Assistant Gm

The Orioles have extended the contract of assistant general manager Doug Melvin, who has been reported to be next in line of succession behind general manager Roland Hemond.Melvin's previous contract expired Dec. 31, and he was given a multi-year extension, but the deal was not announced until yesterday. Terms of the contract -- including the length of it -- have been kept secret.Club president Larry Lucchino said yesterday that the club likes to keep front-office business private."We're not giving any details," Lucchino said.

New Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has been working this week to bolster his front office, and now, at least theoretically, he'll have another hole to fill. Matt Klentak, the club's 31-year-old director of baseball operations, accepted an assistant general manager position with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. He will be working directly with new Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, who interviewed in October for the Orioles' top executive job that eventually went to Duquette earlier this month.

Though the Orioles failed again yesterday to plug a hole in their lineup, they were able to fill an opening in the front office by hiring Bruce Manno as assistant general manager.Manno, 45, spent 15 seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, but had been out of baseball the last three years while working as a data consultant with Advanced Value Matrix Systems, a computer information company in Wheaton, Ill. that has developed a complex program for evaluating players.For the Orioles, who were seeking a replacement for Kevin Malone, that portion of Manno's resume brought obvious appeal.

Moves Baseball DIAMONDBACKS: Promoted Sandy Johnson to VP-senior assistant GM and Bob Miller to assistant GM. Basketball NBA: Fined Timberwolves G-F Latrell Sprewell $25,000 for actions in Tuesday's game. Suspended Kings F Peja Stojakovic for one game for making improper contact with game official. Colleges CENTRAL FLORIDA: Named Miles Aldridge, Dave DeGuglielmo, Eric Green and Peter McCarthy assistant football coaches. HOLY CROSS: Named Tom Gilmore football coach. MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN: Named Mark Samson football coach.

The Orioles will begin interviewing candidates this week to replace vice president of baseball operations Syd Thrift, high-ranking team sources confirmed yesterday. Tomorrow, they will interview Detroit Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila. On Tuesday, they will interview former Montreal Expos GM Jim Beattie, and Arizona Diamondbacks assistant GM Sandy Johnson will follow later in the week. Mike Flanagan, one of the leading candidates to replace Thrift, is interviewing with the Boston Red Sox tomorrow.

TORONTO -- Orioles chief operating officer Joe Foss will interview Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowden today as the search goes on for a successor to general manager Pat Gillick.Bowden will be the second candidate interviewed; Foss spoke with Florida Marlins assistant general manager Frank Wren on Tuesday. Foss intends to speak with Cleveland Indians assistant GM Dan O'Dowd and Atlanta Braves assistant GM Dean Taylor before the process enters its second stage.Pub Date: 9/24/98

BaseballDelmarva Shorebirds (SAL): Named Doug George, the Bowie Baysox ticket office manager for the last two seasons, assistant GM. George, 25, is a 1996 graduate of Towson University and a native of Wheaton.BasketballMavericks: Placed G Robert Pack on injured list. Activated F Randell Jackson from injured list.HockeySharks: Recalled G Evgeni Nabokov from IHL Cleveland.

The search for a new manager isn't the only personnel move brewing in the Orioles front office. The club could be seeking a replacement for Doug Melvin.The St. Louis Cardinals yesterday received permission from the Orioles to contact Melvin about their general manager's vacancy. That makes two teams interested in talking to the Orioles assistant GM and farm director, who met Monday night with Texas Rangers president Tom Schieffer to discuss that club's opening for a GM."Right now, you feel good about it," Melvin said.

Orioles chief operating officer Joe Foss will conclude the initial phase of his general manager's search early this week when he interviews Chicago White Sox assistant GM Dan Evans, according to club sources.The process will then accelerate, as up to three of five candidates might return to interview with majority owner Peter Angelos. The successor to Pat Gillick will likely be named before the World Series, which starts Oct. 17.This week's maneuvering apparently won't be limited to the front office.

CLEVELAND -- The Orioles began the process yesterday of receiving permission to talk to other candidates as possible replacements for general manager Roland Hemond, who resigned Friday.Zcd,0 Former Montreal general manager Kevin Malone, 38, is the front-runner. He had a strong interview with the Orioles two weeks ago, and club officials initiated follow-up conversations last week, after Randy Smith accepted a GM job with the Detroit Tigers.But the Orioles are expected to talk to other candidates before making a final decision, including Boston Red Sox assistant GM Mike Port, Atlanta Braves scout and former Detroit GM Bill Lajoie and New York Mets assistant GM Gerry Hunsicker.

