Official: Chip Hale to be next Diamondbacks Manager

Can confirm report by @BNightengale that Chip Hale will be the next manager of the Dbacks.

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) October 13, 2014

After it was reported that the Diamondbacks brain trust would put their heads together and talk about their managerial choice on Sunday night, it was speculated that a decision could come on Monday. It's Monday now, and it has been reported that Walter "Chip" Hale will be the next manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hale, as you probably recall, was the Thrid Base Coach for the Diamondbacks from 2007-2009. He also served as the manager of the Tucson Sidewinders from 2004-2006, winning the Triple-A Title in 2006. Post-Diamondbacks, he was the Third Base Coach for the Mets for a few years before becoming the bench coach for the Athletics under Bob Melvin, a position he held the past three seasons.

This is Hale's first Major League managing job. He had been previously considered for vacancies for the Mets and Mariners. He beat out Jim Tracy, Sandy Alomar Jr, and Phil Nevin for the D'Backs position.

Hale played college ball for the University of Arizona, including being a member of the 1986 team that won the College World Series. He, his wife, and three children live in Tucson.

[Update] The news has now been officially confirmed.

OFFICIAL: Chip Hale has been named the 7th manager in #Dbacks history.

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 13, 2014

Wait, 7th? Showalter, Brenly, Pedrique, Melvin, Hinch, Gibson, Hale? I guess Alan Trammell is chopped liver...