BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Reds Hire Bowden, 31, to Replace Quinn

Jim Bowden received a mandate Friday when he became the Cincinnati Reds’ latest general manager: Win, or else.

Marge Schott, the club’s chief executive, introduced Bowden as her third general manager in four years, replacing the fired Bob Quinn. Bowden, 31, is the youngest current general manager in the major leagues. Schott made it clear that Bowden, her player development director last year, has no more security than his predecessors.

When a team spokesman opened the news conference by saying there was good news to announce, Schott added, “We’ll see how good the news is at the end of the year.”

Bowden says that by Dec. 1 he plans to name a replacement for former manager Lou Piniella, who left after the season. Schott said she will leave the decision to Bowden, but she indicated she would like to stay in-house. Hitting instructor Tony Perez is considered a leading candidate.

*

Cal Ripken Sr., 56, ended his 36-year association with the Baltimore Orioles, refusing a high-level job in the minor leagues after being dismissed as the team’s third base coach.

A replacement has not been named. Ripken and Oriole Manager Johnny Oates were not available for comment.

It is likely the decision leading to Ripken’s dismissal began after a Sept. 22 game against the Toronto Blue Jays. In the ninth inning, Ripken held Tim Hulett at third base on a potential sacrifice fly that would have tied the score. The throw from center fielder Devon White was well off the mark and Hulett never did score in a 4-3 loss that all but dropped the Orioles out of contention. Afterward, Oates wondered aloud whether Baltimore’s season would be remembered for that loss.

Ripken’s dismissal comes less than two months after Cal Ripken Jr. signed a five-year contract with the club. He might soon be the only Ripken left with the Orioles because Oates might not choose Bill Ripken as one of Baltimore’s 15 protected players for next month’s expansion draft.