General Manager Bill Bergesch of the Cincinnati...

General Manager Bill Bergesch of the Cincinnati Reds said that player-Manager Pete Rose should at least temporarily drop the front part of his title.

Bergesch, attending the World Series in Boston, said in a telephone interview that he would prefer to drop Rose from the National League club’s winter roster. Bergesch would rather protect one of the team’s younger players with a roster spot, leaving open the option of reinstating Rose sometime next season if a need develops.

Rose, 45, baseball’s all-time hit leader who is coming off his least productive season and has one year left on his contract as a player, said Bergesch’s comments were news to him.