The Baltimore Orioles relieved manager Lee Mazzilli of his managerial duties prior to Thursday's 4-1 win over the LA Angels of Anaheim.
Bench coach Sam Perlozzo guided the team today and has been named interim manager for the remainder of the season.
"I never wanted to get the job at the expense of somebody else," Perlozzo said. "Lee (Mazzilli) is a friend of mine. I am happy with the opportunity, but I am more happy for the team getting the win. Maybe this will turn the team around." Baltimore, which occupied first place in the American league East for a majority of the first half, has fallen on hard times of late and has dropped eight in a row and 14 of its last 15, while slipping to fourth place in the division at 51-56, 10 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox.
Mazzilli, who was named the 15th manager of the club in November of 2003, led the team to a 129-140 record in 1 1/2 seasons.
"I was very surprised with the timing," Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez said.
"But no matter what happens in the clubhouse, I have to get over it and focus on my job." The 54-year-old Perlozzo, meanwhile, is in his 10th year with the Orioles.
He spent his first five years as third base coach before assuming the role of bench coach in 2001. His run with the team is the second longest continuous tenure on the Baltimore staff behind Elrod Hendricks and only six coaches in team history have served longer.
Perlozzo is in his 19th season as a major league coach, also serving on the staffs of the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners.
Rock On,
:mj14: :mj14: :mj14:
Bench coach Sam Perlozzo guided the team today and has been named interim manager for the remainder of the season.
"I never wanted to get the job at the expense of somebody else," Perlozzo said. "Lee (Mazzilli) is a friend of mine. I am happy with the opportunity, but I am more happy for the team getting the win. Maybe this will turn the team around." Baltimore, which occupied first place in the American league East for a majority of the first half, has fallen on hard times of late and has dropped eight in a row and 14 of its last 15, while slipping to fourth place in the division at 51-56, 10 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox.
Mazzilli, who was named the 15th manager of the club in November of 2003, led the team to a 129-140 record in 1 1/2 seasons.
"I was very surprised with the timing," Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez said.
"But no matter what happens in the clubhouse, I have to get over it and focus on my job." The 54-year-old Perlozzo, meanwhile, is in his 10th year with the Orioles.
He spent his first five years as third base coach before assuming the role of bench coach in 2001. His run with the team is the second longest continuous tenure on the Baltimore staff behind Elrod Hendricks and only six coaches in team history have served longer.
Perlozzo is in his 19th season as a major league coach, also serving on the staffs of the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners.
Rock On,
:mj14: :mj14: :mj14:
