DALLAS • Albert Pujols is one of Detroit manager Jim Leyland's favorite players, dating to the time when Leyland, between managing assignments, was a scout and spring training instructor for the Cardinals and Pujols was in the embryo stages of a great career.
And Leyland doesn't begrudge any attention or money Pujols is receiving at these winter meetings. But he longs for the times when the meetings were all about trades and almost nothing about free agents.
"The winter meetings were more fun when we were talking about trades and meeting until all hours of the night and back and forth, back and forth. And rightfully, so," said Leyland during his media session Wednesday.
"I don't want to take anything away from the players out there. Obviously there are some star players out there. But this is the Albert Pujols Meetings. And the (C.J.) Wilson Show and the Prince Fielder Show, and that's fine. Don't get me wrong. I understand all of that.
"But I wish it was more like the old days where it was basically trades."
Leyland conceded that, like most things in life, those good old days were unlikely to return. The winter meetings will continue to be about free agents.
"I think this is here to stay," said Leyland. "And it's good for the media outlets, I guess. When you're talking about arguably the best player in the game the last 10 years or so, that deserves that kind of print, I guess. It's a little different if teams aren't involved, if they're not chasing a free agent like that. Then it's not as exciting as it is for the teams that are."
With the retirement of his good friend Tony La Russa, Leyland is the leader in wins among active managers at 1,588 and in losses at 1,585. He has managed in the majors for 20 seasons but doesn't feel burned out yet because, as he said, "People forget that I had a six-year sabbatical (from 2000-05). I'm energized. I feel great about it. I love what I'm doing.
"But those six years really freshened me up. It's a little bit different for Tony. He didn't have that time off."
La Russa and Terry Francona are the only managers to have won two World Series titles in this century. And now neither is managing as Francona, ousted in Boston, has landed in the ESPN television booth. Leyland hopes that Francona's accomplishments aren't overlooked.
"I just hope that people remember what a tremendous job he did there," said Leyland. "Two World Series in '04 and '07. If you're a manager, you know how tough it is to win games. You don't throw that around lightly. I hope he gets the respect he deserves. He's been great for the game. And I'm sure he'll be back in it in a managerial capacity at some point."
As La Russa and Francona sail off, Robin Ventura (Chicago White Sox) and Mike Matheny (Cardinals) will begin their managerial careers at the big-league level.
"I'm not sure what I would tell them because I managed 11 years in the minor leagues," said Leyland. "These guys are cold turkey. So it's going to be a little bit different for them.
"They're going to figure it out. They're bright guys. In Mike's case, he's got a world championship club. That could be tough or not so tough for him — you can look at it two different ways. He's following a legend, obviously. (But) I think he's going to handle it fine."
One of Leyland's American League Central Division rivals, Ozzie Guillen, has moved from the White Sox to the Miami Marlins. Leyland foresees success for Guillen, too.
"He's a sharp guy. There's no question about that. Ozzie knows exactly what's going on," said Leyland "But I think sometimes people lose sight of the fact of what a smart baseball guy he is because of some of the other stuff that goes with it. He's kind of a flamboyant guy. And that's OK. I mean, that's his personality and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
WASHINGTON — AND GAME 6
The Texas Rangers, by falling to the Cardinals in seven games, were the first American League team to drop two straight World Series since the 1963-64 New York Yankees. The first time, they lost to the San Francisco Giants in five games, so there probably wasn't as much to replay for manager Ron Washington.
The 2011 World Series was something else, especially Game 6 when the Rangers blew five leads and three saves in a 10-9 loss in 11 innings. Washington, asked during his media session Wednesday if there were any parts of the World Series he ruminated over more than others, said, "I think I might have replayed the two times we needed to make one pitch or one play in order to win it.
"Other than that, I had so much going on in my life once the World Series ended, I didn't have time to think about it. And that was a good thing."
Later, though, Washington amplified on the "play" to which he referred, i.e., the attempt by right fielder Nelson Cruz to catch David Freese's two-out, two-strike, two-run triple to tie the score in the ninth inning. There was thought that Cruz had been playing too shallow or the ball couldn't have gone over his head, but Washington responded, "Well, we had no-doubles (defense).
"It was something that happened in the course of a ballgame and we can critique it as many ways as we possibly can ... and it isn't going to change a damn thing."
But, Washington said, "I plan on going back (to the World Series) a third time."
VALENTINE SALUTES MOTTE
New Boston manager Bobby Valentine will need a new closer with Jonathan Papelbon having signed as a free agent with Philadelphia. Righthander Daniel Bard, a standout set-up man, would seem to be one choice to replace Papelbon.
"Electric stuff," said Valentine.
When queried as to how important a closer could be, Valentine said, "We all watched St. Louis win the world championship last (season). Of course, they had a great closer (Jason Motte), who wasn't closing for three months and developed into that role."
