BASEBALL : Brewer Jobs May Be a Case Where Minority Rules

Jim Lefebvre would like to think his interim role as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers could lead to his permanent appointment, but it probably is not going to happen.

The former Dodger infielder and National League rookie of the year in 1965 is a former manager with the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs and a man who has touched virtually every base in a varied career. He was promoted from Milwaukee batting coach when Phil Garner was fired Aug. 12.

General Manager Sal Bando was “reassigned” at the same time, and Lefebvre understands that the Brewers are committed to the hiring of what he calls “a whole new regime” and, particularly, to the hiring of a minority candidate as either general manager, manager or both.

“Hopefully, I’ll be considered, that would be great,” Lefebvre said. “I have a lot of confidence in my ability to manage, and my record speaks for itself. But right now my only motivation is to try and help the Brewers finish the year as strong as possible.

“Milwaukee is a great baseball city and it’s experienced a difficult year. We’ve been a disappointment as a team, and then there was the tragedy at the new park [when a crane fell and three construction workers were killed].”

The Brewers were 56-71 through Friday and next to last in the National League Central. They are currently being operated by Wendy Selig-Prieb, who has participated on virtually all of baseball’s minority hiring committees and, as the daughter of Commissioner Bud Selig, the longtime Brewer owner, has a blood commitment to his recent minority-hiring edict.

Selig won’t tell a team who to hire--OK, he may tell the Brewers--but he wants to be informed of openings and assured that teams follow his demand for thorough interviews of minority candidates. His office has also provided clubs with a list of such candidates and said, “We expect them to be considered.”

Neither the 50th anniversary celebration in 1997 of Jackie Robinson’s major league debut nor the 1987 furor stemming from Al Campanis’ firing as Dodger general manager following his racially insensitive comments on “Nightline” have improved baseball’s minority hiring in the two key field and front-office positions.

Since 1993, there have been 39 managers fired, and only one minority candidate, Jerry Manuel of the Chicago White Sox, was hired. The only other minority managers are Dusty Baker of the San Francisco Giants and Felipe Alou of the Montreal Expos.

The late Bill Lucas had general manager authority with the Atlanta Braves, but Bob Watson is the only other African American to have held that title, with the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.

The Milwaukee openings are only the tip of the 1999 iceberg. Bob Gebhard recently resigned as general manager of the Colorado Rockies but is ultimately expected to be replaced by Personnel Director Gary Hughes.

The Cubs and Detroit Tigers are likely to have managerial openings, and the Angels and Baltimore Orioles may each be looking for a manager and general manager. The ousted but highly regarded Garner, whose six consecutive losing seasons were tied to Brewer payroll restrictions, could resurface in Detroit or elsewhere.

In Milwaukee’s overhaul, Selig-Prieb will hire the general manager, who will hire the manager.

The likely minority candidates for general manager are Toronto Blue Jay assistant Dave Stewart, who was interviewed for more than five hours Thursday; New York Met assistant Omar Minaya, Cincinnati Red assistant Darrel “Doc” Rodgers, Brewer farm director Cecil Cooper, and Watson, currently out of baseball. Former Dodger GM Fred Claire is among the nonminority candidates.

The minority manager candidates include the long-deserving Davey Lopes, as well as Chris Chambliss, Willie Randolph, Eddie Murray, Rod Carew, Ken Griffey Sr. and Don Baylor. Baylor, once the hitting coach in Milwaukee, might have burned his bridges, however, when he complained about receiving only a token managerial interview before the Brewers hired Garner to replace Tom Trebelhorn.

At some point, Lopes will get his chance, as will the dynamic Stewart--and it could be in tandem in Milwaukee, Fox having blown the landmark opportunity to bring the two former Dodgers back last year.

Industry sources believe that if Stewart is offered the Milwaukee position, the Blue Jays are certain to respond by promising him their GM seat within a year or two if he stays.

He has also apprenticed in the Oakland and San Diego front offices. Many remain puzzled as to why the Padres made no attempt to retain him and return him to an assistant’s position after he had agreed to serve last year as pitching coach and was a pivotal cog in the team’s National League championship.

Stewart, of course, brings the same emotion and aggressiveness to the front office that he did to the pitching mound.

He irritated Toronto Manager Jim Fregosi and some players a few days ago by complaining that the team lacked intensity against the teams it needed to beat, but the message was there.

A little fire in Milwaukee certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Lefebvre joined the Brewers as batting coach last year after three years of giving clinics worldwide with Major League Baseball International.

As a batting coach with the Oakland A’s and a manager with the Cubs, he was influential in the development of home run kings Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. He was also coming off winning managerial seasons with both the Mariners and Cubs when fired.

“My only disappointment is that I didn’t get to finish what I started,” he said. “I’d like to manage again, but I’m not going to manage just to manage. I’m not going to be out there chasing every job.”

There are going to be several available, and time will tell if the Brewers’ minority commitment--or Selig’s edict--ignites a hiring groundswell long overdue.