Vukovich misses the field action with Phillies.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Publication: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service

Publication Date: 28-FEB-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service

Byline: Todd Zolecki

CLEARWATER, Fla. _ John Vukovich finds himself in unfamiliar territory at the Carpenter Complex.

He's without his fungo bat, which for years seemed to be perpetually at his side. He isn't coordinating the action on the field, either. He's watching it instead.

For the first time in 40 years, Vukovich isn't in a professional baseball uniform. For the first time in 23 years, he isn't a big-league coach. And for the first time in 17 years, he isn't a Phillies coach.

After the Phillies fired manager Larry Bowa last year, Vukovich accepted a move to the front office as special assistant to general manager Ed Wade because Wade said Vukovich would cast too large a shadow over the incoming manager, whoever that might be.

"I'm still not sure whether I was promoted or demoted,"...

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