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| Friday, March 1 No decision yet on Kerrigan's status as manager Associated Press |
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox manager Joe Kerrigan is getting tired of questions about his job security. He'll be hearing them a while longer.
Kerrigan still had his job Friday, two days after John Henry's group took over the team and one day after general manager Dan Duquette was fired.
Boston's new owners met with interim general manager Mike Port for about 45 minutes, introduced themselves at a meeting with players and -- for at least a day -- had no moves to announce.
"I don't want to really talk about the deliberations," team president Larry Lucchino said. "When there are decisions to be announced we will announce them and I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty of those things in the next several days."
They could involve the team's scouting, player development and international operations personnel, not necessarily Kerrigan, who has been asked daily the past week about his status.
He tried to end that before Friday's exhibition game against Boston College.
"I understand that you have to ask that question as part of your job," Kerrigan told reporters, "but also you have to understand part of my job is to maintain the focus on the field with the players to make sure this team doesn't have any distractions."
Players would like Kerrigan's status decided soon.
"It would probably be tough to bring a new manager in toward the middle or end of spring training," right fielder Trot Nixon said.
Derek Lowe, upset last season when Kerrigan replaced him as closer with Ugueth Urbina, sided with the manager.
"He deserves to be here," Lowe said. "I don't think anyone could have come in and helped that ship we were on.
"It was going down and it didn't matter who was jumping aboard. And now it's all new. It's spring training. Everyone's here with a new attitude so everyone deserves a chance."
The Red Sox lost six of seven games before Jimy Williams was fired, although they were 65-53 and trailed the New York Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the AL East despite long-term injuries to Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek.
Boston went 12-26 in its first 38 games under Kerrigan before winning its last five. His tenure was plagued by a clash with Carl Everett and whining by players about playing time.
This year's camp has been free of injuries and trouble, although some key players have had differences with Kerrigan.
The manager was one of several subjects that came up at the meeting involving Port, Lucchino and owners John Henry and Tom Werner. The purchase of the team from the Yawkey Trust for $660 million was completed Wednesday.
They also discussed the role of the general manager, players in the organization, the needs of fans and other issues.
"We talked about an awful lot of things in general and, to this point, nothing in particular," Port said. Another meeting is scheduled for Saturday.
The owners also met briefly with the players as a group for the first time and got a warm reception, Kerrigan said.
Martinez arrived late for personal reasons and pitcher Rich Garces missed the meeting to pick up his mother-in-law and two daughters at Miami International Airport. Both were excused absences.
Werner said the meeting with the players was brief and there was no discussion of Duquette's firing.
"We told them that we just believed in communication and mutual respect," Werner said.
He also said the owners planned round-table discussions with players to hear their comments and concerns.
Henry's message was simple.
"I just wanted to tell them I'll be their biggest fan in the stands," he said.
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