BOSTON — Tony La Russa isn’t coming out of retirement to manage the Reds or any other team.
“The managing thing is over,’’ the 69-year-old La Russa told The Post Saturday.
La Russa, who retired after winning the 2011 World Series with the Cardinals, said nothing has changed since he walked away.
A three-time World Series champion manager, La Russa said he is in regular contact with Reds general manager Walt Jocketty but probably “has had more than enough of me” after La Russa managed for Jocketty in Oakland and St. Louis.
As for former Reds outfielder, Yankees icon and current YES announcer Paul O’Neill being a candidate to manage his hometown team, he says the process hasn’t gotten as far as it has been reported.
“A lot of that stuff has been blown out of proportion. As far as me meeting with [Reds owner] Mr. [Bob] Castellini that hasn’t happened,’’ O’Neill told The Post Saturday.
Asked if he would push the issue, O’Neill said, “They are a great team and I think if anybody’s name was brought up they would be interested but that hasn’t happened at this point.’’
Reds Hall of Famer Barry Larkin has been linked to the job.
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Tigers manager Jim Leyland didn’t go into too much detail getting Jhonny Peralta, an All-Star shortstop, prepared to play left field in Saturday night’s Game 1 1-0 win in the ALCS at Fenway Park. Peralta was 3-for-4 with the game-winning RBI single.
“We aren’t making a big deal about that, everybody is making a big deal about it,’’ Leyland said of the challenge the Green Monster provides experienced outfielders, never mind a neophyte in left who played three regular season games in left.
Peralta started Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS in left after returning from a 50-game suspension. He started Game 5 at short.
“I heard somebody talk about the ladder. If Carl Yastrzemski played that ladder he is one hell of a man. I don’t think any Red Sox, Tiger or Kansas City Royal or anybody else knows where it is going.’’
Leyland admitted the world’s biggest handball wall is unique beyond the ladder above the scoreboard at the base of the wall.
“It’s a little tricky to play the wall and the Red Sox obviously do that better because they are used to it,’’ Leyland said. “As far as getting carried away and talking about the ladder, that’s ridiculous. You do the best you can with it.’’
Peralta, who was suspended for being involved in the Biogenesis scandle, handled one chance without incident and getting him in the lineup paid off when he drove in the game’s only run.
Leyland lifted Peralta for defensive purposes in the eighth.
“As a manager if you are not willing to give up something to get something then you shouldn’t play them,’’ Leyland said. “But I am willing to do that. If something bad happened in the outfield, you take the criticism and you take it like a man.’’
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The Tigers put former Yankee reliever Phil Coke on the ALCS roster and removed right-hander Luke Putkonen. Due to elbow trouble Coke was not active for the ALDS against the A’s.
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Asked about the impact bullpens will have on the ALCS, Leyland put more emphasis on the starters and Anibal Sanchez and Jon Lester made him look good.
“Everybody talks about the bullpen but when you get into a short series, just like the other night we didn’t use our bullpen,’’ Leyland said of Justin Verlander providing eight shutout innings in a deciding Game 5 of the ALDS in Oakland. “I think this will be a starting pitching series with the exception of the ninth inning most likely. I think both managers are hoping that the bullpen, unless it’s real late, is not as significant maybe. If our starters aren’t good we are not going to win this series and probably the same for them.’’
Red Sox manager John Farrell was thinking along with Leyland.
“Our ability for our starters to keep the game under control will be pivotal for us,’’ Farrell said.
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Thanks to a wild-pitch strikeout of Shane Victorino in the first inning by Sanchez he fanned four in the opening frame. He is the first Tiger ever to do that and tied the post-season record that was set by Orval Overall of the 1908 Cubs in the World Series.
Before Saturday, the last time the Red Sox were blanked at home in a postseason game was Game 5 of the 1918 World Series by the Cubs. Saturday night’s game was the first 1-0 postseason game ever at Fenway Park.
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Leyland has worked for Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski in Detroit and Florida and offered a simple reason Dombrowski is successful.
“He is not afraid to trade a prospect,’’ Leyland explained. “Sixty percent of our rotation came by trade.’’
Sunday night’s Game 2 starter Max Scherzer who is the leading AL Cy Young candidate, Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez were all acquired by Dombrowski in trades.