Lest there be any misunderstanding on why he would leave one of the most successful organizations in baseball over the last decade and a half or why he would shrug off interest from the New York Yankees to become the Orioles' new pitching coach, Leo Mazzone pointed to one factor.
"The main reason I am coming here is Sam Perlozzo is the manager," Mazzone said.
On a day on which the Orioles officially announced they had signed the game's most celebrated pitching coach, Perlozzo and Mazzone realized a goal that they began discussing many years ago as best friends growing up in Western Maryland.
And that, more than the three-year deal, which is believed will pay Mazzone close to $500,000 a season, according to sources close to the negotiations, likely making him the highest-paid pitching coach in the major leagues, is the reason that the longtime Atlanta Braves coach said he agreed to join the Orioles.
Mazzone is expected to be introducted to area media early next week, likely on Tuesday.
"The opportunities don't come where you can work with your best friend and come close to your home state," said Mazzone via conference call, also acknowledging that he wanted to be closer to his parents and three children who live in Maryland.
"I'm 57 years old and I want to finish with Sam in Baltimore. The Orioles had a great tradition of pitching and we hope to get that back again."
In 15 1/2 seasons as Braves pitching coach, Mazzone mentored six Cy Young Award winners, nine 20-game winners and 10 different All-Stars. In 12 of his last 14 seasons with the Braves - all resulting in division titles - Mazzone's staff finished first or second in the NL in ERA.
"Over the years, people think that he's been blessed with great pitching down there, but there's always two starters that he takes off the scrap heaps, resurrects their career and they leave Atlanta for a big contract and you don't hear too much about them after that," Perlozzo said. "I believe in what he does. I believe in this move."
That was the consensus throughout the organization, from Perlozzo to executive vice president Mike Flanagan to Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos, all of whom felt the organization achieved a coup in getting Mazzone to succeed Ray Miller.
"With his incredible energy and enthusiasm, I told Leo that I was ready to go back to work with him and improve my game," said Flanagan, who has 167 career victories and one Cy Young Award on his resume.
