Felipe Alou's tenure as manager of the Giants has come to an end with the club's announcement Monday that it will not renew the veteran skipper's contract for the 2007 season.
The Giants held a press conference at 1 p.m. PT to make the announcement.
"Tough decisions are always painful, and this one is especially painful," Sabean said in a club release. "Felipe [Alou] is a man of unquestioned integrity who has put his heart and soul into the Giants. He endured some injuries to key players over his tenure here and always kept the club in contention despite some difficult circumstances. The Giants were very fortunate to have a man of his stature at the helm of our club over the last four years, and I personally thank him for his loyal efforts and significant contributions."
The club has extended an offer to Alou, who played for the club as an outfielder from 1958-63 and managed it the past four seasons, to remain in the organization in an advisory role to the general manager and the baseball operations department.
The 71-year-old skipper said in a statement released by the club that he will be weighing his options.
"Even though I will not be the Giants manager next year, I will always be a Giant," said Alou, who is sixth on the win list for San Francisco Giants managers. "Ever since I was signed by the Giants as a student out of the University of Santo Domingo, I've always considered myself a Giant. I want to thank Brian [Sabean] and Peter [Magowan, the Giants' managing general partner] for giving me the opportunity to manage this team over the last four years. I feel blessed that I was able to manage again, especially here in San Francisco.
"I am glad to be home with my wife and children and am looking forward to what the future holds. At this point, I am very thankful to Brian for offering me a chance to stay with the Giants. I'm not ready to make a decision yet as to what my next step will be, but the Giants will definitely get first consideration should I decide to continue in baseball."
In 2003, Alou became the first skipper in franchise history to make the playoffs in his first year at the helm. He kept the Giants in contention for the postseason until the final week of the season each of the previous three years, but the Giants finished third in the NL West this season, at 76-85, 11 1/2 games behind the Padres and Dodgers. Alou also became just the second Giants pilot to win 100 games in his first season, when his 2003 charges became just the ninth team in Major League history to lead their league or division wire-to-wire.
In 13 years as a Major League manager, the 1994 National League Manager of the Year has posted a 1,033-1,021-1 ledger and is just the 53rd manager since 1900 to register 1,000 wins. The Haina, Dominican Republic native is the first manager of Latin descent to win 1,000 contests in the big leagues and only the second foreign-born skipper to reach the milestone (Harry Wright, England, 1,000-825).
Alou became the first Dominican-born manager in Major League history when he assumed control of the Montreal Expos on May 22, 1992. Alou is just one of 11 managers in the history of Major League Baseball born in Latin America.
"The Alou name has been synonymous with the Giants for over 50 years, and that won't change despite the fact that Felipe won't be our manager next year," Magowan said in the club release. "Even though he won't be in a Giants uniform, Felipe will always be a Giant. With the help of his son Moises and the Giants Community Fund, the Alou name and the Giants will be forever linked in Felipe's hometown of Haina as we will refurbish four youth fields at the school he attended as a boy."
A three-time All-Star, Alou was the second Dominican-born player to reach the Majors, following Ozzie Virgil Sr. (1956, with the New York Giants). Primarily an outfielder, Alou racked up 2,101 in his 17-year playing career with the Giants (1958-63), Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves (1964-69), Oakland A's (1970-71), New York Yankees (1971-73), Montreal Expos (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers (1974).
Major League Baseball : The Official Site
I haven't taken much time to consider this guy's managing talent, but from what I've seen, I think he is a pretty good manager. It is a shame that he is going, it was cool to see Felipe and Moises on the same team. I THINK they are father-son, that is a true relationship in the majors, I'm sure he gets the most out of Moises than any other manager would. Thats my $0.02, hope you enjoyed it.
Alou is gone (Felipe, not Moises, although Moises might be too :p)
Alou is gone (Felipe, not Moises, although Moises might be too :p)
Linear Mode
