Maddon Is Interested in Managing Red Sox

Joe Maddon, the Angels’ computer-savvy bench coach, said Tuesday he is “absolutely” interested in the Boston Red Sox managerial vacancy.

The Red Sox want a manager who can blend old-school baseball knowledge with new-school tools of statistical evaluation. Maddon, 49, who played, coached and managed in the Angels’ minor league system for 19 years before joining the major league coaching staff in 1994, helps turn computer data into scouting reports for Manager Mike Scioscia.

“If computers were available when Branch Rickey was alive, he’d have made them popular 50 years ago,” Maddon said. “Technology won’t win a game by itself. But it organizes your work better, which may allow you to win a game.

“We take advantage of technology in every other facet of life and we’re going to disdain it in sports? I don’t get that.”

Maddon managed the Angels to a 19-10 record after Terry Collins resigned late in the last-place 1999 season, and players spoke highly of his strategic and communications skills. The Angels, believing they could not replace Collins with another man who had not played in the major leagues, hired Scioscia but directed him to keep Maddon on the staff.

General Manager Bill Stoneman said the Red Sox had not asked permission to interview Maddon or pitching coach Bud Black. Stoneman said he would grant permission for any coach asked to interview for a managerial vacancy.

*

Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui declared his free agency Tuesday but said he would not discuss his anticipated departure for the major leagues until Nov. 7, when he and the Japanese national team conclude an Olympic qualifying tournament. Matsui is expected to be represented by Los Angeles-based agent Arn Tellem, who did not return a call Tuesday.

The Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets and Yankees are among the interested major league teams, although the Red Sox and Yankees presumably would ask Matsui to shift positions. Matsui did attend one game of the Red Sox-Yankee American League championship series at Yankee Stadium but said Tuesday he considers himself a shortstop.

“I would have to say that I want to play short,” he said at a news conference in Japan. “I actually can’t imagine myself playing anywhere else.”