McCourt Tried to Reach Tracy

Dodger owner Frank McCourt left two telephone messages with Jim Tracy shortly after the manager parted ways with the team Monday, and Tracy said Friday that he planned to return the calls.

Tracy wanted to clarify a comment he made during a conference call about 90 minutes after his separation from the Dodgers became official. Responding to a question, he’d said that he had not spoken to McCourt.

“I don’t want the perception out there that the McCourts did not reach out to contact me,” Tracy said. “This should not be misrepresented. They should not be fried [in the media] over this.”

Tracy has been inundated with calls this week and hasn’t returned many. He is one of two candidates for the managerial opening in Pittsburgh and will be interviewed Monday by General Manager Dave Littlefield.

The other candidate, former Oakland Athletic manager Ken Macha, will be interviewed Sunday.

“I’m taking life one day at a time,” Tracy said. “It’s been real hectic.”

The frenzied week began Monday afternoon when Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta and Tracy worked out the separation over the phone. The announcement was made about 6:20 p.m. and the conference call began, with DePodesta speaking first, at 7:05. Tracy’s portion of the call began at 7:35 and lasted about half an hour.

McCourt was in Boston at the time, attending the funeral of a cousin. He said DePodesta had the authority to work out the parting of ways and that he wanted to speak with Tracy immediately after the separation was official.

Tracy said that when he checked his messages after the conference call, he discovered that McCourt had left a message at 7:50.

McCourt later left a second message and his wife and team president Jamie McCourt also left Tracy a message.

“I have not gotten back to them, but I will do so,” Tracy said.