River Hill athletic director Don Van Deusen said yesterday that he plans to retire in July, ending his 33-year career with the Howard County school system. Van Deusen, 58, is retiring so that he can take the position of assistant general manager for the Columbia Association's Fairway Hills and Hobbit's Glen golf courses. He will finish the school year as athletic director and physical education teacher at River Hill, and work his new job on weekends and evenings until school ends. "I enjoy what I'm doing, but it's exciting to try something new," said Van Deusen, an avid golfer who has served as executive director for the First Tee program at Fairway Hills for two years.

After years of operating with an ailing farm system, the Orioles moved to fix that yesterday by hiring a man nicknamed Doc. Darrell "Doc" Rodgers, who helped restore a barren Cincinnati Reds farm system in recent years, joined the Orioles as their new director of minor-league operations. Rodgers, 40, spent six seasons as the Reds' assistant general manager before receiving a surprise demotion in October. For the past three months, he was working in a scouting capacity, as a special assistant to Reds general manager Jim Bowden.

Three front-runners emerged in the Orioles' general manager search this weekend, and though one published report said the team is close to hiring former Chicago White Sox GM Ron Schueler, owner Peter Angelos said yesterday, "A decision has not been reached." Former Montreal Expos GM Jim Beattie and Orioles broadcaster Mike Flanagan remain in the running, club officials said yesterday. Though Angelos hasn't tipped his hand, speculation around the team indicates he is leaning toward hiring Schueler or Beattie to replace vice president of baseball operations Syd Thrift, with Flanagan assuming another top position within the front office.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos likely will carry the club's general manager search into next week, though an announcement is still expected before Thanksgiving, he said yesterday. Angelos, who will be at Major League Baseball's owners meetings today in Dallas, has seven candidates to replace vice president of baseball operations Syd Thrift, including former Orioles pitcher, current broadcaster and longtime Angelos consultant Mike Flanagan. One of those seven candidates probably will get the job, Angelos said.

Orioles majority owner Peter Angelos met yesterday with two more candidates for the position of vice president for baseball operations, and he indicated the interview process could expand beyond the individuals already flown to Baltimore. Angelos sat down with Roger Jongewaard, the Seattle Mariners' vice president of scouting and player development, and David Wilder, the Milwaukee Brewers' special assignment scout, at his law offices. Russell Smouse, the Orioles' general legal counsel, also attended the meetings, which raised the total number of interviewed candidates to six. "They're two very impressive baseball professionals," Angelos said.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- After lining up one more candidate for an interview, Orioles owner Peter Angelos said yesterday that he hopes to name a new vice president of baseball operations next week. The Orioles will resume their interviews today when Seattle Mariners vice president of scouting and player development Roger Jongewaard meets with Angelos and the team's general legal counsel, Russell Smouse. The newest candidate is Milwaukee Brewers special assignment scout David Wilder, who will interview for the job Friday.

Baseball Devil Rays: Named Jackie Brown pitching coach and Tom Foley third base coach. Mets: Promoted Gary LaRocque to assistant GM/director of scouting operations, Carmen Fusco to assistant GM/scouting development and Jack Bowen to director of amateur scouting. Basketball Bulls: Waived F Michael Ruffin. Cavaliers: Waived F Reggie Slater. Heat: Waived G-F Rodney Buford, F Kimani Ffriend and G Mike James. Jazz: Waived G Rusty LaRue and G Randy Livingston. Knicks: Waived F Michael Wright.

The Orioles likely will have a general manager in place by the end of next week, owner Peter Angelos said yesterday, in time for the general manager meetings in Arizona."

As Syd Thrift, the Orioles' vice president for baseball operations, headed to Arizona yesterday in preparation for next week's general manager meetings, one candidate interviewed for his job and another turned down the team's interview request. Ron Schueler, a former GM with the Chicago White Sox, met with majority owner Peter Angelos and the team's general legal counsel, Russell Smouse, before flying to Cleveland to visit family. He was the fourth potential replacement to sit down with Angelos and Smouse, following Detroit Tigers assistant GM Al Avila, former Montreal Expos GM Jim Beattie and Arizona Diamondbacks assistant GM Sandy Johnson.

With Cal Ripken out of the running, and the Boston Red Sox courting Mike Flanagan, Orioles owner Peter Angelos continues to proceed methodically through his search for the team's next general manager. For the Orioles, it's three interviews down - four if you count the countless hours Angelos has spent picking Flanagan's brain about baseball in recent years - and at least two to go. Yesterday, the club made plans to interview Seattle Mariners vice president Roger Jongewaard and that won't happen until next Thursday, following baseball's general manager meetings in Tucson, Ariz.