Bob Melvin named A's interim skipper

OAKLAND, Calif., June 9 (UPI) -- The Oakland Athletics said Thursday they had fired Manager Bob Geren and brought in former Arizona skipper Bob Melvin to serve as his interim replacement.

Melvin will take over the struggling A's Thursday night in Chicago where they will face the White Sox.

Melvin, 49, is the Diamondbacks' all-time winningest manager, producing a 337-340 record from 2005-2009, and was the National League's manager of the year in 2007.

He managed the Seattle Mariners to a 156-168 mark in 2003-04.

Melvin rejoined the D'Backs last month as a front-office adviser.

He will take over a club that has struggled to a 27-36 record this season and faded to last place in the American League West

Geren compiled a 334-376 record in four-plus seasons as the A's manager.

Geren's relationships with his players had deteriorated this season, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday. The situation led to comments closer Huston Street made to the newspaper last month criticizing Geren's style and his handling of the bullpen.