A year ago, Neil Allen was tabbed by George Steinbrenner as Mel Stottlemyre’s eventual replacement as Yankee pitching coach, and installed as the bullpen coach to familiarize him with the Yankee staff.
Today, The Post has learned, Allen has been offered a minor-league job after being dismissed as the bullpen coach.
“He has been offered a different position,” GM Brian Cashman said. “Joe [Torre] called him.”
Meanwhile, the Braves named Roger McDowell, a reliever on the 1986 World Series champion Mets, their pitching coach, replacing Leo Mazzone. McDowell, who pitched for 12 years, was pitching coach of the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate at Las Vegas the past two seasons.
Allen, 47, didn’t return phone messages yesterday. His demotion is an indication the Yankees are considering a former big-league pitching coach as their bullpen man in order for Ron Guidry to have somebody with pitching-coach experience to lean on. Guidry hasn’t been named pitching coach yet.
Joe Kerrigan, a video scout, and Gil Patterson, Triple-A Columbus’ pitching coach, are already in the organization and fit the bill.
Cashman hasn’t heard from Luis Sojo since Sojo left for Venezuela, and doesn’t know if Sojo will accept the move from third-base coach to first-base coach.
Sojo said last week he would be open to managing in the minors instead of shifting from third, where he was replaced by Larry Bowa. If Sojo declines the first-base job, the Yankees are expected to contact Davey Lopes.
They also are expected to name former Oriole manager Lee Mazzilli as Torre’s bench coach. -With AP