Pirates Name McClendon New Manager

Lloyd McClendon, lacking experience but not self-confidence, was hired Monday as the Pittsburgh Pirates stayed within their organization for their new manager.

McClendon, 41, has no major league or minor league managing experience, except for the fall instructional leagues. He was the Pirate hitting coach the last four seasons under just-fired manager Gene Lamont.

“We got the guy we felt would get us winning the fastest,” owner Kevin McClatchy said.

Although the other 10 candidates interviewed were more experienced, McClendon convinced McClatchy and General Manager Cam Bonifay that he has the leadership skills to turn around a low-budget team that has lost for eight consecutive seasons.

“We’ve got to regain our dignity, we’ve got to regain our pride, and we’re going to start doing that right away,” McClendon said. “There are guys out there a lot smarter than I am, and nobody has reinvented the wheel yet.”

McClendon was given a three-year contract at about $500,000 a season.

McClendon, who hit .244 in an eight-year major league career, becomes the fifth black manager in the majors, joining the Giants’ Dusty Baker, the Cubs’ Don Baylor, the White Sox’s Jerry Manuel and the Brewers’ Davey Lopes. Expo Manager Felipe Alou is of Hispanic descent.

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Dodger President Bob Graziano and General Manager Kevin Malone, still seeking to fill their managerial vacancy, are expected to interview Yankee coaches Wille Randolph and Chris Chambliss on Thursday.

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Manny Ramirez’s agent, Jeff Moorad, met for nearly three hours at Jacobs Field with Indians’ owner Larry Dolan and General Manager John Hart trying to convince the club to sign Ramirez, Cleveland’s extraordinary cleanup hitter, to a long-term deal.

The two sides hadn’t met face-to-face since July, when Moorad turned down the Indians’ five-year, $75-million offer to the 28-year-old Ramirez, who could command a $20 million per year deal if he goes on the free agent market.

“We had outstanding discussions today and we hope the optimism continues,” Hart said.

The Indians were expected to increase their offer in length and value, but it remained to be seen if it would be enough to satisfy Moorad, who had said he would seek a “career contract” for Ramirez.

The Indians, who drafted Ramirez in 1991, will have exclusive negotiating rights with Ramirez for 15 days after he files for free agency.

Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez are the biggest names among this year’s free agent class.

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Two gambling Web sites which carried Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson’s name were ordered terminated by a Florida judge.

Judge John A. Miller issued the court order in Broward County, ending the Internet sites which operated under the names reggiejackson.com and placethatbet.com.

The sites were operated by a Costa Rican company which paid Jackson a fee to use his name. Originally, the Hall of Fame slugger knew only about the first site, reggiejackson.com, and thought it was only for amusement purposes. When he learned of the second site, placethatbet.com, and the wager activity, he angrily cut his ties to them.

“Our name was used without permission on the gaming site in reference to sports betting and we disassociated ourselves,” Jackson said in August. “We’re disappointed, embarrassed and humiliated. don’t want any association with the word gambling.

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Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado was selected player of the year by The Sporting News.

Delgado received 164 1/2 votes, easily outdistancing runner-up Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies, who received 38 votes. The Chicago White Sox’ Frank Thomas was next with 34 1/2 votes, followed by Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants with 22 1/2.

The American League pitcher of the year was Boston’s Pedro Martinez. The NL pitcher of the year was Atlanta’s Tom Glavine.

Jerry Manuel of the White Sox was named American League manager of the year. The National League winner was Dusty Baker of the Giants.

The Sporting News rookies of the year were Kansas City outfielder Mark Quinn and Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal. The top rookie pitchers were Kazuhiro Sasaki of Seattle and Rick Ankiel of St. Louis.

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Still Searching

The Pirates hiring of Lloyd McClendon leaves five managerial jobs still open:

* Toronto Blue Jays

* Arizona Diamondbacks

* Dodgers

* Philadelphia Phillies

* Cincinnati Reds