The former manager of the New York Mets and Texas Rangers said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that “I hope that there’d be a plan to give me an opportunity to meet” with the owners.

Foxsports.com reported that Valentine has met with at least one owner and will meet with others. Majority owner John Henry did not return an email Friday seeking comment. Team president and part owner Larry Lucchino and Valentine, an ESPN analyst, participated on Nov. 3 in Hartford in a program put on by the World Affairs Council on the global rise in the popularity of baseball

At the time, both said they hadn’t discussed the job with each other.

“He’s a great man and a great manager and he has a colorful and successful history, so his name inevitably comes up in this day and age,” Lucchino said.

Valentine led the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000 when they lost to the New York Yankees. He was fired by the Mets after the 2002 season. He managed in Japan from 2004-09, winning the Japan Series in 2005 with the Chiba Lotte Marines.

“I have a great job, and I wouldn’t insult my employers by saying I’m interested in another job,” Valentine said at the Hartford event two weeks ago. “I have two more years on my contract with ESPN and I’m very thankful for that.”

The Red Sox are seeking a replacement for Terry Francona, who left Sept. 30, two days after a loss in the regular-season finale left them out of the playoffs. They’ve interviewed Philadelphia bench coach Pete Mackanin, Milwaukee hitting coach Dale Sveum, Cleveland first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Toronto first-base coach Torey Lovullo and Detroit third-base coach Gene Lamont.

Sveum was hired as manager of the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

The energetic, experienced Valentine would be a departure from that largely unproven group. Lamont is the only one of the five with major league managerial experience.

The addition of Valentine to the list of candidates increases the likelihood that the Red Sox won’t announce a manager before Thanksgiving.

On Thursday, Cherington and his assistant, Mike Hazen, left the general managers’ meetings in Milwaukee for the Dominican Republic, where they planned to scout players.

The Red Sox didn’t rush to hire a manager after Grady Little was fired following the 2003 season. Francona was hired on Dec. 4 and, in his first season, led the Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 86 years.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Lamont last to interview for Red Sox manager job

By JIMMY GOLEN

AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) It’s not as if Gene Lamont suddenly decided he wanted to manage again.

“It’s kind of a burning desire. It always has been,” Lamont, who hasn’t managed in 12 years, told reporters at Fenway Park on Saturday after interviewing for the job as Terry Francona’s replacement with the Red Sox. “Baseball is a passion.”

Lamont was the fifth and – for now – final candidate to interview for the Boston managerial job, following Torey Lovullo, Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum and Sandy Alomar Jr. General manager Ben Cherington said he hopes to narrow the field and talk to the finalists next week at the GM meetings in Milwaukee, with the goal of making a hire by Thanksgiving.

“All five guys, I could envision being the manager of the Boston Red Sox,” Cherington said. “We’ve got to pick the right one.”

Lamont, who turns 65 on Christmas Day, is the only one of the candidates who has had a full-time managing job; he managed the Chicago White Sox from 1992-95 and the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997-2000. Waiting 12 years for another shot wasn’t his idea.

“I’ve wanted to manage all along,” he said. “I guess I just didn’t toot my horn enough. I didn’t necessarily do that for this, either. But I told them: `Every game I watch, I manage.’ If there’s a better opportunity than this, I don’t know where it would be.”

The Red Sox have been looking for a manager since parting ways with Francona when the team’s 7-20 September record left it out of the playoffs for the second straight year. Like the other candidates, Lamont was asked by reporters how he would heal the ballclub after the season disintegrated amid allegations of beer-drinking and chicken-eating in the clubhouse during games.

“I think I have the presence because I have managed. But you have to show them,” said Lamont, who was 48 games over .500 with the White Sox and 57 games under with the Pirates.

“Me managing in Pittsburgh, I don’t think that gives me a lot of presence,” he added with a smile.

Lamont was added to Boston’s short list when Cherington said he wanted to have at least one candidate with major-league experience. Lamont, who has been the third base coach for Detroit since 2006, said he would probably handle games like current Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

But he brings a different personality than his gruff and sometimes hard-edged boss.

“I think I’ve learned a lot from him. I think he’s the best,” Lamont said. “But they’re not … getting another Jim Leyland. They’re getting Gene Lamont.”

Lamont was the Red Sox third-base coach in 2001, when Jimy Williams was fired. Cherington said he didn’t have much interaction with Lamont back then, but he was pleasantly surprised with how well they hit it off on Saturday.

“He has a strong voice. He’s confident in his opinion,” Cherington said. “All the things he’s done give him a strong voice.”

Updated November 12, 2011

The Boston Red Sox [team stats] are interviewing Gene Lamont for their managerial opening.

The former Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox manager is the last of five candidates scheduled to interview. New Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has already brought in Torey Lovullo, Sandy Alomar Jr., Pete Mackanin and Dale Sveum.

The Red Sox have been looking for a manager since parting ways with Terry Francona after the team’s 7-20 record in September left it out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

Lamont has been the third base coach for the Detroit Tigers since 2006. He also had that job with Boston in 2001.

He managed the White Sox from 1992-95 and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997-2000.

