BALTIMORE -- Rick Kranitz was hired as the Baltimore Orioles pitching coach Wednesday, replacing Leo Mazzone.
Kranitz was the pitching coach for the Florida Marlins the past two seasons. The organization wanted to retain him for next year but he wanted to explore other options, and wasn't with the club for the final six games of this season.
Kranitz takes over for Mazzone, who was fired last week with one year left on his three-year contract. Kranitz inherits a young staff that finished second-to-last in the majors in ERA in each of the past two seasons.
Kranitz spent the past two seasons as pitching coach for the Marlins after a 22-year run as a coach and instructor in the Chicago Cubs organization. Orioles manager Dave Trembley managed in the Cubs farm system from 1994-2002.
Florida's 4.37 team ERA in 2006 was fifth-best in the NL. The Marlins were plagued by injuries this year and slipped to a 4.94 ERA this year, tied for worst in the league.
redskinsblitz!! 
