MLB roundup: Rose does not think Jeter will break his record
All-time hits leader Pete Rose thinks his record is safe from Derek Jeter.
Rose told the website "Sports on Earth" that time and the team's lack of positional flexibility will conspire to keep Jeter from collecting the 953 hits it will take to pass Rose.
"I don't think he'll break the record," Rose said. "First of all, I don't think he wants to leave the Yankees. And the Yankees, they're about winning. Jeter had a great year this year, but he's what? Thirty-eight years old? And he's a shortstop? How many 40-year-old shortstops you see walking around? Not too many, right?
"And they can't put him at third because A-Rod's there. They can't put him at second 'cause [Robinson] Cano's there. He don't help them in left field -- he's got to be in the center of things, you know what I mean? What are they going to do? Put him at first base?"
Jeter had 216 hits during the regular season. Rose retired in 1986 at age 45 with 4,256 hits. He broke Ty Cobb's record of 4,191 the previous season.
Jeter "had a great year this year, but you think he can do that again?" Rose said. "At 39? A shortstop? Let's say he does it again. Let's say he gets 200 more hits next year. And let's say he gets 200 more hits when he's 40, though I don't think he can. OK, can he get 200 more hits when he's 41? You think he can?"
"I don't think he can get 200 more hits at 41, but let's say he does. OK, now he's 42. He's gonna get 200 more hits then? At 42? Let me tell you, I've been there, the body locks up. Jeter's a great hitter ... but he's gonna get 200 hits when he's 42? I don't think he will. And even if he does all that, he's still 150 hits short."
--- The Boston Red Sox were granted permission to interview Dodgers third-base coach Tim Wallach for the Red Sox vacant managerial position, ESPNBoston.com reported.
Wallach, 55, managed the Dodgers' Triple-A team in Albuquerque for two seasons.
The Red Sox fired manager Bobby Valentine last Thursday.
---Giants manager Bruce Bochy started Hector Sanchez at catcher in Wednesday's Game 4 of the Division Series.
Sanchez has been the catcher for Barry Zito virtually all season, and Bochy wanted to continue that pairing on Wednesday.
Buster Posey started at first base, replacing Brandon Belt.
---The Cincinnati Reds decided to start Mike Leake on Wednesay in Game 4 against the Giants.
Leake replaced the injured Johnny Cueto, who now won't be able to play in the National League Championship Series if the Reds advance, but would be eligible to play in the World Series if he's healthy and the Reds get that far.
Cueto injured his oblique in the first inning of Game 1.
