Mike Hargrove

The Orioles will report to spring training Tuesday with purpose. They hope to replace a soap opera with a bullpen. Gone are the subplots that typified a 78-84, fourth-place season that culminated in October's double firing of manager Ray Miller and first-year general manager Frank Wren. With the installation of Mike Hargrove as manager and Syd Thrift as a newly defined executive vice president of baseball operations, an underachieving franchise devoted itself this winter to overhauling a bullpen transformed from enforcer to weak link within two years.

Changes in command under owner Peter Angelos: On Sam Perlozzo 2005-2007 Hire: "There's an old expression - `rough seas make a great sea cap' - and I think we got to see the best of Sam in a very difficult time [as interim manager]. I was very impressed the way he handled the club." - Executive vice president Mike Flanagan, Oct. 12, 2005 Departure: "We felt Sam was prepared. We felt the club was prepared to do battle every night. For whatever reason, it just wasn't working." - Flanagan, yesterday On Lee Mazzilli 2004-2005 Hire: "They [Flanagan and Jim Beattie]

AMERICAN LEAGUE Who's hot The Twins hit five home runs, led by Jacque Jones' two, in their win over the Royals. Who's not The Royals have lost 14 of their past 17 season openers. Line of the day Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher IP H R BB SO 3 9 8 2 4 NATIONAL LEAGUE Who's hot The Mets improved to 26-15 in openers, the best record in the majors. Who's not Jeff Fassero of the Cubs, who had hit only two batters in the previous two seasons, hit three in 1 2/3 innings. Line of the day Randy Johnson, D'backs pitcher IP H R BB SO 9 6 0 1 8 AMERICAN LEAGUE He said it "I look around and see all the kids on the field and I feel old."

For the past decade, the definition of the new "Oriole Way" has been up for debate. Here's a stab at it: managerial instability. If Sam Perlozzo gets fired this season, his replacement will be the club's sixth manager since 1997. Only the Toronto Blue Jays (who have had seven, including a five-game interim stint by Mel Queen in 1997) have had more managerial flux in the past 10 years. The Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals also have had six - including interim managers - in the past 10 years.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Rodrigo Lopez pitched five solid innings in his final tuneup of the spring yesterday, and Larry Bigbie hit the go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning, as the Orioles defeated the Florida Marlins, 4-2. Lopez, the Orioles' Opening Day starter, held the Marlins to one run on two hits. Florida starter Brad Penny held the Orioles scoreless until the seventh, when B.J. Surhoff hit a leadoff single and advanced to second base on an error. Jeff Conine singled and Jay Gibbons walked to load the bases.

Buddy Groom - UP - Is this the same guy Art Howe wouldn't let get within 60 feet, 6 inches of a right-handed hitter? Left-handers haven't had a chance against him. The Thrill - DOWN -Will Clark's rigorous off-season conditioning couldn't save him from Tuesday's hamstring pull and 10th DL stay of his career. Stuck on three RBIs in 60 at-bats despite league-leading on-base percentage. No-trade leverage - UP - Mike Mussina quashed all rumors of a July trade by saying he wouldn't waive his blanket no-trade clause.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Roberto Alomar hit a grand slam off reliever B.J. Ryan in the sixth inning, and the New York Mets cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Orioles yesterday in their final game in Florida this spring. Manager Mike Hargrove and left fielder B.J. Surhoff were ejected in the third inning for arguing an interference call on Gary Matthews, who stumbled across the plate as catcher Mike Piazza attempted to throw to second. Ryan gave up five runs, walked two and threw a wild pitch in the sixth.

Changes in command under owner Peter Angelos: On Sam Perlozzo 2005-2007 Hire: "There's an old expression - `rough seas make a great sea cap' - and I think we got to see the best of Sam in a very difficult time [as interim manager]. I was very impressed the way he handled the club." - Executive vice president Mike Flanagan, Oct. 12, 2005 Departure: "We felt Sam was prepared. We felt the club was prepared to do battle every night. For whatever reason, it just wasn't working." - Flanagan, yesterday On Lee Mazzilli 2004-2005 Hire: "They [Flanagan and Jim Beattie]

From every account, Eddie Murray left a strong impression with the Orioles on Thursday when he interviewed for their vacant managerial post, but the club moved on with its search yesterday, and the whole picture began to crystallize. The Orioles set up their next interview with bench coach Sam Perlozzo, who is believed to be Murray's primary challenger for the job. Because of scheduling conflicts for Orioles vice presidents Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan, Perlozzo's interview won't take place until Oct. 14. That same week leading up to the World Series, the Orioles will probably interview Orioles first base coach Rick Dempsey and Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Rich Dauer.

Batista's two homers wasted M-6 Orioles" hold on last place grows with sweep possible M-6 M-6 M-6 Umpire Joe West, who had a run-in with Mike Hargrove the night before at second base, gets an earful from David Segui at M-6 Orioles lose another early lead, another game to Devil Rays, 10-7 M-6 M-6 more leads last night. They wasted two home runs from Tony Batista and watched Rick Helling labor through five in nings against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. M-6 If this keeps up, the Orioles better get used to last place.

