Jim Skaalen will not return in 2009. The Brewers hit .253 as a team this season, sixth-worst in baseball.