Posted on 09/25/2002 4:27:37 PM PDT by brewcrew
In a major shake-up, the Milwaukee Brewers will announce that Ulice Payne, a prominent Milwaukee attorney, will be named president of the team, three sources have told the Journal Sentinel.
The sources also said that Doug Melvin, a former general manager with the Texas Rangers, will be named the new Brewers general manager, replacing Dean Taylor, who will be dismissed from the team.
Payne, a well-known attorney who is the managing partner of the Milwaukee office of Foley & Lardner, will take over the president's role from Wendy Selig-Prieb, who has served as president and chief executive officer of the franchise since her father, Bud Selig, became Commissioner of Baseball.
A news conference has been scheduled for 7 tonight. A spokesman for the Brewers was not immediately available for comment.
Selig-Prieb, 42, will remain with the Brewers, according to the source, but will allow Payne to make day-to-day decisions.
Payne, 47, has no baseball experience but brings a broad background in business and politics. Payne is currently the chairman of the Bradley Center Board and has been directly involved in talks with the Wisconsin Center District board to seek a shared governance agreement.
Payne is also a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, a civic organization that traditionally has been involved in working on issues of local concern. During the debate over building Miller Park, the GMC was involved in lobbying in behalf of the ballclub, and Payne served as a key player.
Payne also serves on the board of directors of Journal Communications, Inc.
A source with knowledge of the reorganization said Payne would have "full powers" as president of the club, which has experienced 10 straight losing seasons, hasn't been to the baseball playoffs in 20 years, and has seen its attendance drop this year by 841,887 fans.
"It's a good move and it's the right thing for the community," the source said.
Taylor, 51, was hired as general manager on Sept. 21, 1999, and has a contract that runs through the 2003 season.
In Taylor's first two seasons, the Brewers posted records of 73-89 and 68-94. The Brewers have a 56-102 record heading into action Wednesday night in Houston.
Melvin, 50, served as general manager of the Rangers from late 1994 until he was fired on the final day of the 2001 season. He has worked this year as a special assistant to the Boston Red Sox.
Perenially looking forward to next season....
Selig wants to contract the Minnesota Twins because they're not competitive?
The Twins have won 2 World Series in the last 16? years and are in the playoffs this year.
Selig needs to start the process to contract his own team.
The reality check came from Newsday, where the guy who reported on the Mrs. Quevedo v Alex Sanchez fight called this a PR move, nothing more. I'll agree on the president change to a Selig family friend, but Doug Melvin actually did something with no money (never mind that once he did have money, he frittered it away).
Unfortunately, she's still going to be the official representative as far as the owners are concerned.
Read the title and thought beer making would be on the decline. Whew!
(The Brewers are always mathematically eliminated on opening day - no?)
No; they're mathematically eliminated the third week of spring training <VBG>.
The more I think about it, outside of the GM change, things are staying the same. Unless Melvin gets full autonomy, the Brewers will lose at least 95 next year.
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