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10-27-2003, 05:26 PM
The merry-go-round of candidates for manager keeps going. Here's more of an in-depth look at looking at Lee Mazzilli...... also two other candidates. ...... Tom Foley and Terry Francone.
Also some other news. I was wrong about Deivi Cruz. He's not a free agent. The O's hold an option on him.
10/24/2003 3:19 PM ET
O's get permission to talk with 'Maz'
Foley, Francona also in manager interview mix
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles have asked and were granted permission to interview Yankees first base coach Lee Mazzilli for their vacant managerial position, according to a club source.
Also, the club has set an interview with Tampa Bay third base coach Tom Foley on Wednesday.
Mazzilli would be the seventh candidate and third outside the organization if he decides to interview for the job. Mazzilli is currently coaching in the World Series but that will conclude by Sunday. The Florida Marlins lead the Yankees three games to two with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
The management duo of Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan would not comment on any candidates but they have also received permission to interview Oakland bench coach Terry Francona, who will be in the Warehouse on Tuesday.
Francona, who managed in the White Sox system in the mid-1990s before taking over in Philadelphia, is also on Chicago's short managerial list. Francona, 43, was the bench coach in Texas in 2002 and is considered a smart baseball man.
Mazzilli has been a coach in the Yankees' system since 1997 and first base/outfield coach since 2000. The former outfielder had a 14-year playing career, mostly with the New York Mets. He was named to the 1979 All-Star team and hit a home run for the National League.
Mazzilli, 48, managed Single-A Tampa for two seasons and Double-A Norwich for one season before being named to the Yankees' staff.
Foley, 44, has been the Rays' third base coach for two years after serving as Tampa Bay's farm director. His managerial experience was with the Rays' Rookie League team and Maryvale in the Arizona Fall League. Foley and Mazzilli interviewed for the Devil Rays' managerial position last winter before Lou Piniella was hired.
Foley played 13 Major League seasons, eight with Montreal. His best season was 1988 when he hit .265 with five homers and 43 RBIs.
The Orioles have interviewed Cleveland hitting coach Eddie Murray, Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo, Milwaukee bench coach Rich Dauer and Orioles first base coach Rick Dempsey in the past three weeks and a decision is expected in early November.
Player options: The club also has to make decisions on contract options for shortstop Deivi Cruz, pitchers Pat Hentgen and Kerry Ligtenberg and catcher Brook Fordyce.
Hentgen, who went 7-8 with a 4.09 ERA last season, has a $4 million option for 2004 that the Orioles are considering honoring. Hentgen, who turns 35 next month, was 6-3 with a 3.10 ERA in the second half and emerged as the team's most consistent pitcher.
Ligtenberg has a $1.2 million option and was one of the team's most dependable relievers last season. He was 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA but his lone detractor was a .356 average against left-handed hitters. The options for Cruz and Fordyce likely will not be honored but Cruz could return to the club as a backup infielder.
Cruz was a pleasant surprise, hitting .250 with a career-best 14 homers and 65 RBIs with solid defense at shortstop. Cruz, however, had little patience at the plate and was last in the American League with a .269 on-base percentage.
Fordyce hit .273 but had just 31 RBIs in 348 at-bats and the club is seeking a major upgrade at catcher. Fordyce has said he would return to the club as a backup.
AFL update: Kris Wilken, who hit .263 for Double-A Bowie this past season, is flourishing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Wilken is eighth in the league with a.356 average and is fourth on the Solar Sox with 16 hits. Wilken was a 12th-round pick in 2000.
Right-handed pitcher Aaron Rakers leads the AFL with four wins and has a 0.96 ERA in six appearances. Right-hander Rodney Ormond has a 3.38 ERA in seven outings while right-hander Tim Corcoran is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in four outings.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Also some other news. I was wrong about Deivi Cruz. He's not a free agent. The O's hold an option on him.
10/24/2003 3:19 PM ET
O's get permission to talk with 'Maz'
Foley, Francona also in manager interview mix
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles have asked and were granted permission to interview Yankees first base coach Lee Mazzilli for their vacant managerial position, according to a club source.
Also, the club has set an interview with Tampa Bay third base coach Tom Foley on Wednesday.
Mazzilli would be the seventh candidate and third outside the organization if he decides to interview for the job. Mazzilli is currently coaching in the World Series but that will conclude by Sunday. The Florida Marlins lead the Yankees three games to two with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
The management duo of Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan would not comment on any candidates but they have also received permission to interview Oakland bench coach Terry Francona, who will be in the Warehouse on Tuesday.
Francona, who managed in the White Sox system in the mid-1990s before taking over in Philadelphia, is also on Chicago's short managerial list. Francona, 43, was the bench coach in Texas in 2002 and is considered a smart baseball man.
Mazzilli has been a coach in the Yankees' system since 1997 and first base/outfield coach since 2000. The former outfielder had a 14-year playing career, mostly with the New York Mets. He was named to the 1979 All-Star team and hit a home run for the National League.
Mazzilli, 48, managed Single-A Tampa for two seasons and Double-A Norwich for one season before being named to the Yankees' staff.
Foley, 44, has been the Rays' third base coach for two years after serving as Tampa Bay's farm director. His managerial experience was with the Rays' Rookie League team and Maryvale in the Arizona Fall League. Foley and Mazzilli interviewed for the Devil Rays' managerial position last winter before Lou Piniella was hired.
Foley played 13 Major League seasons, eight with Montreal. His best season was 1988 when he hit .265 with five homers and 43 RBIs.
The Orioles have interviewed Cleveland hitting coach Eddie Murray, Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo, Milwaukee bench coach Rich Dauer and Orioles first base coach Rick Dempsey in the past three weeks and a decision is expected in early November.
Player options: The club also has to make decisions on contract options for shortstop Deivi Cruz, pitchers Pat Hentgen and Kerry Ligtenberg and catcher Brook Fordyce.
Hentgen, who went 7-8 with a 4.09 ERA last season, has a $4 million option for 2004 that the Orioles are considering honoring. Hentgen, who turns 35 next month, was 6-3 with a 3.10 ERA in the second half and emerged as the team's most consistent pitcher.
Ligtenberg has a $1.2 million option and was one of the team's most dependable relievers last season. He was 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA but his lone detractor was a .356 average against left-handed hitters. The options for Cruz and Fordyce likely will not be honored but Cruz could return to the club as a backup infielder.
Cruz was a pleasant surprise, hitting .250 with a career-best 14 homers and 65 RBIs with solid defense at shortstop. Cruz, however, had little patience at the plate and was last in the American League with a .269 on-base percentage.
Fordyce hit .273 but had just 31 RBIs in 348 at-bats and the club is seeking a major upgrade at catcher. Fordyce has said he would return to the club as a backup.
AFL update: Kris Wilken, who hit .263 for Double-A Bowie this past season, is flourishing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Wilken is eighth in the league with a.356 average and is fourth on the Solar Sox with 16 hits. Wilken was a 12th-round pick in 2000.
Right-handed pitcher Aaron Rakers leads the AFL with four wins and has a 0.96 ERA in six appearances. Right-hander Rodney Ormond has a 3.38 ERA in seven outings while right-hander Tim Corcoran is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in four outings.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.