Dbacks Skipper Melvin Out ?

[TN TITAN Fan In STL]

A person familiar with the decision says Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin will be fired by the end of the day.

The person told The Associated Press of the decision on the condition of anonymity because it had yet to be announced.

Melvin’s firing comes after a disappointing start by the Diamondbacks, who entered Wednesday 8 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Word of Melvin’s dismissal spread after Arizona lost 4-3 in 10 innings at San Diego on Thursday afternoon.

A message left on general manager Josh Byrnes’ cell phone was not immediately returned.

Melvin was hired in 2005 and went 337-340 with Arizona. He was named NL Manager of the Year after leading Arizona to the NL West title in 2007.