MLB

YANKS WANT TO OFFER BOWA SECOND THIRD CHANCE

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Yankees will have a clearer idea of who their third base coach will be later this week.

That’s when Larry Bowa will meet with Dodgers brass to discuss his future. Bowa, who is the Yankees’ No. 1 choice to replace Bobby Meacham, recently finished the first of a two-year deal to coach third for the Dodgers. Nevertheless, Bowa has an out in the contract.

Bowa, the best third base coach in baseball, was with the Yankees in 2006 and 2007 but not retained when manager Joe Torre didn’t return for the 2008 season. Instead, Bowa joined Torre in Los Angeles.

If Bowa decides to stay with the Dodgers, the Yankees might turn to Mike Gallego or Dale Sveum.

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Rays owner Stuart Sternberg didn’t make a fortune on Wall Street by going with his gut on everything. Nevertheless, he admitted there were times when the feel was right.

Such was the case yesterday when he asked Rays senior advisor Don Zimmer to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 7. Considering the Rays won, 3-1, and possibly will have four home World Series games, expect to see Zimmer on the mound again.

“Sometimes things feel perfectly clear to me,” Sternberg, a Canarsie High School product, said during batting practice. “There was no question in my mind if it got to Game 7 he was the right guy.”

Sternberg phoned Zimmer at 2 p.m. yesterday with the idea.

“He said he wanted me to do him a favor,” Zimmer said. “I was stunned. What can I do for Stuart Sternberg? He said, ‘I know you are going to say no but I want you to do this.’ I said, ‘If that’s what you want me to do I will try it.’ ”

Zimmer, who is in uniform during batting practice but watches games from the stands or clubhouse, wore his No. 60 jersey for the first time all year. When in uniform, Zimmer wears a warm-up top.

The No. 60 signifies his years in baseball.

“I am a little nervous, I don’t know if I will reach home plate,” said Zimmer, who reached the plate on the fly.

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Series MVP Matt Garza went 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two ALCS starts.

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The Rays are the 11th expansion team in history to play in the World Series. They are the third team to advance to the World Series immediately after 10 or more consecutive losing seasons.