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TD_washingtonredskins
November-7th-2003, 01:07 PM
http://www.sunspot.net/sports/baseball/bal-os1107,0,5598076.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

O's to name Mazzilli as manager
Yankees first base coach edges out Perlozzo, Dauer, sources say; Hargrove's replacement gets 2-year deal, with two club option years; Introduction set for this afternoon
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By Joe Christensen
Sun Staff
Originally published November 7, 2003, 11:50 AM EST



The Orioles will name Lee Mazzilli as their new manager today at an afternoon press conference, sources close to the search confirmed this morning.

Mazzilli, 48, has been the first base coach for the New York Yankees for the past four seasons, and the Orioles are giving him a two-year contract with two club option years.

He will replace Mike Hargrove, who was fired Sept. 29 after four losing seasons at the Orioles' helm.

The Orioles interviewed eight candidates, and Mazzilli edged out Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo and Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Rich Dauer. Orioles vice president Mike Flanagan said other finalists included Cleveland Indians hitting coach Eddie Murray and Orioles first base coach Rick Dempsey.

Mazzilli went 220-197 while managing in the New York Yankees' farm system from 1997 to 1999, guiding Single-A Tampa to the Florida State League finals in 1998 and Double-A Norwich to the Eastern League finals in 1999.

After the first round of interviews, Flanagan and Orioles executive vice president Jim Beattie went to team owner Peter Angelos with a strong endorsement for Mazzilli. The group came to a decision early this morning, and Mazzilli was apparently on his way to Baltimore to sign a contract.

Insiders said Mazzilli impressed the Orioles with his confident presence and the confident things he said about what he could do if given the job.

"There's not a lot missing [with the Orioles]," Mazzilli said, after finishing his interview on Oct. 30. "You've got the core of some good young players. I love [Jay] Gibbons. He's a good solid player, I think [Larry] Bigbie's going to be a big-time player here, [Luis] Matos is coming into his own, [Melvin] Mora had a great year before he got hurt. They have some good young arms. [Jorge] Julio had a good year closing.

"It's not like you come into a rebuilding ballclub. You come into a team with good young players, and that's impressive."

70Chip
November-7th-2003, 08:57 PM
That's it, I'm done. I've had season tickets since Camden Yards opened, but the way they treated Hargrove given what they put on the field for him was pretty abysmal.

jaxskins
November-12th-2003, 12:27 PM
I think it was a smart move. Hargrove is a good manager not a great one. His lack of getting players to play with consistency has been his downfall. You can't go and win 3 of 4 games against a playoff caliber team like the Sox and turn around and get swept by losing franchise like the Devil Rays and expect to keep your job. This team has talent far better than were seeing and we need a manager to bring that out of the players. I look for the O's to contend again and I feel this was their first step in doing so.

SkinsFanMania
November-12th-2003, 12:33 PM
I think we should have kept Hargrove and seen what he could have done after the spending spree, but Lee Mazilli was my 2nd choice after Grady Little and should be a nice addition.

aREDSKIN
November-12th-2003, 12:57 PM
How can ANYONE in DC root for the "Angelos" O's is beyond me. Mr. Pete is one of the driving forces in keeping baseball out of DC.

PatFischer37
November-12th-2003, 01:00 PM
No O's fans in DC....some of us are waiting for a baseball team to get back to DC/No. VA.....why should skins fans root for a Baltimore team??

jaxskins
November-13th-2003, 09:42 AM
Originally posted by babka
why should skins fans root for a Baltimore team??


Because I grew up watching both teams. I don't think theres anything wrong with liking The Orioles and the Redskins. I love'em both and that will never change. I can't stand any other teams period (in Pros) Never have never will.

So I ask why is it wrong for a skins fan to like the Orioles? Because of Angelos? To me I can care less who owns the clubs its not the owners or the players or the coaches or anything that make me love the teams. Its in my blood and in my heart that makes me love these teams.

TD_washingtonredskins
November-13th-2003, 12:23 PM
i agree with jaxskins...

i have been an o's fan my whole life so it would be strange to just jump ship even if DC got a club.

would you become a fan of an expansion football team if it landed closer to you than the skins were?