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To: Cactus Jack who wrote (56160)	11/13/2002 1:39:14 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 65232

CUBS' MANAGERIAL SEARCH Money the final hurdle Cubs, Baker agree contract will be 4 years By Teddy Greenstein Chicago Tribune staff reporter November 13, 2002 There are no signs of trouble in the negotiations between the Cubs and Dusty Baker. And no reason to be concerned, certainly not yet. Baker's agent, Jeff Moorad, met Tuesday morning in Phoenix with Cubs President Andy MacPhail and general manager Jim Hendry. Sources say Moorad and the Cubs have agreed on the length of a contract for Baker to manage the Cubs: It will be a four-year deal. But the sides have talked about money only in general terms. Baker is believed to be seeking between $3.5 million and $4 million per season. "We really haven't gotten specific on numbers at this point," Moorad said. "Barring any unforeseen problems, we've targeted the end of the week as a time we'd like to get something finalized. "[But] anyone familiar with the negotiating process knows things can flip around in a hurry. Time will tell." Hendry said the talks went well but agreed a deal was not imminent. "I'm sure we'll be talking quite a bit over the next several days," he said. Baker, who left Phoenix on Tuesday morning, said it's "not a forgone conclusion" a deal will be worked out. But virtually everything else he said Tuesday pointed to an agreement being reached. "They really expressed a tremendous amount of interest in me," Baker said by telephone. "And it's easier to make a decision when people want you." Baker never expected a deal to be struck in 24 hours, so he isn't fazed. "There are always a couple of things [to work out]," he said. "It's hard to make a deal in one day. The main thing is: We had a great conversation and talked about a lot of philosophical things. Then they talked monetary things with Jeff." Among the topics Baker discussed with MacPhail and Hendry was his potential staff. Larry Rothschild will remain the pitching coach, but Baker would be able to select the rest of his staff. Dick Pole, Baker's pitching coach from 1993-97 in San Francisco, could be hired as bench coach or bullpen coach. Baker also is kicking around a way to hire both Gary Matthews, who has served as a roving minor-league hitting instructor for the Cubs, and Gene Clines, Baker's hitting coach in San Francisco from 1997-2002. "That's possible," Baker said of having all four on his staff. "They're all quality people. They would know how to handle whatever territory they're responsible for." Matthews, who has lived in Chicago since 1984, when he helped propel the Cubs to the playoffs, is one of Baker's closest friends. He also has strong ties to Hendry and has been a regular at the Cubs Convention. He served as the Brewers' hitting coach in 2002 and held the same post for Toronto in 1998. Clines, a former outfielder who hit .293 for the Cubs in 1977, was the team's first-base coach in 1979. Until a few years ago, he spent off-seasons in Chicago. Baker also said he would consider members of his Giants' staff, including Sonny Jackson (third base), Dave Righetti (pitching), Ron Wotus (bench) and Juan Lopez (bullpen). Baker also might try to bring over at least one of his players. Jeff Kent and David Bell are both free agents, and the Cubs need a third baseman. Could Kent, a second baseman since 1997, fill that void? "Who knows?" Baker replied. "I saw him working out over there (third base) at the end of the year. Yeah, I'd take Jeff or a lot of guys who played for me. David Bell played great for me." Bell is expected to command a three-year deal worth $3 million to $5 million per season. Kent would cost more but provide a tremendous boost to the lineup. "I'm not a messiah or a miracle worker," Baker said. "It might take some time [to win], but the name of my game is progress. Once you start seeing that, you can determine how far away you are." Copyright © 2002, The Chicago Tribune chicagosports.chicagotribune.com

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (56160)	11/13/2002 3:43:23 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 65232

Felipe Alou hired as Giants manager By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer November 13, 2002 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Felipe Alou was hired Wednesday to manage the National League champion San Francisco Giants, returning to the team he played for in the 1950s and '60s. The former manager of the Montreal Expos inherits a team that came within six outs of a World Series title and replaces the popular Dusty Baker, whose contract was not renewed. Baker is talking with the Chicago Cubs about becoming their manager. Alou's son Moises plays for the Cubs. The 67-year-old Alou agreed to a three-year contract. He was 691-717 in 10 seasons managing the Expos. He played for the Giants from 1958-63 as part of a 17-season major league career in which he hit .286 with 206 homers and 852 RBIs. He also spent 1970 and part of 1971 in the Bay area playing for the Oakland Athletics. On the Giants, he joined brothers Matty and Jesus in an all-Alou outfield in some games. ``I'm thrilled to go back where it all started for me. Many times I never thought I would get back there,'' Felipe Alou said. It is the first time in nearly three decades that a manager takes over a pennant-winning team. Alvin Dark became manager of the A's when Dick Williams retired following their 1973 World Series championship. ``We're obviously thrilled we're able to welcome Felipe back,'' general manager Brian Sabean said. ``Everybody in baseball realizes what he's done in the game. It's thrilling because he's a Giant at heart. He's returning to manage a team we're still going to be excited about for years to come. To hire someone of his pedigree is exciting. ``He calls himself a baseball soldier in conversation. He's more like baseball royalty to us.'' Alou was fired by the Expos during the 2001 season, and was a bench coach for the Detroit Tigers this past season. He is a native of the Dominican Republic. The Giants had hinted they would try to replace Baker, who is black, with another minority. Alou will have the challenge of dealing with Barry Bonds, whose dugout shoving match with second baseman Jeff Kent -- a free agent not expected to return to the Giants -- was a low point in the team's successful year. ``Barry Bonds and other players operate at a very high level, a level not many people have operated at in the course of their lives. I respect the way they operate,'' Alou said. ``Myself, I was a decent player, but I didn't operate at that level.'' Sabean said he is confident Alou, who will be introduced by the Giants at a Pacific Bell Park news conference on Friday, can handle what has been at times a contentious San Francisco clubhouse. ``He dealt with an interesting, diverse group in Montreal and our clubhouse is one of the same,'' said Sabean, who interviewed Alou over two days in Florida. ``I spoke of pedigree and blood lines, and it doesn't get any better than this. He's a guy who can and will make a difference.'' Baker's differences with team owner Peter Magowan simmered all season, mainly about who deserved the most credit for the recent success. It even came up during the Giants' seven-game loss to the Anaheim Angels in the World Series. Magowan left the decision on the new manager to Sabean, who re-signed with the team after the World Series. ``It will be important for any manager who comes in here to deal with the different personalities, ages and races that make up any organization, not just the Giants,'' Magowan has said.

