In the offseason, McLaren called again. Although it meant temporarily leaving his wife behind in Orlando -- the couple has sold its house in Columbia -- to relocate, Perlozzo wanted to get back into baseball.
It was a wise move, said McLaren, who believes the 57-year-old Perlozzo is re-energized as the Mariners' third base coach and infield instructor.
"He is a difference maker," McLaren said. "He is one of the best infield coaches I have been around. He is a great teacher ... and he is a winner. He is a close, personal friend of mine, and that's about as good of a combination as you can get."
So, Perlozzo is a Mariner again, 13 years after he left as third base coach of that organization to come home. Now, he's returning to Baltimore and looking forward to seeing his former players.
"They were my guys. I had a good time with those guys. You can't judge guys always when things are going bad," Perlozzo said. "I expect some hugs from all of them."
As for Orioles fans this weekend? He knows he'll hear some cheers, because he'll have friends and family at every game. "You'll hear a few of them, there will be a little section there. Hopefully, they'll get muffled over by the regular Baltimore fans that are cheering for me," Perlozzo said, breaking into a laugh.
"Hopefully, there won't be one singled-out section [of support]. That wouldn't be a good thing."
dan.connolly@baltsun.com
