Orioles Give Perlozzo a Three-Year Deal

As a reward for guiding the Baltimore Orioles through the most tumultuous two-month stretch in franchise history, Sam Perlozzo had the “interim” label removed from his job title Wednesday and signed a three-year contract as manager.

Perlozzo takes control of a team that has suffered through eight straight losing seasons, the longest such run since the Orioles moved from St. Louis in 1954.

“We’re going to go at it as hard as we can, and as long as we can, until we get a winner on this field,” he said. “I look for that to happen sooner than later.”

Perlozzo was promoted from bench coach to interim manager Aug. 4, taking over for Lee Mazzilli after the Orioles lost 16 of 18 to sink into fourth place in the AL East.

Perlozzo’s job went far beyond filling out the lineup card. He also had to serve as the voice of the organization as the Orioles endured the steroid suspension of Rafael Palmeiro, the termination of the contract of pitcher Sidney Ponson after two drunk driving arrests and injuries to Sammy Sosa and Brian Roberts.

Though his 23-32 record was not spectacular, Perlozzo’s levelheaded approach under extreme conditions enabled him to retain the job.

“I think we made the determination late in the season,” said Mike Flanagan, who was promoted to executive vice president Tuesday. “There’s an old expression: ‘Rough seas make a great sea captain.’ I think we got to see the best of Sam in a very difficult time, and frankly, I was very impressed the way he handled the club on the field and in the clubhouse.”

Flanagan and Perlozzo will work together to try to end the Orioles’ record run of sub-.500 seasons. Perlozzo has endured every one of them; he spent five years as third base coach before becoming bench coach in 2001 under Mike Hargrove.

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Almost certain he’s stepping down after 10 years as New York Yankee pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre had harsh words for George Steinbrenner and the owner’s treatment of Manager Joe Torre.

Speaking in the Yankee clubhouse where he has spent 21 seasons as a player and coach, Stottlemyre said he interpreted Steinbrenner’s statement after the Yankees’ elimination by the Angels as a slap at Torre. Steinbrenner said Tuesday: “I congratulate the Angels and their manager on the great job they’ve done.”

Stottlemyre: “I laughed when I saw it. My first thoughts were, ‘What about Joe? Joe had done a hell of a job too.’ To congratulate the other manager and not congratulate your own after what he’d done this year, I laughed.”

A Yankee coach since Torre took over as manager after the 1995 season, Stottlemyre and said Torre’s job status shouldn’t be questioned.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “I’ve been here with Joe for 10 years and this has by far been the toughest year for him, and it’s the best job he’s done.

“He’s done a good job year in and year out -- this year the job he’s done was really special because he had a lot of things to battle through.”