Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Leyland, who led Florida to its first World Series championship in 1997 and guided Pittsburgh to three division titles in the early '90s, interviewed for the Philadelphia Phillies' managerial position on Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 and also plans to talk to the New York Mets. Click photo for larger image. Related Article: Ron Cook: Think twice, Leyland

PHILADELPHIA -- Jim Leyland's managerial credentials are unquestioned, but the matter of his commitment to a new team might be.

So when Leyland spoke after formally interviewing for the job with the Phillies, he explained why he left the Rockies after the 1999 season with multiple years on his contract and why he wants to return to the hot seat.

"I did a lousy job in Colorado," said Leyland, who was candid, comfortable and self-effacing in his session with the media. "It just wasn't there. I was burned out."

Leyland said he couldn't have been treated better by the Rockies or then-general manager Jerry McMorris, and he conceded McMorris might still have his job and a lot less heartache if he had done the job the Rockies hired him to do.

"I knew in my heart I was done, and I was. I believe in my heart I'm ready [again], and I am," Leyland said. "The fire still burns. There's no question in my mind I'm ready to manage."

After Leyland became the eighth and final candidate to go through the interview process, the Phillies said they would begin the process of whittling down the field in the next 48 hours and hopefully would have a decision by the end of the week.

But there is also a complication with Leyland, who is the favorite of fans as determined by polls in the Philadelphia newspapers and who has the type of credentials that would be a good fit for a veteran team that underachieved last season.

Leyland has been contacted by the Mets and expected to hear from them as he drove back on the Pennsylvania Turnpike yesterday afternoon. He said if they called, he would interview. And he added that Phillies general manager Ed Wade encouraged him to do so.

"Ed told me that I ought to talk to the Mets. That's not necessarily good, is it?" Leyland joked, eliciting a round of laughter.

Part of the evaluation of the managerial candidates is how they handle the spotlight, and Leyland made a good impression in a town where the sports media are as passionate and as prickly as the fans.

While serving as a scout for the Cardinals for the past five years, Leyland said he had been offered chances to get back into managing. But when Larry Bowa was fired by the Phillies, Leyland saw a golden opportunity.

He is within a five-hour drive of his home and family in the Pittsburgh area, and he plans to spend off days at home if he gets the job. In addition to the location making it "a great situation," Leyland said the Phillies have a solid foundation and a brand new ballpark going for them.

He also acknowledged that he would like to have some input on personnel matters with his general manager if there would be a trade involving National League players. Leyland's input could be vital because the Phillies will need to add some pieces to break through in the NL East Division -- something that they were picked to do last season.

"This club has to be tweaked," Leyland said, adding that the Phillies were the type of lineup that swung and missed too frequently and failed to make productive outs. "I told Ed, 'Don't expect some kind of miracle.' Nobody can just wave a magic wand and make everything all right here. It all comes down to talent. You're either the beneficiary or the victim of players' performances. That's the way this job is."

Leyland said money would not be an issue, especially since he said he left $4 million on the table when he walked away from the Rockies. He's also familiar with the Phillies' operations, given that Gary Varsho, a former player of his, has been in the Phillies' organization for years.

"He told me not to take the job," Leyland deadpanned.

Leyland spoke three times with Varsho and even spoke with Bowa about the job. He was already on the list of people the Phillies wanted to contact when he called Wade the Saturday before last to express his interest.

Some habits are apparently hard to break. Wade said that Leyland had to leave the interview room at one point to get a pack of cigarettes.

The Phillies have inquired about the circumstances under which Leyland left the Rockies, Marlins and Pirates. But Wade indicated that he didn't think commitment would be an issue.

"He said his batteries are sufficiently recharged," Wade said. "If [that issue] had knocked him off the list, we wouldn't have had him in here today."

Also under consideration for the job are Grady Little, Charlie Manuel, Jim Fregosi, Terry Pendleton, Buddy Bell, Don Baylor and Pirates third-base coach John Russell.