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Jim Tracy and the Dodgers "Mutually Part Ways"
Jim Tracy's tenure as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers is over, one day after he finished his first losing season in five years with the team.
The Dodgers announced Monday that Tracy and the team "mutually agreed to part ways." Last year, Tracy guided the team to its first division championship since 1995, but the Dodgers finished 71-91 this season. It was the franchise's second-worst season since moving from Brooklyn in 1958.
The 49-year-old Tracy signed a two-year contract in November that included a clause allowing him to opt out of the second year during a seven-day period that began Monday.
He made it clear to general manager Paul DePodesta that he wanted to return, and asked for an extension last month. His current deal would have run through the 2006 season. Owner Frank McCourt said any decision on Tracy's future would be left to DePodesta.
Tracy said Monday night that he was not offered an extension. He also did not opt out of the final year of his contract, meaning the Dodgers will pay him for next season if he doesn't take another managing job.
"I was not fired," Tracy said in a conference call.
Both he and DePodesta cited "philosophical differences" for their decisions. DePodesta would not discuss specifics.
"At the end of the day, I think everybody needs to be on the same page to move forward," DePodesta said in his portion of the call. "We decided we needed to make a change and Jim decided to move on as well."
Tracy pointed to a difference of opinion with the organization regarding the evaluation of players as a major reason why he won't be back.
"I don't believe it was in my best interest or the best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers to be in the dugout (in 2006) as a lame duck manager," he said.
DePodesta said that, because of the differences with Tracy, even if the Dodgers had won 95 games this year, "We'd still be having this discussion [on the conference call] sometime this month."
Tracy had a 427-383 record in five seasons. The Dodgers began this season 12-2, but then losses and injuries started to add up.
"The tough part for me is the fact that the love I had in managing this club, and I know I've been managing for the past five years one of the more storied franchises in baseball," Tracy said.
"I can sit here and know wholeheartedly that I've given it everything I could possibly give. I've put my heart and soul into this."
He said he had not even begun to consider other possible managing positions.
DePodesta, who has been the team's GM since February 2004, said the Dodgers have a list of candidates for their job, and plan to begin interviews next week.
When asked if his decision regarding Tracy was due to his wish to have his own choice of mangers, DePodesta said, "I certainly think that's part of it."
Last year's NL West championship was the Dodgers' first in nine years, and they earned their first postseason victory since winning the 1988 World Series. Los Angeles was eliminated by NL champion St. Louis 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs.
Tracy's tenure tied him for the fourth-longest among current NL managers, behind Atlanta's Bobby Cox, St. Louis' Tony La Russa, and San Diego's Bruce Bochy -- whose teams all made this season's playoffs.
The Dodgers were Tracy's first big league managing job. Before being hired in 2000, he spent seven years managing in the minors for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati and Montreal. He also played two seasons in the majors with the Cubs.
Source: AP
The Dodgers announced Monday that Tracy and the team "mutually agreed to part ways." Last year, Tracy guided the team to its first division championship since 1995, but the Dodgers finished 71-91 this season. It was the franchise's second-worst season since moving from Brooklyn in 1958.
The 49-year-old Tracy signed a two-year contract in November that included a clause allowing him to opt out of the second year during a seven-day period that began Monday.
He made it clear to general manager Paul DePodesta that he wanted to return, and asked for an extension last month. His current deal would have run through the 2006 season. Owner Frank McCourt said any decision on Tracy's future would be left to DePodesta.
Tracy said Monday night that he was not offered an extension. He also did not opt out of the final year of his contract, meaning the Dodgers will pay him for next season if he doesn't take another managing job.
"I was not fired," Tracy said in a conference call.
Both he and DePodesta cited "philosophical differences" for their decisions. DePodesta would not discuss specifics.
"At the end of the day, I think everybody needs to be on the same page to move forward," DePodesta said in his portion of the call. "We decided we needed to make a change and Jim decided to move on as well."
Tracy pointed to a difference of opinion with the organization regarding the evaluation of players as a major reason why he won't be back.
"I don't believe it was in my best interest or the best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers to be in the dugout (in 2006) as a lame duck manager," he said.
DePodesta said that, because of the differences with Tracy, even if the Dodgers had won 95 games this year, "We'd still be having this discussion [on the conference call] sometime this month."
Tracy had a 427-383 record in five seasons. The Dodgers began this season 12-2, but then losses and injuries started to add up.
"The tough part for me is the fact that the love I had in managing this club, and I know I've been managing for the past five years one of the more storied franchises in baseball," Tracy said.
"I can sit here and know wholeheartedly that I've given it everything I could possibly give. I've put my heart and soul into this."
He said he had not even begun to consider other possible managing positions.
DePodesta, who has been the team's GM since February 2004, said the Dodgers have a list of candidates for their job, and plan to begin interviews next week.
When asked if his decision regarding Tracy was due to his wish to have his own choice of mangers, DePodesta said, "I certainly think that's part of it."
Last year's NL West championship was the Dodgers' first in nine years, and they earned their first postseason victory since winning the 1988 World Series. Los Angeles was eliminated by NL champion St. Louis 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs.
Tracy's tenure tied him for the fourth-longest among current NL managers, behind Atlanta's Bobby Cox, St. Louis' Tony La Russa, and San Diego's Bruce Bochy -- whose teams all made this season's playoffs.
The Dodgers were Tracy's first big league managing job. Before being hired in 2000, he spent seven years managing in the minors for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati and Montreal. He also played two seasons in the majors with the Cubs.
Source: AP