"I'm honored to be given an opportunity," Carlos Tosca told The Tribune, a newspaper serving suburban Phoenix, before Tuesday's game with the New York Mets that evened the best-of-5 series at 1-1.

"I think he's a great candidate," Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter told the newspaper. "I couldn't imagine a guy with a better background for managing in the big leagues than Carlos Tosca."

Tosca, 46, also received an endorsement from retiring Rockies manager Jim Leyland. While Leyland was guiding the Marlins to the 1997 playoffs, Tosca managed Florida's Triple-A affiliate, and Leyland kept Tosca in the dugout with him for that entire postseason.

"I think this country in the only place something like this could happen," said Tosca, a native of Cuba who spent 16 years as a minor league manager.

Tosca said he hopes his interview takes place around his wedding anniversary -- Nov. 3, because that would mean the Diamondbacks reached the World Series.

Tosca had an 864-751 career record and six first-place finishes while managing in the Yankees, Royals and Marlins organizations. Now Tosca assists Showalter in preparing lineups, game management and going over scouting reports.

Others said to be candidates to replace Leyland include former Detroit Tigers manager Buddy Bell, Cleveland Indians hitting coach Charlie Manuel, New York Yankees coach Willie Randolph and Cincinnati Reds coach Ken Griffey Sr.