Looking for a Spark, Phillies Give Bowa the Manager’s Job

Larry Bowa, whose fiery personality at shortstop helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the franchise’s only World Series championship and got him in trouble with management, was hired Wednesday as the team’s manager.

“Larry brings a tremendous amount of experience to the game and to our situation,” General Manger Ed Wade said. “But more importantly, he brings that passion for the game and passion for the Phillies’ organization and for the city that we need right now.”

Bowa, a third-base coach with the Seattle Mariners last season, replaced Terry Francona, fired on Oct. 1. Bowa gets a second chance at managing after compiling an 81-127 record with the San Diego Padres in 1987-88.

“I probably wasn’t ready to manage at that time,” said Bowa, who was emotional and had watery eyes during his news conference. “But when anybody comes up to you after a year in the minors, and says, ‘You want to manage?’ it’s very difficult to say no.”

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Jerry Manuel, who led a young Chicago White Sox squad to the best record in the American League, was voted the Associated Press manager of the year.

Manuel, in only his third year as a major league manager, received 27 votes in nationwide balloting by writers and broadcasters. Dusty Baker, who led the San Francisco Giants to the best record in baseball, was second with 23.

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Broadcaster Buck Martinez or Oakland A’s bench coach Ken Macha will be hired as the Toronto Blue Jays’ new manager.

“Those are the two individuals that we’re considering,” General Manager Gord Ash said. “We committed to have something done by Friday, and I still think that’s very doable.”

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After starting a season in Japan for the first time, major league baseball returned with a 28-man all-star team that will play an eight-game series against Japanese counterparts.

In March, the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs split a two-game series in the Tokyo Dome, the first major league regular-season games played in Japan.

This series goes from Nov. 3-12 and includes games in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya.

The team of major leaguers includes Dodger outfielders Gary Sheffield and Shawn Green.

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Rather than become a free agent, Cal Ripken agreed to another $6.3-million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. “Obviously, I am very pleased to have the contract completed,” the 18-time all-star said. “I always have been an Oriole and I always want to be an Oriole. My back feels great and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to compete.” . . . Eleven days after getting the hit that won the World Series opener for the New York Yankees, Jose Vizcaino filed for free agency . . . Armando Reynoso’s $5-million option was declined by the Arizona Diamondbacks, who elected to pay the pitcher a $500,000 buyout. Also, the team re-signed 41-year-old right-hander Mike Morgan to a one-year contract. . . . St. Louis Cardinal General Manager Walt Jocketty signed a four-year contract extension. . . . Reliever Hipolito Pichardo’s $1.66-million option for 2001 was exercised by the Boston Red Sox. . . . Free-agent first baseman Andres Galarraga said the Chicago Cubs are interested in obtaining him, but he’d rather finish his career with the Atlanta Braves. . . . The Florida Marlins will play the Milwaukee Brewers in the Hall of Fame game next August at Cooperstown, N.Y.