Nick Leyva

Former Philadelphia Phillie manager Nick Leyva said he was lied to, and that Jim Fregosi was the one general manager Lee Thomas wanted as manager anyway. "They go back a long way," Leyva told columnist Tom Wheatley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a month after Leyva was fired and Fregosi--a teammate of Thomas' with the Angels in the early '60s--took over the team. Leyva managed the team for only 13 games of the 1991 season. "I have no comment on anything about Nick Leyva," Thomas said.

Former Philadelphia Phillie manager Nick Leyva said he was lied to, and that Jim Fregosi was the one general manager Lee Thomas wanted as manager anyway. "They go back a long way," Leyva told columnist Tom Wheatley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a month after Leyva was fired and Fregosi--a teammate of Thomas' with the Angels in the early '60s--took over the team. Leyva managed the team for only 13 games of the 1991 season. "I have no comment on anything about Nick Leyva," Thomas said.

Nick Leyva became baseball's youngest manager and the youngest National League manager in 22 years Monday when he was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies to replace Lee Elia. Leyva, 35, is the youngest to manage a National League team since Dave Bristol led the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 at age 33. He is Philadelphia's youngest manager since Gene Mauch, who was 34 when he replaced Eddie Sawyer in 1960.

The Philadelphia Phillies fired Nick Leyva as manager after a 4-9 start and hired Jim Fregosi. "I didn't like the way the club was going," said Lee Thomas, Phillie general manager. "It's best for the organization before we get too far into the season." It was the third-fastest firing in baseball history. In 1988, the year Baltimore lost its first 21 games, the Orioles fired Cal Ripken Sr. six games into the season. Ripken was replaced by Frank Robinson.

The Philadelphia Phillies fired Nick Leyva as manager after a 4-9 start and hired Jim Fregosi. "I didn't like the way the club was going," said Lee Thomas, Phillie general manager. "It's best for the organization before we get too far into the season." It was the third-fastest firing in baseball history. In 1988, the year Baltimore lost its first 21 games, the Orioles fired Cal Ripken Sr. six games into the season. Ripken was replaced by Frank Robinson.

Nick Leyva is still listed as the youngest manager in the National League, even though the last-place Philadelphia Phillies have aged him considerably this season. The 35-year-old rookie manager will be able to afford some Grecian Formula for his gray hairs after his contract was extended for another year by General Manager Lee Thomas this week. 'I've known all along in my mind that Nick Leyva would be back," Thomas said. 'I've been very pleased with the job he's done. It was just a matter of finding the right time to announce it. We thought about doing it while we were in our 11-game losing streak, but there seemed to be so many other announcements then.

Philadelphia Phillies Manager Nick Leyva and General Manager Lee Thomas have received contract extensions through the 1992 seasons. The team did not disclose financial details of either contract, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Leyva's was worth $500,000. Phillies President Bill Giles said he was extremely pleased with Thomas, who initiated a wholesale reorganization of the franchise after coming to Philadelphia in June, 1988.

The Philadelphia Phillies have fined second baseman Tom Herr for missing the opening game of the club's weekend series in New York against the Mets because he was unable to fly to the game. Herr spent Thursday at his Lancaster home and received permission to fly to New York from Harrisburg on Friday for the 7:35 p.m. game at Shea Stadium. But a low cloud ceiling shut down the airport. Herr was stuck sitting on the runway and wasn't able to get off the plane until about 5:30 p.m. He missed the game, in which the Phillies lost 9-3 to the Mets.

Curt Schilling will pitch for the Boston Red Sox in the second game of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians, following Josh Beckett in the rotation and moving ahead of Daisuke Matsuzaka. Beckett will start Friday's series opener and Schilling will start Game 2 on Saturday. Matsuzaka would be in line for Game 3, followed by Tim Wakefield. Detroit exercised a $13-million option on the contract of catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who batted .

Nick Leyva is still listed as the youngest manager in the National League, even though the last-place Philadelphia Phillies have aged him considerably this season. The 35-year-old rookie manager will be able to afford some Grecian Formula for his gray hairs after his contract was extended for another year by General Manager Lee Thomas this week. 'I've known all along in my mind that Nick Leyva would be back," Thomas said. 'I've been very pleased with the job he's done. It was just a matter of finding the right time to announce it. We thought about doing it while we were in our 11-game losing streak, but there seemed to be so many other announcements then.

Nick Leyva became baseball's youngest manager and the youngest National League manager in 22 years Monday when he was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies to replace Lee Elia. Leyva, 35, is the youngest to manage a National League team since Dave Bristol led the Cincinnati Reds in 1966 at age 33. He is Philadelphia's youngest manager since Gene Mauch, who was 34 when he replaced Eddie Sawyer in 1960.

The head of the umpires union has formally complained to the National League president about the Philadelphia Phillies' criticism of umpire Joe West following the club's 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday. Union chief Richie Phillips said he asked league President Bill White to punish Phillies Manager Nick Leyva and General M anager Lee Thomas for their "savage attack" on West following the defeat.

Don Zimmer, unable to inspire his Chicago Cubs despite the addition of three All-Star free agents, was fired as manager Tuesday. Zimmer, 60, led the Cubs to the National League East title two years ago, but the team was tied for last place in the division with an 18-19 record when he was fired. Joe Altobelli, Cub batting coach who led the Baltimore Orioles to the 1983 World Series championship, became interim manager.