Giants bid adieu to Felipe Alou

At least one Alou won't return to the San Francisco Giants next season.

Manager Felipe Alou was let go Monday, one day after the baseball team finished its second straight losing season.

Alou's departure had been expected for some time, considering his contract expired after this season.

"Tough decisions are always painful, and this one is especially painful," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "Felipe is a man of unquestioned integrity who has put his heart and soul into the Giants."

Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Bud Black is expected to be a candidate to replace Alou, as is former Giants catcher Bob Brenly, veteran manager Lou Piniella and Giants bench coach Ron Wotus.

Alou's son, 40-year-old Moises, played out the option in his contract this season, posting a .301 batting average in 98 games with 22 home runs and 74 runs batted in.

The elder Alou said he would like to stay in the game in 2007, possibly with the Giants, the franchise that signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 1955.

"Even though I will not be the Giants manager next year, I will always be a Giant," Alou said. "Ever since I was signed by the Giants as a student out of the University of Santo Domingo, I've always considered myself a Giant."

San Francisco, which finished third in the National League West this season with a 76-85 record, failed to make the playoffs in Alou's final three years.

The highlight for Alou was the 2003 campaign when he guided the Giants to 100 wins and the NL West pennant. He ended his tenure with a mark of 342-304.

"I'm proud of my behaviour, my respect to the game, people, to the cities and countries, the flags," Alou said. "I don't like .500. A .500 man to me is mediocrity."