SEATTLE (AP) - Joey Cora spoke quickly and with passion.

"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 was set to interview later Tuesday evening.

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 the Mariners were eliminated by Cleveland in Game 6 of the 1995 AL 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 Seattle's 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."

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. He avoided going into detail about his meeting with Zduriencik, but hoped his passion came across.

"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."