Coach Sam Perlozzo

B. J. SurhoffHis projected role for the Orioles: Manager Davey Johnson plans on using him as the third baseman, although he's not wholly set on this. Surhoff has been taking ground balls daily at third; yesterday, he worked for about an hour, with third base coach Sam Perlozzo whacking grounders at him on an otherwise empty field.Number crunching: He batted .320 and struck out just 43 times in 415 at-bats last season, which should make him a tough challenge in the No. 5 spot for those who choose to pitch around cleanup man Bobby Bonilla.

Two years ago, Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo came close to being the next manager of the Seattle Mariners. They called him back for a second interview, and it's believed he was runner-up to Bob Melvin. Melvin was fired earlier this week, after the Mariners lost 99 games, but Perlozzo might not get as close to the job this time. Major league sources don't expect him to be a front-runner since Bill Bavasi replaced Pat Gillick as general manager. Gillick interviewed Perlozzo after the 2002 season, and his interest could come into play again if Gillick ends up running the Washington franchise.

Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo will interview Friday for the Seattle Mariners' managing job, which officially opened yesterday when former Mariners manager Lou Piniella signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Mariners contacted the Orioles for permission to speak with Perlozzo, who was Seattle's third base coach from 1993 to 1995. "He's a very knowledgeable baseball man," Orioles vice president for baseball operations Syd Thrift said. "He's been a third base coach, a bench coach, a minor-league manager.

Orioles vice president Mike Flanagan gave manager Lee Mazzilli a ringing endorsement this week, saying he sees no reason Mazzilli won't be back for a second season next year. But team owner Peter Angelos has told close associates he still isn't convinced Mazzilli should return. The Orioles have 20 games remaining, and yesterday, high-ranking team officials said Angelos probably won't make a final decision until the season ends. Mazzilli, who signed a two-year deal with two option years last November, has had an up-and-down first season at the team's helm.

Former Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove has been contacted about a meeting with majority owner Peter Angelos, indicating that the Orioles' managerial search is nearing its conclusion, a source close to the situation said yesterday.Hargrove, one of several names advanced by Angelos' five-man advisory committee, is considered the front-runner to succeed Ray Miller, according to club and industry sources. But Hargrove has yet to discuss contractual issues with ownership.Hargrove will be the third candidate to interview with Angelos.

Orioles rookie right-hander Rocky Coppinger underwent an elbow exam yesterday, and was bumped back two days in the rotation, meaning his next start will come on six days' rest.Coppinger had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) on the top of his right forearm, but doctors found no damage, and the injury has been diagnosed as a very mild strain.Pitching coach Pat Dobson said Coppinger could have started tomorrow against Detroit, as originally scheduled. However, as a precaution, right-hander Scott Erickson and left-hander David Wells were each moved ahead a day, to start on three days' rest.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos and manager Mike Hargrove were pulling for bench coach Sam Perlozzo to land the Seattle Mariners' managing job last week, but when he didn't get it, they were both glad to have him back. Perlozzo's contract with the Orioles has expired, but Angelos said he'll be back, along with the rest of the coaching staff. "He's an excellent coach and a fine guy," Angelos said. "I'm sorry for him that he didn't get [the Seattle job], but it's good for us." The Mariners interviewed 12 candidates for the position, then narrowed the field to four finalists, including Perlozzo, before ultimately selecting former Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach and former Orioles catcher Bob Melvin.

Two years ago, Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo came close to being the next manager of the Seattle Mariners. They called him back for a second interview, and it's believed he was runner-up to Bob Melvin. Melvin was fired earlier this week, after the Mariners lost 99 games, but Perlozzo might not get as close to the job this time. Major league sources don't expect him to be a front-runner since Bill Bavasi replaced Pat Gillick as general manager. Gillick interviewed Perlozzo after the 2002 season, and his interest could come into play again if Gillick ends up running the Washington franchise.

Orioles third base coach Sam Perlozzo yesterday received his second interview in 10 days with majority owner Peter Angelos, suggesting that the club is seriously considering an internal option in selecting its next manager.Chief operating officer Joe Foss has refused to disclose any deadline for naming the successors to ousted manager Ray Miller and general manager Frank Wren, but he did say during last week's organizational meetings in Lakeland, Fla., that he hoped a manager could be found by Oct. 31.Coincidentally, that is also the date that Perlozzo's contract expires, along with bench coach Eddie Murray, first base coach Marv Foley and bullpen coach Elrod Hendricks.

Mike Hargrove as a replacement for Ray Miller? Don't count on it.It's an interesting idea, but with their credibility within the industry at a low ebb in the wake of another round of front office firings, the Orioles probably will have to settle for an untested managerial candidate such as third base coach Sam Perlozzo, who had a second interview yesterday.That wouldn't be a bad fallback position, actually; Perlozzo is a deserving, competent baseball man from Cumberland who is popular with the big names in the Orioles' clubhouse, and he could blossom if given a chance.

