Giants rehire Alou for front office

[mets2k]

USATODAY.com

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Felipe Alou has worn a baseball uniform for more than a half-century, and he might pull one on again this spring in a new role.

Alou formally rejoined the San Francisco Giants on Friday as a special assistant to general manager Brian Sabean, a move that was in the works since the team fired Alou as manager in October.

The job will allow Alou — set to begin his 52nd season in professional baseball — to have flexibility in his travel schedule and spend most of his time on the West Coast, have the chance to scout, work with players in the majors and minors and offer input on personnel decisions.

Alou was contacted by a few clubs this winter, but his heart was in San Francisco.

Sabean lost a top assistant when Pat Dobson, one of four pitchers to win 20 games for the Baltimore Orioles in 1971, died suddenly Nov. 22 from leukemia at age 64. He was a special assistant to Sabean last season, his ninth with the club.

The club cut ties with Alou on Oct. 2, one day after the team finished its second straight losing season. But management made it clear Alou wasn't to blame for the team's failures and injury problems. The Giants then hired Bruce Bochy away from the rival San Diego Padres to be their new skipper.

Alou, the top winning Latin American manager, replaced Dusty Baker after the Giants lost the 2002 World Series. Alou began his big league career with San Francisco in 1958.

Alou dealt with several controversies during his tenure, especially the past two seasons when injuries and steroid allegations followed slugger Barry Bonds. The seven-time MVP has agreed to a $16 million, one-year contract to return to the Giants for a 15th season and resume his chase of Hank Aaron's home run record of 755.

In 17 major league seasons as a player, Alou was a career .286 hitter with 206 home runs, 852 RBI and 2,101 hits. He is 1,033-1,021 as a manager.