Red Sox interview Pete Mackanin for manager’s job

By JIMMY GOLEN

AP Sports Writer

(AP) — The Boston Red Sox are looking for a strong voice in a clubhouse that disintegrated in September amid reports of players drinking beer and eating fried chicken during games.

Pete Mackanin thinks he might be able to provide it.

“I feel like I have leadership qualities and I feel like I can help this franchise get back to where it once was,” he told reporters on Monday night after interviewing to be the Red Sox manager to rebuild from the worst September collapse in baseball history. “Not that it was ever gone from anything, but I guess there was a little hiccup here last year. We’re going to put it behind us and move on.”

The Red Sox opened their managerial search by interviewing Mackanin, the Philadelphia Phillies bench coach. Former Boston third base coach Dale Sveum is scheduled for an interview on Wednesday, and general manager Ben Cherington says there could be five or six candidates in the first round of interviews in all.

“It could be more. We’re still working on the rest of that list,” Cherington said.

The Red Sox parted ways with Terry Francona, who won two World Series in Boston, after he admitted losing the clubhouse during a 7-20 September that left the ballclub one game short of the playoffs. Asked if he was more of a players’ manager or a disciplinarian, Mackanin said he was able to be both.

“I think you have to have an element of both sides of that in order to be a good motivator,” he said. “I think there’s a juggling act that’s involved in that, where you have to have enough discipline but at the same time let the players play easy. You don’t want them tense.”

Mackanin declined to evaluate the team’s collapse, saying he was more worried about the Phillies at the time. He wouldn’t say whether he would allow beer in the clubhouse if he gets the job.

“You know what, I don’t want to go there,” he said. “I’m not at that point yet. I’d rather not discuss that. We can talk about that later.”

A second baseman who spent 548 games over nine seasons with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins, Mackanin brings a well-rounded resume with him, including work as a minor- and major-league player, a scout and advance scout, a third base coach, infield and outfield instructor, minor league coordinator, “and just about everything except manager.”

He later remembered that he had in fact managed in the big leagues: on an interim basis for the Reds in 2007 and Pirates in 2005. He has also worked in the Expos, Pirates and Yankees systems, as well as in the Caribbean, South America and Australia.

“So I’d like to think it’s time for me to manage at this level,” he said. “I don’t ask (why). My wife asks me all the time. Of course I’ve wondered and I don’t know. Whatever happens happens. I’m good with it. I’m happy to have an opportunity just to have somebody listen to me.”

Also Monday, the Red Sox declined contract options on relievers Dan Wheeler and Scott Atchison. The Red Sox retain control over Atchison, but can sign him for a lower salary; Wheeler also remains an option, Cherington said.

“We didn’t feel like we could commit to that money for him this early in the offseason,” he said. “We’ll keep the door open.”

Cherington said he has also talked to the agents for David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, who are both free agents, but that it is unlikely an agreement would be reached before the exclusive negotiating window closes on Thursday.

Cherington also said that no agreement has been reached with the Chicago Cubs for compensation for former GM Theo Epstein. Commissioner Bud Selig had set a Tuesday deadline, saying he would step in and settle it if an agreement hadn’t been reached; more conversations were planned, Cherington said.

“We’ve always felt like that was a possibility,” Cherington said. “It’s a difficult deal to work out because its hard to quantify the value of Theo Epstein. I have an idea of it and Theo doesn’t think he’s worth as much. So we haven’t been able to bridge that gap yet. I think both sides are comfortable with that outcome of it happens that way.”

Also, John Lackey is scheduled for previously announced Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.

Updated October 31, 2011

The World Series Game 7 on Oct. 28 was pretty much set up to be lopsided. What’s more, it was set up for the St. Louis Cardinals to win it all after all they did to get here. Philadelphia Phillies fans like myself kind of figured out it would end up like this after the Cardinals knocked us out exactly three weeks earlier, and it was the Texas Rangers’ time to learn that in the end of the World Series.

Game 7 didn’t have two comebacks with one strike to spare, a bullpen phone miscommunication, three home runs from Albert Pujols(notes), a ninth-inning rally or a two-hit shutout. But the 6-2 win from the Cardinals did encapsulate just how St. Louis became the most improbably world champions in decades.