As the 15th manager in Orioles history, Lee Mazzilli might be inheriting more than a fourth-place team trying to re-establish itself as a yearly contender. He also could get an entire coaching staff. Introduced as Mike Hargrove's replacement yesterday during a news conference at the B&O warehouse, Mazzilli said he will invite all six coaches to return for the 2004 season, including two who were finalists for the job he just received. He'll soon find out how many of them accept the offer.

Orioles manager Mike Hargrove received word during the weekend that his ailing mother had taken a turn for the worse, so he flew home to Texas yesterday, leaving control of the team to bench coach Sam Perlozzo. After beginning Easter with that unsettling news, the Orioles found a way to make things easy for Perlozzo, playing a game so crisp, it was Tough Decision Lite. Melvin Mora hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and Omar Daal turned in his first dominant pitching performance of the season, as the Orioles coasted to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before 25,787 at Camden Yards.

Orioles owner Peter Angelos and manager Mike Hargrove were pulling for bench coach Sam Perlozzo to land the Seattle Mariners' managing job last week, but when he didn't get it, they were both glad to have him back. Perlozzo's contract with the Orioles has expired, but Angelos said he'll be back, along with the rest of the coaching staff. "He's an excellent coach and a fine guy," Angelos said. "I'm sorry for him that he didn't get [the Seattle job], but it's good for us." The Mariners interviewed 12 candidates for the position, then narrowed the field to four finalists, including Perlozzo, before ultimately selecting former Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach and former Orioles catcher Bob Melvin.

Orioles bench coach Sam Perlozzo will interview Friday for the Seattle Mariners' managing job, which officially opened yesterday when former Mariners manager Lou Piniella signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Mariners contacted the Orioles for permission to speak with Perlozzo, who was Seattle's third base coach from 1993 to 1995. "He's a very knowledgeable baseball man," Orioles vice president for baseball operations Syd Thrift said. "He's been a third base coach, a bench coach, a minor-league manager.

TORONTO - Add the Chicago White Sox to the list of teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Orioles starting pitcher Sidney Ponson. With the White Sox opening a three-game series at Camden Yards tonight, industry sources say the Orioles will be taking a close look at Chicago's players in case a deal can be struck before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Orioles vice president Syd Thrift has said he would have to be "overwhelmed" to trade one of his starting pitchers, but teams continue to inquire about Ponson, Jason Johnson and Scott Erickson.

Much anticipation but little unusual accompanied the four-week process that brought Mike Hargrove to Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon as the Orioles' new manager.Hargrove possessed the most distinguished resume of nine candidates to interview with the Orioles' five-man advisory committee. His selection surprised few and, judging by the unscientific forum of talk radio, pleased many who had lamented the team's performance the past two seasons.The least ordinary aspect of Hargrove's hiring remains the composition of his coaching staff, still incomplete but potentially including as many as three men who interviewed for the Orioles' managerial vacancy.

Against a not-so-subtle backdrop of internal uncertainty, the Orioles intend to prove again this week that they are fully capable of hiring respected baseball men.The club's next manager, according to club and industry sources, will be announced in the next two days as either former Cleveland Indians skipper Mike Hargrove, Boston Red Sox bench coach Grady Little or an "internal" candidate resembling third base coach Sam Perlozzo.Hargrove, whose teams won five consecutive American League Central titles and two league championships before he was ousted earlier this month, is described as having "a leg up" to become the fifth man to work the dugout during majority owner Peter Angelos' six-year stewardship of the franchise.

TORONTO - Add the Chicago White Sox to the list of teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Orioles starting pitcher Sidney Ponson. With the White Sox opening a three-game series at Camden Yards tonight, industry sources say the Orioles will be taking a close look at Chicago's players in case a deal can be struck before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Orioles vice president Syd Thrift has said he would have to be "overwhelmed" to trade one of his starting pitchers, but teams continue to inquire about Ponson, Jason Johnson and Scott Erickson.

Former Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove has been contacted about a meeting with majority owner Peter Angelos, indicating that the Orioles' managerial search is nearing its conclusion, a source close to the situation said yesterday.Hargrove, one of several names advanced by Angelos' five-man advisory committee, is considered the front-runner to succeed Ray Miller, according to club and industry sources. But Hargrove has yet to discuss contractual issues with ownership.Hargrove will be the third candidate to interview with Angelos.

Against a not-so-subtle backdrop of internal uncertainty, the Orioles intend to prove again this week that they are fully capable of hiring respected baseball men.The club's next manager, according to club and industry sources, will be announced in the next two days as either former Cleveland Indians skipper Mike Hargrove, Boston Red Sox bench coach Grady Little or an "internal" candidate resembling third base coach Sam Perlozzo.Hargrove, whose teams won five consecutive American League Central titles and two league championships before he was ousted earlier this month, is described as having "a leg up" to become the fifth man to work the dugout during majority owner Peter Angelos' six-year stewardship of the franchise.