Giants’ Quinn Apologizes to Genovese

NORTH HOLLYWOOD —  George Genovese feels vindicated. That doesn’t mean he feels better, however.

Two days after news of his firing after 34 years with the San Francisco Giants became public, he was contacted by a prominent member of the team’s front office.

Genovese said that second-year General Manager Bob Quinn phoned Thursday and apologized for the way the dismissal was handled.

“He said he dropped the ball and that he was sorry,” Genovese said. “He said he blew it.”

Genovese, 72, was one of five scouts whose contracts will not be renewed by the Giants in 1995. Genovese, who scouted the Southern California area, served as a scout and minor-league coach with the organization since 1960 and signed 43 players who made the club’s 40-man roster.

The Giants have made a number of economically driven moves over the past few weeks, including the elimination of two low-level minor-league clubs. The five scouting positions were permanently eliminated and several office employees were temporarily laid off until the strike is resolved. Genovese’s contract expires Dec. 31.

As alarmed as Genovese was to be fired, he was just as upset about the way the matter was handled. He first received a call from the team’s scouting coordinator, then a brief letter from a vice president.

“I thought the least I deserved after 34 years was a call from somebody who wasn’t a flunky,” Genovese said. “At least now I know that I was right--they handled it badly.”

Genovese said he accepted Quinn’s apology, with reservation. “I accepted it,” he said. “But I don’t think I could go back to work for them. Not now.”