All that was missing from the battle was the last-minute comeback that the Cardinals specialized in, especially in Game 6. But Game 7 did have a mini-comeback of sorts after the Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Chris Carpenter. Texas made a statement that their Game 6 loss wouldn’t carry over after all, yet St. Louis then made a statement of its own.

David Freese(notes) solidified his World Series MVP status with a two-run double in the first, just as he solidified his NLCS MVP status with an early home run in Game 6 at Milwaukee. From then on in, the Cardinals played the kind of game that brought them so much good fortune in the last two months.

Along with Freese, Allen Craig(notes) was the Game 7 MVP with yet another go-ahead hit – this time a home run in the third. What’s more, he robbed Nelson Cruz(notes) of a home run in the sixth that was pretty much the Rangers’ last scoring threat. Rafael Furcal(notes) was revitalized in the No. 7 position with two hits – one less than he had in the first six games combined – and an RBI on a hit-by-pitch. Lance Berkman(notes) capped off his big World Series with an infield hit in the seventh that set up an insurance RBI from Yadier Molina(notes).

At the center of it all as usual was Tony La Russa, who made one last change to his lineup for Game 7 and had it pay off to wrap up his magical two months. His decision to bring Chris Carpenter back on three days rest also paid off, as Carpenter dominated after a slow start and shut the Rangers down almost like he shut the Phillies down in the deciding NLDS game. As for the Rangers’ Ron Washington, his move to start Matt Harrison(notes) instead of Derek Holland(notes) did not work, and he stuck with reliever Scott Feldman(notes) longer than he should have in the fifth.

The World Series was officially decided in a fifth inning where the Rangers walked three Cardinals, hit two and gave up two runs without giving up a hit. That was the kind of small ball and luck that the Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Rangers were desperately missing in the playoffs, unlike the Cardinals.

But St. Louis had a lot of things that the rest of the postseason competition did not have this October, and it was on display at the very end. While the rest of the World Series set too high of a bar for Game 7 or the Rangers to match, the Cardinals will forever remember the finale as a fitting end to their two month reign over baseball.

It was a night where everyone contributed, where Tony La Russa made the opposition look foolish, where their ace recovered to take control, and where the formerly maligned bullpen finished it off without breaking a sweat. It was a St. Louis Cardinals’ night, just as it somehow became a St. Louis Cardinals season and World Series of triumph.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Phillies since he was eight years old.

Other stories from this contributor

World Series Game 6 evokes ghosts of Puckett, Buckner

World Series Game 6 more like Game 7 for Rangers?

World Series Game 6 may need to be delayed a few days

World Series Game 5: Rangers inexplicably steal 3-2 lead

World Series Game 4: Rangers shift momentum again

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

(Reuters) – List of winners in Major League Baseball’s World Series:

2011 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Texas Rangers 3

2010 – San Francisco Giants 4, Texas Rangers 1

2009 – New York Yankees 4, Philadelphia Phillies 2

2008 – Philadelphia Phillies 4, Tampa Bay Rays 1

2007 – Boston Red Sox 4, Colorado Rockies 0

2006 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Detroit Tigers 1

2005 – Chicago White Sox 4, Houston Astros 0

2004 – Boston Red Sox 4, St. Louis Cardinals 0

2003 – Florida Marlins 4, New York Yankees 2

2002 – Anaheim Angels 4, San Francisco Giants 3

2001 – Arizona Diamondbacks 4, New York Yankees 3

2000 – New York Yankees 4, New York Mets 1

1999 – New York Yankees 4, Atlanta Braves 0

1998 – New York Yankees 4, San Diego Padres 0

1997 – Florida Marlins 4, Cleveland Indians 3

1996 – New York Yankees 4, Atlanta Braves 2

1995 – Atlanta Braves 4, Cleveland Indians 2

1994 – Not held

1993 – Toronto Blue Jays 4, Philadelphia Phillies 2

1992 – Toronto Blue Jays 4, Atlanta Braves 2

1991 – Minnesota Twins 4, Atlanta Braves 3

1990 – Cincinnati Reds 4, Oakland Athletics 0

1989 – Oakland Athletics 4, San Francisco Giants 0

1988 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Oakland Athletics 1

1987 – Minnesota Twins 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

1986 – New York Mets 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1985 – Kansas City Royals 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

