Mike Lupica writing for the Phoenix Sun

July 25, 2009: TEMPE, AZ – The Knights have fired manager Cristián Vega, the team announced shortly after midnight Thursday night.

Pitching coach Gonzalo Ledesma has been named the team's interim manager, while Joseph Moore – formerly Chandler’s pitching coach – has been called up to be the new Knights pitching coach.  The announcement came after the Knights’ 4-0 victory against the Sandgnats earlier in the evening, which lifted the team's record to 35-64.  Vega’s tenure as the organization's first manager ends with a 149-274 record.

What ultimately doomed Vega was Tempe’s recent slide where they dropped 16 of 18 to start the second half of the season.  According to Van Hauter, Tempe has not been mentally prepared to play over the last three weeks and he feels that Vega has lost the club.  Van Hauter feels that Ledesma can light a fire under the Knights and right the ship.

Van Hauter admits that injuries to Edward Allen, Jeremy Lawrence and Terry Thorton have hurt, but states that there is too much talent here to be thirty games under .500.  The GM is quick to point out that Ledesma is not the interim manager and will be the manager next year.  Van Hauter thanked Vega for his contribution to the organization but feels the team needed to head in a different direction.  One thing is for sure; Ledesma has his work cut out for him.