Alou begins spring training with Giants

By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Felipe Alou already has boldly proclaimed that he will get the San Francisco Giants back to the World Series and this season, no less.

That's with a new third baseman, a new right fielder, a new center fielder, a new second baseman and some different faces in the rotation, too.

Alou's tenure officially began Friday when pitchers and catchers for the defending National League champions reported to spring training.

Right-hander Felix Rodriguez did not join the team Friday but is expected to report Monday after handling some personal issues in the Dominican Republic.

The 67-year-old Alou insists he still has plenty of energy and stamina to manage a full baseball season, and he's ready to show it.

``I haven't been to spring training here since 1974,'' Alou said Friday. ``I was set to manage in the minors that year, but the Milwaukee Brewers coaxed me out of retirement. I had a great spring, hitting something like six homers and batting .400. On the last day, manager Del Crandall calls me in and tells me I made the team. I had three at-bats in April and was cut at the end of the month. That was it.''

An outfielder for the Giants four decades ago, Alou is thrilled to be back with his old team and the franchise is confident it found the right man to replace the popular Dusty Baker, the new manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Alou was hired in November when Baker's contract was not renewed after 10 seasons with the Giants. Alou truly believes San Francisco has enough talent to make another run at a championship, and win it this time.

The Giants lost the World Series to the Anaheim Angels in Game 7 after blowing a 5-0 lead in Game 6.

This team will be aggressive on the basepaths, Alou said.

``We're introducing more speed,'' he said. ``With Jeff Kent gone, we might not have the one-two punch we had with him and Barry (Bonds), but we can be as effective with our speed.''

``But I've never been exposed to something like this,'' Alou said, referring to a pennant winner with so many changes. ``So we'll have to wait and see. We'll learn a lot in spring training.''

Alou signed a three-year contract and became the oldest manager to take over a major league team since Casey Stengel 41 years ago. Stengel was 71 when the New York Mets lured him out of retirement to manage them in their first season of 1962.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)