1984 – Detroit Tigers 4, San Diego Padres 1

1983 – Baltimore Orioles 4, Philadelphia Phillies 1

1982 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3

1981 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, New York Yankees 2

1980 – Philadelphia Phillies 4, Kansas City Royals 2

1979 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

1978 – New York Yankees 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

1977 – New York Yankees 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

1976 – Cincinnati Reds 4, New York Yankees 0

1975 – Cincinnati Red 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1974 – Oakland Athletics 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

1973 – Oakland Athletics 4, New York Mets 3

1972 – Oakland Athletics 4, Cincinnati Reds 3

1971 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

1970 – Baltimore Orioles 4, Cincinnati Reds 1

1969 – New York Mets 4, Baltimore Orioles 1

1968 – Detroit Tigers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

1967 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1966 – Baltimore Orioles 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

1965 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Minnesota Twins 3

1964 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 3

1963 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, New York Yankees 0

1962 – New York Yankees 4, San Francisco Giants 3

1961 – New York Yankees 4, Cincinnati Reds 1

1960 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, New York Yankees 3

1959 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Chicago White Sox 2

1958 – New York Yankees 4, Milwaukee Braves 3

1957 – Milwaukee Braves 4, New York Yankees 3

1956 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3

1955 – Brooklyn Dodgers 4, New York Yankees 3

1954 – New York Giants 4, Cleveland Indians 0

1953 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 2

1952 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3

1951 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 2

1950 – New York Yankees 4, Philadelphia Phillies 0

1949 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 1

1948 – Cleveland Indians 4, Boston Braves 2

1947 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3

1946 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1945 – Detroit Tigers 4, Chicago Cubs 3

1944 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, St. Louis Browns 2

1943 – New York Yankees 4, St. Louis Cardinals 1

1942 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 1

1941 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 1

1940 – Cincinnati Reds 4, Detroit Tigers 3

1939 – New York Yankees 4, Cincinnati Reds 0

1938 – New York Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 0

1937 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 1

1936 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 2

1935 – Detroit Tigers 4, Chicago Cubs 2

1934 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Detroit Tigers 3

1933 – New York Giants 4, Washington Senators 1

1932 – New York Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 0

1931 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Philadelphia Athletics 3

1930 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2

1929 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, Chicago Cubs 1

1928 – New York Yankees 4, St. Louis Cardinals 0

1927 – New York Yankees 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 0

1926 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 3

1925 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Washington Senators 3

1924 – Washington Senators 4, New York Giants 3

1923 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 2

1922 – New York Giants 4, New York Yankees 0 (one tie)

1921 – New York Giants 5, New York Yankees 3

1920 – Cleveland Indians 5, Brooklyn Robins 2

1919 – Cincinnati Reds 5, Chicago White Sox 3

1918 – Boston Red Sox 4, Chicago Cubs 2

1917 – Chicago White Sox 4, New York Giants 2

1916 – Boston Red Sox 4, Brooklyn Robins 1

1915 – Boston Red Sox 4, Philadelphia Phillies 1

1914 – Boston Braves 4, Philadelphia Athletics 0

1913 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, New York Giants 1

1912 – Boston Red Sox 4, New York Giants 3 (one tie)

1911 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, New York Giants 2

1910 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, Chicago Cubs 1

1909 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Detroit Tigers 3

1908 – Chicago Cubs 4, Detroit Tigers 1

1907 – Chicago Cubs 4, Detroit Tigers 0 (one tie)

1906 – Chicago White Sox 4, Chicago Cubs 2

1905 – New York Giants 4, Philadelphia Athletics 1

1904 – Not held

1903 – Boston Americans 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

(Compiled by Frank Pingue; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – The Philadelphia Phillies announced
updates on several injured players Friday, including first baseman Ryan Howard
and pitcher Cole Hamels.

Howard, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon on the Phillies’ last at-bat of
the postseason, had stitches removed on Tuesday and began his rehabilitation
program in Philadelphia, progressing to partial weight bearing.

Hamels had his stitches removed on Thursday from surgery to remove loose
bodies in his pitching arm. The lefty also had a follow-up exam for his hernia
surgery and has been cleared to progress back to his regular offseason
program.

