Alou Seems Better Off Than Expos

David Samson couldn’t believe what he was hearing at the news conference where the Montreal Expos announced the firing of Manager Felipe Alou. The Expos’ vice president was asked if he was concerned about a backlash in Montreal, given Alou’s popularity.

“We have 2,000 to 3,000 season-ticket holders,” Samson snapped. “We have 4,000 to 5,000 people in the stands. We have corporate support that left in the form of local ownership.

“What are we talking about? Backlash? I want people to come out and give me backlash. Bring it on. If that’s what gets you into the stadium, we’ll replace people every day.”

One of the nastier elements of the decision to replace Alou was that he woke to read it in the newspaper before hearing it from the Expos.

Alou was going to be named by New York Met Manager Bobby Valentine as a coach for his National League All-Star team, but when big league officials informed Valentine that Alou was about to be fired, the word leaked.

Of course, Alou knew it was coming for more than a year and was relieved to have it done.

Now, at 66, he becomes one of the most intriguing free agents to hit the ever-changing managerial market.

Does he still have his renowned patience? Are his energy and enthusiasm still there?

Could he land in Boston, where Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette, a former boss in Montreal, has a tenuous relationship with Manager Jimy Williams, who is unsigned after this year, and where Pedro Martinez, a former pupil, is the reigning ace?

Could he step out the door of his South Florida house and become manager of the Marlins, if interim Manager Tony Perez isn’t retained beyond this year?

Predecessor John Boles would advise Perez and Alou to keep an eye on the inmates. Inept reliever Dan Miceli might have been the most outspoken, but he was only one of several Marlins who went to General Manager Dave Dombrowski with a list of complaints about Boles.

One of the more interesting was that Boles lacked clubhouse respect because he had never played professionally. In fact, he was the first major league manager without professional playing experience since Emil Fuchs led the Boston Braves to a 56-98 record in 1929.

Of course, that lack of pro experience didn’t seem to matter when the Marlins improved by 10 wins during Boles’ first season in 1999 and by 15 more in 2000. He was fired with the Marlins on a similar 79-win pace and admitted to Dombrowski that he had lost the clubhouse--but clearly not his flair for the facetious.

Said the former outfielder at tiny Lewis College in suburban Chicago, “I just wish I had been a better player. Then this wouldn’t be happening.”

In a phone interview after Alou’s firing, Expo General Manager Jim Beattie said the team had simply underachieved after the good moves he made in the off-season. The biggest Beattie move: sending pitchers Dustin Hermanson and Steve Kline to St. Louis for pitcher Britt Reames and third baseman Fernando Tatis. Well, Reames is 2-8 with a 6.33 earned-run average and Tatis has nine errors compared to only 11 runs batted in. Hermanson, meanwhile, is 5-3 with a 4.80 ERA as a Cardinal starter and Kline has a 1.85 ERA as the lefty relief specialist.

In making rotation room for Olympian Roy Oswalt, the Houston Astros moved Jose Lima to the bullpen. Lima (1-2, 7.14 ERA) is 8-18 since his 21-10 breakthrough in 1999, makes too much to be traded--$6 million this year and $7 million next--and has been so bad, Manager Larry Dierker said, “watching him pitch is like watching ‘Groundhog Day.’ ”

Is it any wonder that the Cincinnati Reds have lost 24 of their last 30 games? They have nine players on the disabled list, including regulars Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin and Aaron Boone, and pitchers Pete Harnisch, Scott Williamson, Dennys Reyes, Josh Riedling and Seth Etherton.

Manager Bob Boone’s 25-man active roster is being paid $20.5 million. The rest of the $44-million-plus payroll is on the disabled list.

Said Boone, “I’m getting tired of handing a lineup card to the umpires with Whiteout on it.”