Ray Miller

On January 18, 2004 BEATRICE MUSNICK (nee Miller); beloved wife of the late Meyer (Mike) Musnick; beloved mother of Marc Watchinsky and Gail Weinblatt; devoted sister of Blanche Fine, Ray Miller and the late Robert and Daniel Miller; loving grandmother of Jennifer and Rebecca Watchinsky. Services and Interment at Anshe Emunah Aitz Chaim Congregation Cemetery, 3901 Washington Blvd. on Tuesday, January 20 at 3 P.M. Please omit flowers. In mourning at 4738 Byron Rd., (21208) Tuesday only. Arrangements by SOL LEVINSON & BROS.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Frank Wren, Ray Miller, Doug Johns and Jesse Orosco are out. Syd Thrift, Mike Hargrove, Buddy Groom and Chuck McElroy are in. Delino DeShields is back. Cal Ripken's backache is gone. The Orioles eliminated the general manager's chair and replaced it with a vice president of baseball operations. They almost traded B. J. Surhoff, then looked at his contract. They almost signed Aaron Sele, then looked at his medical history. Club executives refuse to define who carries what responsibility, but Wren's ouster, the installation of Thrift and November's coming-out of executive vice president John Angelos are the clearest manifestations of Peter Angelos' deeper handprint.

ATLANTA -- Orioles bench coach Eddie Murray left the Arizona Fall League Friday night and is believed under consideration for the team's managerial vacancy, according to industry sources.Murray would represent the ninth candidate to interview as the possible successor to Ray Miller, fired Oct. 6 after a 78-84 fourth-place season. Murray also would be the Orioles' only candidate without what club officials have described as "significant" time as a manager.Murray's managerial experience is limited to the two weeks he has served as skipper of the Scottsdale Scorpions of the developmental Arizona Fall League.

The Angelos WayThe once-proud Oriole Way has given way to the Angelos Way. In other words, it's Peter Angelos' way or no way, and you're out the door.The Orioles have become the laughingstock of baseball. To suggest that King Angelos is just as bad as George Steinbrenner is wrong. King Angelos is worse. At least Steinbrenner changed his ways somewhat and let baseball people do their jobs, and now he has won the World Series two of the past three years and is going for another one.I firmly believe that as long as Angelos owns the club, the Orioles will never win a World Series.

Orioles right fielder Albert Belle broke three months of media silence yesterday by saying that some of his teammates "quit" on former manager Ray Miller. Belle also commended ousted general manager Frank Wren for not enforcing a "double standard" toward third baseman Cal Ripken that ostensibly contributed to Wren's firing last Wednesday.Appearing on "Time Out with John Thompson" on Washington's WTEM-AM SportsTalk 980, Belle told the former Georgetown coach that the Orioles should hire bench coach Eddie Murray as Miller's successor and Toronto Blue Jays assistant GM Dave Stewart, New York Yankees special assistant Reggie Jackson or broadcaster Dave Winfield as their next general manager.

The news was anticipated. It also was received with at least a modicum of sympathy.Though not rushing to his defense, various Orioles were reluctant to place too much blame for another poor season on the shoulders of Ray Miller, who they learned yesterday wouldn't be retained as manager for the 2000 season."

Jim RigglemanAge: 46Major-league managerial record: 486-598Status: UnemployedBackground: After taking the Cubs to the NL wild card in 1998, Riggleman suffered the consequences for this year's disastrous 67-95 last-place season. Riggleman became the first manager fired after the season and was believed a leading candidate of ousted general manager Frank Wren. The two opposed each other as minor-league managers. Riggleman served as San Diego Padres manager in 1993-94. The Padres lost 101 games his first season and he was fired after a 47-70 finish the next season.

Orioles majority owner Peter G. Angelos fired first-year general manager Frank Wren yesterday along with announcing the expected dismissal of manager Ray Miller.By doing so, he extended his postseason shake-up beyond his handpicked manager's door and into the organization's front office. Among the reasons given in an official announcement of Wren's firing was his declining to hold a plane several minutes for Cal Ripken as the team set out on a road trip to the West Coast in September.Club sources disclosed that Wren was notified Wednesday night of the owner's decision, with the formal news release coming last night.

Maybe Ray Miller doesn't realize it, but he should. The best friend he has in baseball during a 35-year career, including pitching, coaching and managing, is the last man he worked for -- the majority owner of the Orioles who defended him with iron-willed resistance and refused to submit to what became a near-constant public refrain: "Fire Miller."Now the Orioles, momentarily, are expected to make a change that is seemingly inevitable, although the club is still uncertain of what other moves are to follow.

Ray Miller - UP - The supposed lame-duck skipper oversaw the American League's longest winning streak this season as his charges make a belated run at .500 and third place. Suddenly, warehouse whispers are heard that Peter Angelos might be rethinking this firing stuff.Cal Ripken - DOWN - Ripken's splendid, even inspirational season ended Thursday on an orthopedic surgeon's table in Cleveland. After hitting .340 with the team's highest slugging percentage, he's stuck on 2,991 hits for 6 1/2 months.