I'M TRYING to come up with the right adjective to sum up Lee Mazzilli's tenure with the Orioles, and I keep coming back to this: Weightless. He was here for 269 games, a little over a season and a half, and his tenure was so light and wispy it barely left an imprint. Mazzilli didn't take your breath away with inspired moments of managerial brilliance. He didn't volunteer interesting or cutting-edge baseball philosophies. The fans were bored with him, and it's fair to say not a single player would run through an outfield fence for him. To his credit, he never whined, never lost his cool, kept the team's keel even in rough seas and doggedly supported his guys.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Want to make Lee Mazzilli's blood pressure rise? Tell him the word is, the Orioles are going to meet a real players' manager today, when he officially takes over the reins as pitchers and catchers report to spring training. "What's a players' manager?" Mazzilli said, somewhat defensively, last week. The questioner hemmed and hawed. By definition, a players' manager is someone who can relate well to the modern player, often a former player himself, who ... "Yeah," Mazzilli interjected, "but most managers are former players."

From every account, Eddie Murray left a strong impression with the Orioles on Thursday when he interviewed for their vacant managerial post, but the club moved on with its search yesterday, and the whole picture began to crystallize. The Orioles set up their next interview with bench coach Sam Perlozzo, who is believed to be Murray's primary challenger for the job. Because of scheduling conflicts for Orioles vice presidents Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan, Perlozzo's interview won't take place until Oct. 14. That same week leading up to the World Series, the Orioles will probably interview Orioles first base coach Rick Dempsey and Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Rich Dauer.

Batista's two homers wasted M-6 Orioles" hold on last place grows with sweep possible M-6 M-6 M-6 Umpire Joe West, who had a run-in with Mike Hargrove the night before at second base, gets an earful from David Segui at M-6 Orioles lose another early lead, another game to Devil Rays, 10-7 M-6 M-6 more leads last night. They wasted two home runs from Tony Batista and watched Rick Helling labor through five in nings against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. M-6 If this keeps up, the Orioles better get used to last place.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Roberto Alomar hit a grand slam off reliever B.J. Ryan in the sixth inning, and the New York Mets cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Orioles yesterday in their final game in Florida this spring. Manager Mike Hargrove and left fielder B.J. Surhoff were ejected in the third inning for arguing an interference call on Gary Matthews, who stumbled across the plate as catcher Mike Piazza attempted to throw to second. Ryan gave up five runs, walked two and threw a wild pitch in the sixth.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Rodrigo Lopez pitched five solid innings in his final tuneup of the spring yesterday, and Larry Bigbie hit the go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning, as the Orioles defeated the Florida Marlins, 4-2. Lopez, the Orioles' Opening Day starter, held the Marlins to one run on two hits. Florida starter Brad Penny held the Orioles scoreless until the seventh, when B.J. Surhoff hit a leadoff single and advanced to second base on an error. Jeff Conine singled and Jay Gibbons walked to load the bases.

The Orioles of owner Peter Angelos have no problem hiring quality candidates for their important baseball jobs such as manager and general manager. Mike Hargrove's arrival is just the latest example of that. But they do have a major problem keeping those qualified hires around, as the departures of Johnny Oates, Pat Gillick, Kevin Malone, Davey Johnson and Frank Wren -- among others -- vividly illustrate. In other words, as lucky as the Orioles were to land a manager as qualified as Hargrove at a time when their credibility in the industry is at a low ebb, now comes the hard part.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The show begins when a pinch runner is sent into the game. That's when Jeff Conine, normally possessing a wit so dry it could use a splash of vermouth, suddenly transforms himself from Orioles first baseman to comedic actor. Conine limps toward the Orioles' dugout with a grimace that suggests he's in tremendous pain. He waves off the trainer, ignoring how nobody is rushing to his aid. On some days, his batting helmet is slammed to the ground for effect. As actors go, Conine is more Pauly Shore than Paul Newman, but he's fooled enough people this spring to keep himself amused and an entire team loose.

AMERICAN LEAGUE Who's hot The Twins hit five home runs, led by Jacque Jones' two, in their win over the Royals. Who's not The Royals have lost 14 of their past 17 season openers. Line of the day Pedro Martinez, Red Sox pitcher IP H R BB SO 3 9 8 2 4 NATIONAL LEAGUE Who's hot The Mets improved to 26-15 in openers, the best record in the majors. Who's not Jeff Fassero of the Cubs, who had hit only two batters in the previous two seasons, hit three in 1 2/3 innings. Line of the day Randy Johnson, D'backs pitcher IP H R BB SO 9 6 0 1 8 AMERICAN LEAGUE He said it "I look around and see all the kids on the field and I feel old."