A’s to interview Hershiser for manager opening

The Oakland Athletics will interview former pitcher Orel Hershiser for their managerial opening.

A’s General Manager Billy Beane will schedule a meeting with Hershiser, currently an ESPN baseball analyst, in Phoenix for sometime during the week of Nov. 6.

Beane fired fourth-year manager Ken Macha on Oct. 16, two days after Oakland’s season ended in a sweep by the Detroit Tigers in the AL Championship Series.

Beane plans to take his time hiring the next manager.

He was still trading phone calls with the agent of designated hitter Frank Thomas about getting something done to keep the 38-year-old slugger in Oakland. Thomas, who led the team with 39 home runs and 114 RBIs, has a two-year offer on the table from the A’s.

Hershiser, 48, went 204-150 during an 18-year playing career that included 13 seasons with the Dodgers.

He joined the Texas Rangers in November 2001 as an associate to former general manager John Hart, became pitching coach in June 2002, then was shifted last November to executive assistant to team president Jeff Cogen. Hershiser left the Rangers in February.

Beane has had a preliminary phone conversation with Angels pitching coach Bud Black, who was expected to interview with the club soon.

Black already interviewed with the San Francisco Giants about their managerial opening.

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Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano, still feeling pain in his elbow, has stopped his rehabilitation and may consider surgery.

Liriano left the team’s facility in Fort Myers, Fla., and was to consult with doctors. He began working out there earlier this month, trying to get healthy enough to pitch in winter ball.

Liriano went 12-3 with a 2.16 earned-run average before his season ended in September. Gene Mato, one of Liriano’s agents, said the pitcher felt it was necessary to “re-evaluate his situation.”

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TV ratings for the St. Louis Cardinals’ victory Tuesday night were the lowest for a Game 3 in Series history, and the three-game average also was the lowest.

Game 3 drew a 10.2 fast national rating and 17 share, Fox said, down 7% from the 11.0 rating last year for the 7-5, 14-inning win by the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros. The previous record low for Game 3 was the 10.8 rating for the Angels’ 10-4 win over the Giants in 2002.

The three-game average of 9.9/17 was down 7% from the previous low of 10.6/19, set last year.

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Reliever Mike Timlin agreed to a $2.8-million, one-year contract to play his fifth season with the Boston Red Sox. Timlin, 40, finished with a 6-6 record, 4.36 ERA and nine saves in 68 games this season.