THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 22, 1994 TAG: 9411220740
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Former major league managers Larry Bowa and Toby Harrah are the leading candidates to replace Bobby Valentine as manager of the Norfolk Tides.
Sources confirmed Monday that Bowa and Harrah impressed New York Mets minor league director Steve Phillips in interviews last week.
The Mets want to hire a manager by baseball's winter meetings that begin Dec. 2.
Bowa, 48, who managed the San Diego Padres from 1987 to May of 1988, has been the third base coach for the Philadelphia Phillies since August of 1988.
Harrah, 46, became manager of the Texas Rangers in July of 1992 when Valentine was fired by the Rangers. He managed the rest of the '92 season, and the last two seasons was the Rangers' Double-A and Triple-A hitting instructor.
Others known to have interviewed are John Tamargo, the Mets' Double-A manager last season; former Boston Red Sox coach Gary Allenson, and Davey Lopes.
Lopes has since taken a major league coaching job with the San Diego Padres. Allenson, 39, was third base coach for the Red Sox last season and previously was their bullpen coach for two seasons.
In addition, sources said the Mets also would like to talk to Chris Chambliss, former manager of the Richmond Braves and current coach with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bowa and Harrah are considered the top candidates, however, and each said they saw the Tides' job as a step back toward managing in the major leagues.
In telephone interviews Monday, though, Bowa downplayed his interest, but Harrah was enthusiastic.
``I'm thrilled with the idea,'' Harrah said from his home in Ft. Worth, Texas. ``I had a chance to talk to Bobby Valentine about the ballclub there and he went on and on about the area and the ballpark and how first-class the operation was from top to bottom.''
Bowa, from his home in Bryn Mawr, Pa., said he'd have to see what the pay would be before he gets too excited.
``Everything's very preliminary,'' Bowa said. ``I know they want to talk to me again.''
Bowa said money was not mentioned during his interview last Friday in West Palm Beach, Fla. But he stressed that he'd have to be paid equal to his present salary to consider the job.
``I'm willing to give up the licensing money, about $60,000 or $70,000 that I get as a coach,'' said Bowa, who did not disclose his salary. ``I'm not going to give up any more than that.''
Valentine's salary was about $65,000, high for Triple-A managers, and Bowa hinted that he'd need a lot more.
Still, Bowa has the backing of Mets manager Dallas Green, who managed the Phillies' 1980 World Series championship team on which Bowa was the shortstop.
``Dallas suggested that I might want to think about it,'' said Bowa, who was 81-127 with the Padres after a 16-year playing career. Green, said Bowa, noted it could help him in the eyes of major league general managers to prove he can control his legendary temper and work with young players.
``I'd say it would show I'm willing to make some sacrifices to manage in the big leagues again if I was willing to go down there and do it,'' Bowa said.
Harrah was 32-44 over the second half of the '92 season for Texas but was not rehired for '93.
``I'm keeping my fingers crossed,'' said Harrah, who played nearly 17 seasons and managed the Rangers' Triple-A team in Oklahoma City in '87 and '88. ``If you want to manage in the big leagues you need to get after it and show people you can manage and take a group of men and win. It would be a neat challenge and one that I'm ready to go after.'' by CNB