Mariners trim general manager field to four
The Seattle Mariners are down to four candidates to become their new general manager, and Kim Ng remains in the running to become baseball’s first female GM.
Ng, the assistant general manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers, will get a second interview along with Milwaukee Brewers executive Jack Zduriencik, Arizona Diamondbacks executive Jerry DiPoto and Toronto Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava. The list was divulged Thursday by a baseball official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Mariners are not revealing their plans.
A few weeks ago, Mariners president Chuck Armstrong hinted Ng could be the choice.
“It’s time for some fresh thinking,” said Armstrong, completing his 23rd season with the team.
“We’re color blind, gender blind,” he went on to say. “We just want (who) we think would be the best person for the Mariners as we move forward.”
Armstrong and chief executive officer Howard Lincoln hope to select the replacement for Bill Bavasi by next month. Lee Pelekoudas has been acting general manager since Bavasi was fired June 16.
City greets Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies returned home after clinching the National League pennant in Los Angeles, and a few dozen fans chanted their excitement – and their hope – as the team buses pulled into Citizens Bank Park.
“Four more wins! Four more wins!”
That’s all it would take to give the Phillies their first World Series title since 1980, and the city’s first major pro sports title since the 76ers won the NBA championship in 1983.
The Phillies will face either the Tampa Bay Rays or the Boston Red Sox when the World Series starts Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The team arrived at a remote corner of Philadelphia International Airport around 7:30 a.m.
About 100 fans lined up at a chain-link fence, cell phone cameras ready, to whistle and cheer as players disembarked.
A convoy of buses then drove the team a couple of miles to Citizens Bank Park, where Mayor Michael Nutter was among the fans waiting.
Union sees anti-Bonds act
The baseball players’ union says it has found evidence teams acted in concert against signing Barry Bonds, but it reached an agreement with the commissioner’s office to delay the filing of any grievance.
The union expressed concern in May about the lack of offers to the home run king. Filing a grievance would trigger proceedings before arbitrator Shyam Das.
Union general counsel Michael Weiner confirmed the deal with Major League Baseball.
“There were numerous things that occurred that made me believe that the clubs were acting in concert,” Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, said. “When I testify as a witness in the case, I will delineate each and every one of them.”
Bonds was indicted last Nov. 15 on charges related to 2003 grand jury testimony during which he denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. No team signed Bonds when he became a free agent after the 2007 season.