Sports Illustrated reports that the Diamondbacks decided to fire manager Bob Melvin.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin will be fired when the team gets back from San Diego, SI.com has confirmed.

KTAR first reported news of the impending firing.

The D-backs are 12-17 this year. Since starting 20-8 last year, they have been 74-89.

Melvin allowed a group of young players to stagnate. Here’s how I saw things on April 20th:

Connor Jackson, Chris Snyder, Chad Tracy, Mark Reynolds and Chris Young were all good minor league players who have plenty of major league experience. We should be seeing these player improve instead of regress. Stephen Drew is not young. This is his age 26 season, where he should be at his best. The only one I give any excuse based on age and experience is Upton.

This is a team that should be gelling into a group of above average players. At what point do we start blaming Bob Melvin and his coaching staff for not developing this talent? The biggest mark against the DBacks right now is Carlos Quentin who went from good to bad under Melvin, then blossomed under Ozzie Guillen. Maybe it’s time to get a mean, nasty demanding manager pushing these hitters to play up to their potential.

Maybe the DBacks came to the same conclusion.