When Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon told his players Sunday he was calling it quits, they responded with applause and hugs — and then a comeback win, 7-6 over the Braves.
McKeon's resignation had been expected, and he confirmed it to the team in the clubhouse before the game.
"He got very emotional when he told us, like your granddad is going away and you're not going to see him anymore," veteran Jeff Conine said. "It's tough for him. Baseball is his life."
McKeon led the Marlins to the 2003 World Series title and a winning record in each of his three seasons as manager. Now 74, he said he told his family last year that this season would be his last, and he decided almost two months ago to keep that pledge. But he didn't rule out managing again.
"The last couple of years I haven't had as much fun as I'd like," McKeon said. "Since I'm the leader, I'll take full responsibility for the poor year we had."
Florida was touted as a likely playoff team but faded in September for the second year in a row and finished 83-79. Players grumbled about McKeon's gruff style, but injuries, poor relief pitching and a lack of clutch hitting made his job difficult.
ROLLINS HITS 36: Jimmy Rollins stretched his hitting streak to 36 games Sunday in Philadelphia's regular-season finale against Washington — and can pursue Joe DiMaggio's major league record of 56 next year. Sort of.
For the purpose of baseball records, Rollins' hitting streak will extend into 2006, and he can add to it. The major league marks for longest hitting streak in one season and longest hitting streak spanning two seasons are separate records, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
DiMaggio holds both marks with his 56-game streak in 1941, but there is a difference in the National League records: Pete Rose (1978) and Willie Keeler (1897) share the NL mark at 44 games. However, Keeler got a hit in his final game of 1896, so his run of 45 games overall is the first record Rollins can chase, Elias said.
SABEAN: BONDS COULD PLAY 120: Giants general manager Brian Sabean thinks Barry Bonds could be physically ready to play around 120 games for San Francisco next season.
Sabean and Bonds both have acknowledged the slugger needs an intense conditioning program over the winter to shed some weight Bonds put on while recovering from three operations this year on his right knee.