BOSTON — It’s not as if Gene Lamont suddenly decided he wanted to manage again.”It’s kind of a burning desire. It always has been,” Lamont, who hasn’t managed in 12 years, told reporters at Fenway Park on Saturday after interviewing for the job as Terry Francona’s replacement with the Red Sox. “Baseball is a passion.”Lamont was the fifth and — for now — final candidate to interview for the Boston managerial job, following Torey Lovullo, Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum and Sandy Alomar Jr. General manager Ben Cherington said he hopes to narrow the field and talk to the finalists next week at the GM meetings in Milwaukee, with the goal of making a hire by Thanksgiving.”All five guys, I could envision being the manager of the Boston Red Sox,” Cherington said. “We’ve got to pick the right one.”Lamont, who turns 65 on Christmas Day, is the only one of the candidates who has had a full-time managing job; he managed the Chicago White Sox from 1992-95 and the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997-2000. Waiting 12 years for another shot wasn’t his idea.”I’ve wanted to manage all along,” he said. “I guess I just didn’t toot my horn enough. I didn’t necessarily do that for this, either. But I told them: ‘Every game I watch, I manage.’ If there’s a better opportunity than this, I don’t know where it would be.”The Red Sox have been looking for a manager since parting ways with Francona when the team’s 7-20 September record left it out of the playoffs for the second straight year. Like the other candidates, Lamont was asked by reporters how he would heal the ballclub after the season disintegrated amid allegations of beer-drinking and chicken-eating in the clubhouse during games.”I think I have the presence because I have managed. But you have to show them,” said Lamont, who was 48 games over .500 with the White Sox and 57 games under with the Pirates.”Me managing in Pittsburgh, I don’t think that gives me a lot of presence,” he added with a smile.Lamont was added to Boston’s short list when Cherington said he wanted to have at least one candidate with major-league experience. Lamont, who has been the third base coach for Detroit since 2006, said he would probably handle games like current Tigers manager Jim Leyland.But he brings a different personality than his gruff and sometimes hard-edged boss.”I think I’ve learned a lot from him. I think he’s the best,” Lamont said. “But they’re not … getting another Jim Leyland. They’re getting Gene Lamont.”Lamont was the Red Sox third-base coach in 2001, when Jimy Williams was fired. Cherington said he didn’t have much interaction with Lamont back then, but he was pleasantly surprised with how well they hit it off on Saturday.”He has a strong voice. He’s confident in his opinion,” Cherington said. “All the things he’s done give him a strong voice.”

BOSTON – It’s not as if Gene Lamont suddenly decided he wanted to manage again.

“It’s kind of a burning desire. It always has been,” Lamont, who hasn’t managed in 12 years, told reporters at Fenway Park on Saturday after interviewing for the job as Terry Francona’s replacement with the Red Sox. “Baseball is a passion.”

Lamont was the fifth and — for now — final candidate to interview for the Boston managerial job, following Torey Lovullo, Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum and Sandy Alomar Jr. General manager Ben Cherington said he hopes to narrow the field and talk to the finalists next week at the GM meetings in Milwaukee, with the goal of making a hire by Thanksgiving.

“All five guys, I could envision being the manager of the Boston Red Sox,” Cherington said. “We’ve got to pick the right one.”

Lamont, who turns 65 on Christmas Day, is the only one of the candidates who has had a full-time managing job; he managed the Chicago White Sox from 1992-95 and the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997-2000. Waiting 12 years for another shot wasn’t his idea.

“I’ve wanted to manage all along,” he said. “I guess I just didn’t toot my horn enough. I didn’t necessarily do that for this, either. But I told them: ‘Every game I watch, I manage.’ If there’s a better opportunity than this, I don’t know where it would be.”

The Red Sox have been looking for a manager since parting ways with Francona when the team’s 7-20 September record left it out of the playoffs for the second straight year. Like the other candidates, Lamont was asked by reporters how he would heal the ballclub after the season disintegrated amid allegations of beer-drinking and chicken-eating in the clubhouse during games.

“I think I have the presence because I have managed. But you have to show them,” said Lamont, who was 48 games over .500 with the White Sox and 57 games under with the Pirates.

“Me managing in Pittsburgh, I don’t think that gives me a lot of presence,” he added with a smile.

Lamont was added to Boston’s short list when Cherington said he wanted to have at least one candidate with major-league experience. Lamont, who has been the third base coach for Detroit since 2006, said he would probably handle games like current Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

But he brings a different personality than his gruff and sometimes hard-edged boss.

“I think I’ve learned a lot from him. I think he’s the best,” Lamont said. “But they’re not … getting another Jim Leyland. They’re getting Gene Lamont.”

Lamont was the Red Sox third-base coach in 2001, when Jimy Williams was fired. Cherington said he didn’t have much interaction with Lamont back then, but he was pleasantly surprised with how well they hit it off on Saturday.

“He has a strong voice. He’s confident in his opinion,” Cherington said. “All the things he’s done give him a strong voice.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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BOSTON (AP)—Sandy Alomar Jr. is interviewing for the Boston Red Sox
manager’s job.

Alomar was scheduled to meet with reporters on Wednesday night after a day
of talking with Red Sox officials. He’s the third to interview for the job,
after Pete Mackanin and Dale Sveum. Mike Maddux withdrew his name from
consideration.

The job opened when the team parted ways with Terry Francona after eight
years and two World Series championships. The new manager will work with new
general manager Ben Cherington to rebuild after this season’s unprecedented
September collapse.

Also scheduled to interview are Torey Lovullo and Gene Lamont.