Seattle Shakeup: Mariners New Coaching Lineup

Tuesday, November 6th 2007, 10:18 am

By: News On 6

The Seattle Mariners have invited 19-year coaching vet Sam Perlozzo back â€“ this time as third base coach. Perlozzo joins new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, bullpen coach Norm Charlton, first base coach Eddie Rodriguez and bench coach Jim Riggleman. The move is calculated to complete manager John McLarenâ€™s staff.

February will be John McLarenâ€™s first outing as a major league manager. Hitting coach Jeff Pentland is the only returning member of the coaching staff.

"The staff Mac has assembled is one of the best in baseball," general manager Bill Bavasi said. "They are all winners with a terrific work ethic and the experience necessary to help our club take the next step."

The year 2007 was Seattleâ€™s sixth consecutive year without a postseason appearance.

The 56-year-old Perlozzo was the Mariner's first base coach in 1995 when they won their first playoff series by beating the New York Yankees in the American League division series.

The Baltimore Orioles fired Sam Perlozzo in June after less than two full seasons as manager.

The Mariners originally wanted former major league manager Larry Bowa, the Yankees' third base coach last season. But after weeks of delaying his decision because of a private, family matter, Bowa accepted an offer to be reunited with former New York manager Joe Torre as third base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sam Perlozzo, who also will instruct Mariners infielders, is best known in Seattle for waving home Ken Griffey Jr. from first base on a double by Edgar Martinez that won Game 5 of the 1995 division series against the Yankees, the Mariners' first playoff-series win. He began his major league coaching career in 1987 as third base coach for the New York Mets, after a 12-game career in the majors.