Hernandez exits Rays for sure job in Detroit

October 22, 2005
CHICAGO - Having grown up in Tampa and having grown with the Devil Rays over the last nine years, Chuck Hernandez wanted to stay with his hometown team and see how things worked out.
But without knowing who would replace Lou Piniella and whether the new manager would want to retain him as pitching coach, Hernandez took the opportunity to be part of new Tigers manager Jim Leyland's coaching staff and the security of a three-year contract.
"Sure, you have mixed emotions," Hernandez said Friday. "I've been here a long time and I wanted to see this thing through. I wanted to see this team become a winner. I'm going to miss that part of it. There's some good kids there I'm going to miss. I'm going to be watching how they progress."
Hernandez is the first member of Piniella's staff to take a job elsewhere. All are signed through 2006, but were told they could look for other opportunities or wait to see how things work out with the Rays. Coaches Tom Foley, Billy Hatcher and John McLaren are all candidates for the manager's job as well.
"They gave us an opportunity to look," Hernandez said. "At no point did they step in and say we don't want you to do this or that. They left us free to make our own decision."
Team president Matt Silverman said the Rays wanted to be fair to their new manager by not dictating his staff as well as to the existing coaches by allowing them to explore other opportunities. "We don't want to restrict them," he said.
Meanwhile, Silverman and baseball operations chief Andrew Friedman plan to be in Houston next week during the World Series games, busy in their searches for a manager and for a senior front office executive.
A formal interview with Angels bench coach Joe Maddon, who could emerge as a strong candidate for the manager's job, is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, pending the status of Hurricane Wilma. And they may seek to arrange a conference call with former Rangers and Mets manager Bobby Valentine, whose Chiba Lotte team is playing in the Japanese championship round.
The Rays are likely to meet again with former Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker, who looks to be the top candidate for a front office position but is also in the running for the Philadelphia GM job. They are also expected to request permission to talk to Yankees executive Gene Michael.
The Rays called the White Sox to get permission to talk to farm director Dave Wilder, but Wilder, according to the Chicago Tribune, does not have interest in the position and is not likely to interview.
MAZZONE JOINS ORIOLES: After being wooed by the New York Yankees, Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Baltimore, the team managed by his best friend, Sam Perlozzo. The move unites Perlozzo with Mazzone, who served as best man at his wedding.
"The reason I'm coming to Baltimore is because Sam Perlozzo is the manager," Mazzone said.
Although terms of the contract were not released, Mazzone will receive a significant raise over the reported $250,000 he was making under his year-to-year arrangement with the Braves.
Mazzone replaces Ray Miller, who is recuperating from surgery for an aortic aneurism.
DODGERS: Orel Hershiser, one of the key members of the team's 1988 World Series championship roster, will interview for the club's vacant managerial job. General manager Paul DePodesta confirmed Friday the club had requested and been granted permission by the Rangers to speak with Hershiser, who was among baseball's top pitchers from 1983-2000, compiling a career record of 204-150 with a 3.48 ERA.
An interview will take place early next week in the Los Angeles area, DePodesta said.
RED SOX: The team announced its 2006 schedule, along with an average ticket price increase of 5 percent. Boston will open next season April 3 at Texas. The first Red Sox-Yankees series startsMay 1 in Boston.

Source: http://www.sptimes.com/