Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Pete Mackanin watches his first game from the hot seat in the hours after being named the Pirates' interim manager yesterday afternoon. Click photo for larger image. The Mackanin File: Thumbnail sketch of interim manager Pete Mackanin

Two names -- both with strong Pittsburgh ties -- zipped quickly to the top of the list of possible successors to Lloyd McClendon, who was fired yesterday as the Pirates' manager.

Art Howe and Ken Macha.

Howe, the Shaler native who played for the Pirates in 1974-75, has managed Houston, Oakland and the New York Mets in the major leagues. He's currently sitting out, getting paid by the Mets, who let him go after last season.

"He's awesome," said Pirates third baseman Ty Wigginton, who played for Howe in New York. "He's a very stand-up manager who lets his players control the clubhouse. All he asks in that you play the game right and play the game hard, and he respects you as a player."

Macha, who lives in Monroeville, currently manages the Oakland Athletics, but his contract expires after this season and might not be renewed.

Macha also played for the Pirates (1974, 1977-78). He was among those interviewed for the Pirates' managerial job after the 2000 season, when McClendon was picked.

Owner Kevin McClatchy yesterday indicated the Pirates' new manager will have had major-league managerial experience, something McClendon did not have in 2000, although he did manage in the Arizona and California Fall Leagues and in the Instructional League.

"Mac really didn't have major-league managerial experience, and we probably wouldn't want to go that route again," McClatchy said.

McClatchy was heavily involved in the managerial search five years ago, interviewing all the candidates along with then-general manager Cam Bonifay. This time, McClatchy said, the process will be entirely up to general manager Dave Littlefield.

	The top candidates? Art Howe Not managing this season after being let go by the Mets at the end of the 2004 season. Major-league record: 1,129-1,137 Ken Macha  In his third season managing the Oakland A's; currently 1 1/2 games out of the AL wild card. Major-league record: 187-137 Jim Leyland Hasn't managed since 1999; currently a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.  Major-league record: 1,069-1,131 Jim Fregosi Last managed in Toronto in 2000, but has expressed desire to return. Major-league record: 1,028-1,095

"I want to give the general manager full responsibility because his performance in essence could be judged by the success or failure of the manager," McClatchy said. "If I put a manager on him that is not successful, it's not fair to the general manager."

Jim Leyland, who managed the Pirates from 1986-96, will hear his name mentioned by the media. He managed the Florida Marlins -- to a World Series championship in '97 -- and the Colorado Rockies before leaving the dugout after the '99 season.

Leyland, who lives in Pittsburgh, is a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals. It's unclear if Leyland will be a candidate.

"I don't think he wants [to give] the idea that he was sitting there waiting to get somebody's job," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said last night.

Other people who have managed in the majors and who might be considered include Jim Riggleman, currently in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor-league department, and John Boles, who managed the Marlins.

Jim Fregosi, currently a high-ranking official with the Atlanta Braves, probably will get some consideration.

He managed the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in 1993 and is said to want to return to the dugout.

There are others who have not managed in the major leagues whose names will surface.

Gary Varsho, a former Pirate, is the Phillies' bench coach. Joe Girardi, the New York Yankees' bench coach, might be the "hot coach" this offseason.

		"I don't think he wants [to give] the idea that he was sitting there waiting to get somebody's job." -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on friend -- and Cardinals scout -- Jim Leyland

Former Pirates shortstop Jay Bell, Arizona's bench coach, probably would draw some interest.

"Certainly, I have aspirations to manage," Bell said yesterday.

"Having played here in Pittsburgh, having really grown up in the game here, and learned as much as I learned from Leyland and the coaches he had around him, certainly there's a soft spot in my heart for Pittsburgh. So if it came to a point where I had a decision to make about managing here in Pittsburgh, certainly I'd have to think long and hard about that."

Pirates third-base coach John Russell might get some consideration, as well as Brian Graham, the Pirates' minor-league director.

Trent Jewett, a former Pirates third-base coach who did a masterful job getting Class AAA Indianapolis into the International League playoffs, could merit some interest.

Same also for Pete Mackanin, the former Pirates bench coach now the team's interim manager.

"I've aspired to be a major-league manager," Mackanin said. "This is not exactly the way I'd like to do it, especially with a good friend losing his job.

"However, I'm happy that Dave Littlefield feels confident that I can handle the chore for the rest of the season, and we'll just do what we can to see if can fix it up a little bit and get a few positive results out of it."

Then there's former Pirate Ken Oberkfell, 48, who has managed a New York Mets minor-league club into the playoffs the past three seasons, including this season with Class AAA Norfolk.

"Hopefully I'll get the chance [to manage in the big leagues] someday," Oberkfell recently told MLB.com.

"I'm sure the Mets would never stand in the way. I don't think any club would ever stop you if you had a chance to manage somewhere. And I know the Mets wouldn't.

"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy what I'm doing now, and it's a lot of fun. But it's no secret that I want to get to the big leagues again as a manager or coach."

Oberkfell played in the majors for Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre and Leyland.

"I won't lobby for anything," Oberkfell said. "I'll just try and let my record speak for itself. If it's meant to be, I'll get to the big leagues."