Third baseman Placido Polanco and outfielder Hunter Pence are each recovering
from surgeries to correct sports hernias and are continuing their
rehabilitation programs. Polanco is rehabbing in Miami, while Pence is
recovering in Philadelphia.

Right-handed pitcher Jose Contreras is recovering from a right forearm strain
and will begin isometric forearm strengthening next week. He is on track to
progress to regular strengthening in the beginning of December and initiate
throwing at the beginning of January.

Ross Gload, who was mainly used a pinch hitter for the Phillies, was evaluated
by Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York on October 18 for an issue with his hip, but it
was determined an arthroscopic procedure was not needed at this time. The 10-
year veteran was set up with an offseason rehabilitation program.

The Sports Network

Read More: Jimmy Rollins (SS – PHI), Jose Reyes (SS – NYM), Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have already stated a desire to re-sign Jimmy Rollins during the impending free agency period. But David S. Cohen of The Good Phight believes the Phillies will target another high-profile shortstop instead: Jose Reyes.

Why? Because Philadelphia general manager Reuben Amaro Jr. has made a habit of hunting the MLB’s premier talent.

Amaro likes splashy acquisitions, and his definition of splashy is to go for the brass ring.  The only clear exception was in Amaro’s first year when a) he was getting his feet wet and b) his team was coming off a World Series win.

But every other time he’s had the opportunity to acquire talent, he’s gone for the best out there.  This is a pattern.  This is what this man does.  And, if this man’s pattern holds true this off-season, we’ll see Jose Reyes in a Phillies uniform next year.

Let me be clear though – Reyes is not the top free agent out there this year.  The top is undisputed - Albert Pujols.  Behind him is Prince Fielder and then probably C.C. Sabathia.  However, the Phillies are not going to acquire another first baseman, nor are they going to sign another high-priced starting pitcher.

Jose Reyes is next, and, lo and behold, the Phillies need a short stop.  Reyes is four years younger than Rollins.  He had a year in which he got on base at a clip 0.046 higher than Rollins and slugged almost .100 points higher.  Yes, he’s been injury prone, but so has Rollins.  He’s decidedly more of a splashy acquisition.

Reyes made his fourth All-Star team in 2011, batting a career-high .337 to go with seven HR, 34 RBI and 39 SB. He just completed a four-year, $23.5 million contract extension, but will likely command more this offseason.

In July, Reyes said “I want to be a New York Met all my career,” but he broke off contract discussions during the season and said he would resume them after the campaign ended.

– For more Phillies coverage, visit our team page, or our blog The Good Phight.

The Philadelphia Phillies are used to getting postseason accolades in the past few years. The 2011 season will be no different. In addition to the major awards that Phillies players might get, the team can also boast two players that are up for Players Choice Awards. As a Phillies fan, I am happy to see that Roy Halladay(notes) and Vance Worley(notes) are getting the recognition they deserve from their peers.

Halladay is up for the Outstanding Pitcher award. This award was voted on by Major League Baseball players prior to the end of the regular season. Halladay is nominated along with Clayton Kershaw(notes) and Ian Kennedy(notes). Halladay had another impressive season with a 19-6 record and a 2.32 ERA. He won the Cy Young award in 2010 and is among the favorites to win the award again. Meanwhile, Worley was one of the biggest surprises of the season. He is nominated for Outstanding Rookie along with a couple of Atlanta Braves players in Freddie Freeman(notes) and Craig Krimbel. Worley had an impressive 11-3 record and an ERA of 3.01 while filling in for both Roy Oswalt(notes) and Joe Blanton(notes). Worley wound up becoming the fourth ace the Phillies thought they would have had in Oswalt all season. He was one of the most consistent starters in all of baseball.

The Players Choice awards have been around since 1992 and the winners are able to donate grants to charities of their choice. While they aren’t as glamorous as major awards like the Cy Young or MVP awards, they are still special. There isn’t any baseball player around that doesn’t want to be recognized as one of the best by their fellow players. The Phillies finished the season with 102 wins. Despite their postseason failure, they were one of the best teams in baseball. It should come as no surprise that players like Halladay and Worley have earned this recognition. Hopefully, at least one will win the award. The awards will be given out on November 3 with a special that airs on the MLB Network.

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