The Magnificient Seven candidates on GM Jack Zduriencik’s list to become the next manager of the Seattle Marines have completed their first round of interviews – and now they may morph into the Great Eight or Noble Nine.

Simply put, Zduriencik said he may add a couple of candidates to that first list, and might bring them in as soon as this weekend for interviews.

“We’re close to the end, in terms of candidates. There may be one, two more guys we bring in,” Zduriencik said. “We might call a couple of guys back for second round. I think it’s possible we’ll have guy in place by next weekend.”

The first list included Boson coaches Brad Mills and DeMarlo Hale, Arizona third base coach Chip Hale, Athleetics bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Portland Beavers manager Randy Ready, Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo and White Sox bench coach Joey Cora.

It’s way too early to pick a winner in this horse race – but why should that stop anyone from wildly speculating?

An early guess: Chip Hale.

An early exit: Joey Cora.

A week from now, we should know for real. Zduriencik, meanwhile, likes all his candidates.

“These guys have worked for this, earned the right to get this opportunity. They all have qualities that are going to be pluses. They were direct, and proud of where they’ve come from and where they’re going to be,” Zduriencik said.

Asked specifically what he was looking for in a manager, Zduriencik embellished a bit on what he’s said over the past week.

“I was looking for a fresh face, someone that could embrace this organization and someone that has a background that brings consistency, a presence, a demeanor – someone the community and the players can embrace,” Zduriencik said. “All the things I’ve been saying – leaders, winners, someone who understands his role and see the big picture and cares about players and wants to win.

“That’s the criteria.”

None of the seven men interviewed has ever managed in he big leagues. Their numbers will surely be cut for Round Two.

“Say, hypothetically, we’d narrowed it down to three guys. Sometimes that third guy deserves a second interview to make his case, to show that he’s No 1,” Zduriencik said. “If we have second interviews, bring a couple of guys, my preference would be to spend a day with each. They need to be fresh, I need to be fresh.”

Sam Perlozzo isn't waiting around to see if he still has a job with the Seattle Mariners. Perlozzo, who coached the infielders for the Mariners and was also third base coach for the Mariners, accepted a job with the Phillies on their coaching staff. What exactly his title is, hasn't been determined, but he will also work with the infielders.

Hmm, let's see, sit around to see if you can work for the 100-loss Mariners and have to work with Yuni Betancourt and Jose Lopez, OR take basically the same job for the World Champion Phillies and work with Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Tough choice. Tough choice.

Here's the AP Story...

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Former Baltimore Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo joined the Philadelphia Phillies’ coaching staff on Thursday.

Perlozzo wasn’t immediately assigned a specific position. The World Series champion Phillies are seeking a third-base coach and bench coach for manager Charlie Manuel.

Steve Smith wasn’t retained as third-base coach and Jimy Williams chose not to return as bench coach.

Perlozzo, who will handle infield instruction, spent last season as Seattle’s third-base coach after 12 years with Baltimore as third-base coach (1996-2000), bench coach (2001-2005) and manager (2005-07).

Perlozzo also coached third base for the Mariners (1993-95), Cincinnati (1990-92) and the New York Mets (1987-89).

“I’ve known Sammy for a long time and I couldn’t be happier to add someone with his experience to our coaching staff,” Manuel said.

Alright, here's the scenario, I'm having computer issues (I know you've heard that one before) so if this post ends abruptly and without reason it's because I took a Louisville Slugger to my News Tribune Dell Laptop. It might be more frustrating than I-5 traffic on a Friday.

I didn't post anything from last night's conference call because, well, I had to leave it early because my dog "Yellow Dog" thought it would be a good idea to start barking in the middle of it.

Anyway, one thing that Larry conveyed in his story today, is that this process is far from over. Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik hinted said that some candidates might be back for a second round of interviews. And really, I wouldn't be surprised if he brings in another candidate or two outside of this list of seven he's released. He admitted that he's still receiving calls about potential managers, and I don't really think he's going to close himself off to just this group when another possibility could be out there.

He's being very thoughtful in this decision, so just limiting himself to these seven candidates would seem illogical.

OK, let's get to DeMarlo Hale, third base coach of the Boston Red Sox.

On the fact that none of the candidates have any big league managerial experience?
That's just a decision and a direction that they are looking at right now. I'm not surprised. I think that it's very nice for them to be open to many different types of candidates.

On his experience of being in Boston the last three years making him prepared to become a major league manager ...
I think it helps. Having the success that has been there in Boston, no doubt it helps, you understand the commitment and the sacrifice that it takes and the challenges ahead to win. It helps. But I also think that in this situation they want to hear your ideals. They don't want to hear the Red Sox ideals.

On competing with fellow Red Sox coach Brad Mills for the job ...
I respect Brad Mills a lot. He's a good baseball man. I think he is a very good candidate warranted of this position. There is nothing but respect for Brad Mills. I have shared some things there being on Francona's staff. We've talked baseball and among other things we've become friends. It's not weird at all.

On what he picked as a coach for Boston in comparison to his time managing in the minors ..
There's more emphasis on winning, the minor leagues are more development. I've learned from all places I've been. You learned a commitment that it takes. You see the challenges and you take what is important from you and you hope to apply it and put it into position.

On his impression of the Mariners ...
They've always played us good. So there's talent on this team. They've got some arms out there, they've got some position players that have the tools. They have the pieces to be a solid championship type club. Do you add pieces? Yes. You try to formulate a team so that you can get a certain type of production in certain places. You look at this park and it's pretty big. The defensive side of it, you definitely need someone who can cover ground in centerfield.

As you move forward, you start to look at your needs and what you need to compete. I can't sit here and give you everything that's going to take place because I don't. But you want pieces, and this team has pieces and you try to add to those pieces and move forward to make a very good team.

Considering it’s mid-November and hasn’t stopped raining in weeks, it’s not a bad time to think about spring training in Arizona, where this morning it’s 82 degrees and dry.

The Seattle Mariners aren’t sure yet when they’ll open camp – probably around Valentine’s Day – or who will manage or coach the team when it reports to Peoria, Ariz. But this will be one Cactus League season unlike any other once it begins.

For one thing, there are a couple of new teams, the Dodgers and Indians, in the mix. For another, the Mariners exhibition-game scheduled begins Feb. 25 and doesn’t end until April 4, in part so players taking part in the World Baseball Classic can do so, return to their teams and get into shape for the regular season.

Spring training is where players aren’t yet crabby (their stats don’t count), managers are more likely to sign autographs (the losses don’t count) and everyone seems to actually be enjoying themselves.

Or mostly.

It’s hard to forget the day in Peoria Stadium when a swarm of bees overwhelmed Mariners outfielder Scott Podsednik and fans beyond the left field wall. The bees eventually moved on.

Or the time Eddie Guardado came flying out of a dugout because he’d encountered a snake there. Turned out to be the non-poisonous variety, but Eddie hated snakes.

Going way back, Ken Griffey Jr. would sit and talk to fans through a fence between rounds of batting practice, Mike Blowers – never a morning person – would yell ‘Good morning!’ to the small crowd of fans who gathered each day to watch workouts.

In short, it’s as relaxed a time as there is between players and fans. And, did we mention, it’s usually warm. And dry.

Right now, it can’t come soon enough.