Cora’s zest makes an impression

SEATTLE – Joey Cora spoke quickly and with passion about a baseball franchise for which he still cares deeply.

“I know what the fans want. It was fun here when I played,” he said Tuesday after interviewing to become manager of the Seattle Mariners. “We were in contention all the years that I was here, and they kept it up after I left. I know how great it can be when things are going well.”

A fan favorite when he was Seattle’s second baseman, Cora currently is bench coach of the Chicago White Sox. He was the second of seven candidates to interview with new general manager Jack Zduriencik, hoping for the chance to rekindle a franchise that spent more than $100 million on payroll last season and lost 101 games.

Arizona third-base coach Chip Hale interviewed later Tuesday night after running into a pair of flight delays.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Hale said in a conference call with the media during a break in his interview. “This is a great organization and has a tradition. It has won and will win again.

“I’d love to be a part of that. Just to be in the process is fantastic.”

While Hale brings strong credentials, most fans wouldn’t mind seeing Cora donning a Mariners uniform again.

Cora spent three-plus seasons with Seattle in the mid-’90s as the Mariners became playoff contenders following nearly two decades of futility. Fans still remember when he sat in the dugout with tears running down his face after they were eliminated by Cleveland in Game 6 of the 1995 A.L. Championship Series.

“I know the town. I know what the fans want. I don’t know if that’s an advantage,” Cora said. “I know what they want and they want a World Series title.”

Cora wants the Mariners to become a team the city can take pride in again. He saw talent on the roster during spring training.

“There has got to be pride (in the) way to play the game,” Cora said. “(I want) the fans and organization to feel proud in the way the team plays the game.”

That view made an impression on Zduriencik.

“He was very well prepared. He presented himself in a very positive light,” Zduriencik said. “I was impressed with his genuine care for this area.”

Cora has spent five seasons on the White Sox coaching staff, learning from colorful manager Ozzie Guillen. He started as Chicago’s third-base coach, then was bench coach the last two seasons and watched how Guillen interacted with his players.

Cora also managed one year in the Venezuelan Winter League.

“Hopefully, I impressed him enough to be considered manager of the Mariners,” Cora said. “I think I bring a lot to the table. I showed him what I had to say and, hopefully, he liked it.”

Next up for Zduriencik are interviews today with Oakland bench coach Don Wakamatsu and Triple-A manager Randy Ready.