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (56160)	11/15/2002 9:02:17 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 65232

Cubs hire Baker as manager By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer November 15, 2002 CHICAGO (AP) -- Dusty Baker was hired Friday to manage the Chicago Cubs, accepting one of baseball's most challenging assignments. Baker takes over baseball's longtime losers less than a month after leading the San Francisco Giants to the World Series. Baker, a three-time National League Manager of the Year, agreed to a four-year contract, a deal thought to be worth between $14 million and $16 million. ``We're very thrilled to have him,'' Cubs president Andy MacPhail said. ``His record speaks for itself. He's an enormously popular manager with his players. As result, the field of players that would like to play for the Cubs has increased with tonight's announcement by a large amount.'' Baker becomes the second-highest paid manager behind Joe Torre of the New York Yankees. With the hiring of Baker and Bob Melvin by Seattle earlier in the day, all 10 openings for major league managers have been filled. Known for his dugout toothpick and his ability to relate to players, Baker spent 10 seasons with the Giants before departing last week following differences with San Francisco owner Peter Magowan, largely over who deserved the most credit for the franchise's success. Baker replaces Bruce Kimm, the interim manager who was fired at the end of the Cubs' 67-95 season. Kimm had replaced Don Baylor, who was fired July 6 as Chicago got off to a horrible start and went on to its third 90-loss season in four years. Chicago general manager Jim Hendry also interviewed Bob Melvin, Ken Macha, Buck Showalter and Fredi Gonzalez, but it was no secret Baker was the man the Cubs wanted and that's why they waited, to see if he would leave the Giants. The Cubs will be Baker's biggest managerial test. They haven't won a World Series since 1908 and have made the playoffs only three times since 1945, their last World Series appearance. Since 1945, they've had only 16 seasons at .500 or better. They haven't even managed back-to-back winning records since 1972. But Baker is well aware of the challenge he faces. Asked about baseball's lovable losers, he's said the manager who got the Cubs to win would be ``the mighty man of Chicago.'' And if anyone can get the Cubs winning on a regular basis, it could be Baker. He went 840-715 in 10 seasons with the Giants and over the final six seasons his teams averaged 91 victories. Among active managers, only Atlanta's Bobby Cox had been with his club longer. ``I'm not a messiah or a miracle worker,'' Baker said earlier. ``It might take some time, but the name of my game is progress. Once your start seeing that, you can determine how far away you are.'' Baker's a favorite of players and fans alike. In San Francisco, he'd always take time to sign a few autographs before each game at Pacific Bell Park. And he successfully handled a variety of personalities in the clubhouse, including Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent, who got into a dugout shoving match last season. After handling Bonds, now he gets to deal with another superstar and his ego, Sammy Sosa. Baker is not expected to have his son, 3-year-old Darren, as a bat boy at Wrigley Field. Baseball is likely to set a minimum age for bat boys next season, somewhere in double digits. Baker's father, Johnnie, was enthused about the move. ``I'm ecstatic. It's a big change, but I am thrilled to death that he got what he wanted,'' he said from Sacramento, Calif. ``I think Chicago will be a good place for him to work. They've got some good ballplayers and good players in the minor leagues. It should be a good challenge for him. ``I'll be there quite often I hope, to see what's going on with him and how he's working out, which I hope will be very satisfying for everybody involved,'' he said. The only knock on Baker had been his lack of success in the playoffs. But he answered that this season as the wild-card Giants beat Atlanta and St. Louis to reach the World Series. San Francisco had a 3-2 games lead and was ahead 5-0 in the seventh inning of Game 6 before Anaheim rallied to win the series in seven games. Baker apparently felt slighted that Magowan would point out everybody else's contributions when reporters asked what he thought of Baker's role in the Giants' success. Baker also was angered when Magowan said in spring training that this was the best Giants team in his 10 years as owner, thinking that put too much pressure on the players. Baker has also dealt with some financial burdens. A report surfaced that he owes more than $1 million in back taxes and penalties due to some bad investments he made in the early 1980s. The Cubs did not consider that as a major issue in bringing Baker to Chicago.