October 20, 200520 yr Source: Mazzone accepts deal to join Orioles Associated Press BALTIMORE -- Pitching coach Leo Mazzone and the Baltimore Orioles reached agreement on a three-year contract Wednesday night, hours after the Atlanta Braves coach ended discussions with the New York Yankees. "The deal is finished business," according to a source close to the negotiations, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Mazzone, considered to be one of the finest pitching coaches in the majors, has been in the Atlanta organization since 1979 and was pitching coach of the Braves since 1990. He will replace Ray Miller, who served as pitching coach of the Orioles since June 26, 2004. Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan declined comment, and Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo, a longtime friend of Mazzone, did not return a phone call from The Associated Press. Mazzone, 57, and Perlozzo grew up together in Cumberland, Md. The competed on different teams in American Legion ball, then became best friends. Perlozzo was the best man at Mazzone's wedding. Earlier Wednesday, the Yankees ended talks with Mazzone after their three-day window to negotiate with him expired. "Both sides agreed to end their discussions without resolution," Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said. Mazzone is credited with helping develop Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. From 1992 through this season, the Braves ranked first or second in the NL in ERA in every year but two. Perlozzo was pleased with Miller's performance as pitching coach, but has said he wanted to work with Mazzone. Miller, who had surgery last week to repair an aortic aneurysm, gave Perlozzo permission to talk to another pitching coach before his surgery. ----------- Not a bad day as days goes here in South Florida. We get our guy and the braintrust in Atlanta is broken up.
October 20, 200520 yr Why in the world did the Braves let him get away? He's one guy that I don't think gets enough credit. Year after year the Braves turn pedestrian pitchers into Cy Young candidates. Their whole rotation is decimated with injuries and they plug in 3 rookies that look lights out. They'll soon find out that most teams don't get those kinds of results. Very good news for the NL East.
October 20, 200520 yr If the O's sign AJ, that's going to be one scary rotation with him, Bedard and Cabrera. Before it would have just been untapped potential, now it's just plain scary...
October 20, 200520 yr If the O's sign AJ, that's going to be one scary rotation with him, Bedard and Cabrera. Before it would have just been untapped potential, now it's just plain scary... AJ isn't untapped potential. He's closing in on 30, and he has a crappy attitude. Not even Mazzone can turn him around. Only AJ can turn AJ around.
October 20, 200520 yr hold on now, not so fast.... ST. LOUIS, Oct. 19 -- Though it appears the Baltimore Orioles were close to a deal to land Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone, talks hit a snag Wednesday that could delay his hiring or temporarily suspend negotiations. The Braves, according to one baseball source, are asking the Orioles for a prospect in return for Mazzone, whose contract with Atlanta expires Nov. 15. The Orioles could try to sign Mazzone after that date, but it could allow the New York Yankees -- who dropped efforts to sign Mazzone on Wednesday -- back into contention.
October 20, 200520 yr Hmm if he goes after Nov 15th and is a free man we could attempt to sign him too
October 20, 200520 yr This is perhaps the smartest thing the Orioles have ever done in nearly the last decade. ok now we need the braves 2 lose fucal :whistle :thumbup
October 20, 200520 yr I still believe cox sold his soul to win all those division titles. But, I hope this means the end of the Braves. What scares me though if the braves go down, whom is taking over for them? Phillies? Mets? Washington? Our division next year is still going to be scary good.
October 20, 200520 yr The Braves are retarded. I'd give up the jumbotron they have in center field before Mazzone.
October 20, 200520 yr Don't worry. Cox will pull up some 20-something minor league pitching coach who will coach the staff to a 2.10 ERA. :plain
October 20, 200520 yr Just one more reason why the Braves reign on the NL East is over. Isn't that what they say every year? I would not go as far as saying that they are going to be dethroned. I thought that was going to happen this year and well...they won again :banghead
October 20, 200520 yr Read about that on ESPN... One thing struck me as amazing: Mazzone is only 57. I was just going to say the exact same thing. He looks almost as old as Bobby Cox.
October 21, 200520 yr Maine, Bedard, and Cabrera will all have solid years. Chen should be excellent if he's staying in Baltimore? Signing Burnett or Morris or someone else will suddenly make the O's have a solid rotation with a bullpen that should still be good with Chris Ray. Then the offense can be stellar as always. :notworthy
October 21, 200520 yr happy to see Mazzone go no matter where he goes at least the braves chemistry and continuity will be broken up. GO MARLINS!
October 21, 200520 yr Just one more reason why the Braves reign on the NL East is over. Weren't people singing that tune a few years back?
October 22, 200520 yr Hmm if he goes after Nov 15th and is a free man we could attempt to sign him too With our pitching, that would be scary.
October 22, 200520 yr AJ and Mazzone would not work. Leo dosent work well with babies, he pretty much made management get rid of troublemakers like Spooney and Marquis.
October 22, 200520 yr as much as i would like to keep this here this isnt specificially marlins related.... its great for us that mazzone will be gone though, this may finally be the straw that broke the camel's back though.
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