Point of no return

"Unfortunately, you could see it coming," Derek Lowe said after the Sox cut their final ties with Little by handing him a $250,000 parting gift in addition to $60,000 in performance bonuses. "With all the fan reaction and the fact that he couldn't get a `yes' or `no' [from management], it wasn't a good sign."

In the final analysis, the only surprise may have been that the Sox brass seemed intent on deposing Little even if he had managed the club to a miracle finish -- the first world championship in 85 years. Principal owner John W. Henry, who believed Little too often made tactical decisions without adequately applying the vast statistical resources the team provided him, "took the position well before the post-season that the club may need to question a long-term commitment to its manager," according to the team's prepared statement announcing Little's departure.

Henry's reservations signaled the end of Little's run when the manager made clear he wanted a multiyear deal to remain in Boston. The way Little put it to general manager Theo Epstein the day after his devastating decision to let Pedro Martinez continue pitching in the eighth inning of a 6-5 loss to the Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, he wanted "100-percent support" from management in addition to a long-term deal.

But Little wound up with nothing close to 100-percent backing. In addition to Henry, Sox chairman Tom Werner expressed concerns about "several events during the course of the season," CEO Larry Lucchino said. And neither Lucchino, who was considered Little's most ardent supporter when the Sox hired him March 11, 2002, nor Epstein was willing or able to persuade the ownership group to stand by the embattled manager.

When the four met late last week to decide Little's fate, Epstein said, "We were able to answer unanimously that we couldn't give him 100-percent support."

The decision cleared the way for a wide-ranging search for a manager who possesses Little's deft touch in handling the players and media in one of baseball's most demanding markets but who also gives greater weight to the volumes of quantitative analysis developed by senior adviser Bill James and his statistical specialists. The long list of potential candidates includes Cleveland third base coach Joel Skinner, Dodgers third base coach Glenn Hoffman, former Phillies manager Terry Francona, and former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel.

Despite the front office's unhappiness with Little's use of statistics, Lucchino said the Sox are not seeking a slave to computer analysis.

"This is not going to be a stat geeks organization, nor is it going to be an organization run by old salty dog baseball traditionalists," Lucchino said. "It's going to be an organization that mixes and matches and has balance and employs all the tools that might be available."

Lucchino and Epstein phoned Little at his home in North Carolina late in the morning to tell him they would not exercise their option for next year or try to sign him to a multiyear deal. They also informed him about the $250,000 farewell gift and told him his performance bonus included $25,000 he would have received if the Sox had won the ALCS. He earned $10,000 for guiding the Sox to a wild-card berth and $25,000 for winning the AL Division Series.

"Grady Little is going to be fine," the jobless manager said in a prepared statement. "The organization made a decision to go in a different direction. Whoever they hire to replace me will be getting the best bunch of players in baseball and a solid general manager. I love each and every one of those guys."

Little lashed out at the organization last week as he dangled in limbo while the Sox heeded a ban on making major announcements during the World Series. He was angry about the delay, about his suspicion that he would be pilloried for his single decision to stick with Martinez in Game 7, and about the team effectively making him a lame duck all season by failing to exercise his option in spring training.

He was far less fiery yesterday. He thanked Lucchino for giving him his first job as a major league manager, reaffirmed his friendship with Epstein, and expressed his disappointment to the team's fans for the loss in Game 7.

"Yes, we came up short of our goal, and to the Red Sox Nation, I say: I hurt with each of you. It was painful for all of us," he said. "Boston is a great place. The Red Sox fans are the most passionate in all of sports. I appreciate all of the support they gave me."

Lucchino acknowledged the Sox might not have cut Little loose if he had delivered a world championship.

"It would have been ungrateful in the extreme," Lucchino said.

But Epstein and Lucchino insisted Little's fateful decision in Game 7 did not determine his fate.

"It would be irresponsible and wrong of us to make a decision of this magnitude based on any one play or any one game," Epstein said. "That simply did not happen."

Little's players, who were all but unwavering in supporting him, were saddened by his demise.

"It shocks me," David Ortiz said. "He did everything it took for that ballclub to win. He was good to all of us, and we respected him for that. I know they let him go for a reason, but I have no idea what it is."

Ortiz and Kevin Millar joined Little in creating one of the most harmonious Sox clubhouses in memory.

"The bottom line is that Grady was an unbelievable person," Millar said. "How he dealt with 25 guys with 25 egos and 25 different salaries might sometimes have gotten overlooked, but he did an unbelievable job at it. I'm sad to see him leave and I know 24 other guys are sad to see him go."

Even second baseman Todd Walker, who was hurt that Little substituted for him late in games and on days Lowe pitched, shared the sadness.

"I loved playing for Grady," Walker said. "He certainly wasn't perfect, but a lot of the little things he did to help us win kind of went overlooked. I'm not sure they can find somebody of his caliber for the kind of money he was making."

The Sox were not bold enough to guarantee they could improve on Little, whose two-year, $1 million contract officially expires Friday, when the contracts of the team's coaching staff also expire.

"There's no question there's some risk inherent in this decision because we are so familiar with Grady's bountiful gifts," Lucchino said. "But we had to make a decision, and we're not where we were two years ago as an organization. We're at the end of the beginning, and now we're ready to make a long-term commitment to another kind of manager."

It may be no picnic for Little's successor.

"The guy coming in is going to have a lot of pressure on him because Grady was fired after winning 95 games," Millar said. "But I respect Theo and Larry, and I'm sure they will do the right thing."

Lowe said Little's departure underscores a sense of urgency on Yawkey Way.

"This ownership we have wants to win very badly," he said. "It's not that Grady did a bad job. I think he did a very good job. But I think they want to win soon and will try anything to get it done."