BASEBALL Yankees' Mazzilli hired by Orioles as first-time pilot

In Phoenix, a man was arrested in the death of Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BALTIMORE -- Lee Mazzilli was hired Friday to manage the Baltimore Orioles, joining a team he helped beat regularly as the New York Yankees' first-base coach.
Introduced at a late afternoon news conference at Camden Yards, Mazzilli said, "This is the one of the greatest days in my life. The anticipation has been overwhelming ... I am looking at this challenge with great enthusiasm."
Mazzilli, 48, becomes a major league manager for the first time. He agreed to a two-year contract with two one-year club options.
Leaving success
During Mazzilli's four seasons with the Yankees, New York won the AL East every season and Baltimore finished fourth.
"I want to thank the Yankees for giving me the opportunity to come to Baltimore," he said.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who granted the Orioles permission to talk to Mazzilli, said in a statement, "Lee had some wonderful years here with the Yankees. It's an exceptionally good opportunity, and I wish him all the luck in the world."
Before coming to New York, Mazzilli managed for three years in the Yankees' farm system. He played for five major league teams over 14 seasons, including a stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he became friends with Mike Flanagan, currently Baltimore's vice president of baseball operations.
Flanagan and Orioles vice president Jim Beattie interviewed eight candidates to replace Mike Hargrove, who was fired after four straight losing seasons.
After emerging from his interview with Beattie and Flanagan last week, Mazzilli referred to the Orioles as "us" while speaking to reporters. He quickly corrected himself -- but the gaffe proved to be prophetic.
Managing was the only job that could pull him away from the Yankees, who announced Tuesday they were moving him to third-base coach next year. Instead, Mazzilli inherits an Orioles club that has stumbled through a franchise-record six consecutive losing seasons and has few marquee players.
Mariners
SEATTLE -- Bill Bavasi was hired Friday to replace Pat Gillick as general manager the Seattle Mariners.
Bavasi, 45, is the former general manager of the California and Anaheim Angels.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me," he said. "The Mariners' franchise is one of the elite franchises in all of baseball. I am looking forward to getting to work immediately."
During Bavasi's 16-year tenure with the Angels as farm director, assistant general manager and general manager, the team acquired and developed many of the players that helped it win the 2002 World Series, including Troy Percival, Troy Glaus, Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Francisco Rodriguez.
Buzzie Bavasi, the father of the new Seattle GM, was the longtime general manager of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, and later became GM of the Angels and president of the San Diego Padres.
Reds
PHOENIX -- A 19-year-old man arrested in the death of a Cincinnati Reds outfielder told police he was involved, according to court documents released Friday.
Reginald Riddle of Harvey, Ill., made an initial court appearance Friday. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary but wasn't charged.
According to court records, Riddle said in an interview with police that he was involved in the death of Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson. Riddle didn't immediately respond to a request for an interview made Friday through jail officials.
Stenson, who was playing in the Arizona Fall League, was found dead Wednesday in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. He had been shot and run over and apparently dragged by his own SUV.