KING reports Wakamatsu one step from being named manager

DMZ · November 18, 2008 at 12:26 am · Filed Under Mariners 

Only owner approval remains

Comments

29 Responses to “KING reports Wakamatsu one step from being named manager”

  1. Sports on a Schtick on November 18th, 2008 12:30 am

    As long as he’s better than McLaren I’m on board.

  2. DaveValleDrinkNight on November 18th, 2008 12:46 am

    Why not?
    You get a guy whos used to working in a Sabermatic environment, which, let’s face it, is what Z is installing. I have to say I think that’s the best thing the organization can do.
    If we have a Manager who will insist on hitters taking pitches and getting walks, we will win a lot of games we shouldn’t next year.

    I’m starting the Bandwagon for keeping Mel as pitching coach right now.

    Anybody with me?

  3. Sklyansky on November 18th, 2008 12:48 am

    I kept expecting an 11th hour surprise announcement of Ned Yost as manager, so if this is true then it is rather refreshing.

  4. Sports on a Schtick on November 18th, 2008 1:30 am

    Wasn’t Mel a big proponent of instructing the pitchers to establish the fastball? If so, count me out.

    Wakamatsu told Baker that he thinks this team can win in a hurry.

  5. Steve Nelson on November 18th, 2008 5:44 am

    That’s an interesting comment about needing approval from ownership in Japan. Does anyone know if all Mariners field managers need to be approved in Japan, or if there is something specific in the current circumstance requiring approval in Japan (such as the situation that Wakamatsu is part-Japanese and has a Japanese last name)?

  6. ernier on November 18th, 2008 7:35 am

    It is interesting about ownership approval in Japan…hmmm. Hopefully Ichiro will approve!

  7. BBOneFive on November 18th, 2008 7:42 am

    I’m just glad the process is nearing a close. I can appreciate the diligence, but I just don’t know enough about any of the candidates to really care. I am just trusting that Z knows what he’s doing.

    I wanna see some action in regard to the actual roster already!

  8. msb on November 18th, 2008 7:52 am

    FWIW, Larry Stone has a piece up today which says the delay is in the finishing the vetting of the candidates, and Zduriencik told Larue that HowChuck said it was his decision to make. of course, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to go to the ownership group, after that ….

  9. BoiseMoose on November 18th, 2008 7:54 am

    I’m personally not familiar with Wakamatsu, so I guess I’ll take a “wait and see” approach before deciding whether or not I like it. Just glad its almost over and the M’s can start looking at roster moves full-time.

    I’m starting the Bandwagon for keeping Mel as pitching coach right now.
    Anybody with me?

    I’ll second that. Mel’s a “winner,” as Z wold put it, and a NW guy. He was hardly the problem last year.

  10. msb on November 18th, 2008 7:57 am

    hmm. Rick Peterson is out of work …

  11. msb on November 18th, 2008 8:01 am

    Mychael Urban (who usually covers the A’s) is filling in for Jim Street on the M’s site, and writes about the search and Wakamatsu.

  12. DMZ on November 18th, 2008 8:04 am

    Bah. Mel stinks. Fastball fastball fastball.

  13. BrianL on November 18th, 2008 8:05 am

    I’m starting the Bandwagon for keeping Mel as pitching coach right now.

    Pass. I don’t care if he’s a winner or not. His “establish the fastball” philosophy is awful and if last season was any indication, he’s completely incapable of recognizing when his pitchers are hurt.

  14. msb on November 18th, 2008 8:11 am

    on the other hand, two of Ken Rosenthal’s “rival executives speculated on Monday that the team will choose Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills. Their reasoning: Mills, after working for the Sox, is well-schooled in statistical analysis, and the M’s are forming an entire department devoted to sabermetrics. The department will be run by Tony Blengino, a longtime statistical analyst who came over from the Brewers with new GM Jack Zduriencik … “

  15. BBOneFive on November 18th, 2008 8:20 am

    I saw the Rosenthal bit posted on another forum. You’d think a major, local news source like King 5 would have better information than two executives from other clubs, but who knows. I’d be fine with either “Dub” or Mills since both are coming from very well run organizations.

  16. msb on November 18th, 2008 8:32 am

    You’d think a major, local news source like King 5

    Silvi?!

  17. G-Man on November 18th, 2008 8:49 am

    The major,local news source is in a sweeps week (rating period). Just sayin’.

    Still, they are my local news/weather/sports station of choice.

  18. galaxieboi on November 18th, 2008 9:00 am

    USSM IS my local, major news source.

  19. Breadbaker on November 18th, 2008 9:02 am

    I’m awaiting the headline, “Wakamatsu Whacks Washburn from Rotation.”

  20. joser on November 18th, 2008 9:07 am

    If we have a Manager who will insist on hitters taking pitches and getting walks, we will win a lot of games we shouldn’t next year.

    That has to be instilled in players long before they reach the bigs. If you want to see that, you need the farm teams to demand it and you need the M’s to sign players who already know how to do it. A manager can’t make that kind of change on his own, no matter how much he might “insist.”

    That’s an interesting comment about needing approval from ownership in Japan. Does anyone know if all Mariners field managers need to be approved in Japan, or if there is something specific in the current circumstance requiring approval in Japan (such as the situation that Wakamatsu is part-Japanese and has a Japanese last name)?

    If that’s both true and unusual, it probably has a lot less to do with the prospective manager’s last name and a lot more to do with the train of clusterfucks that has characterized managerial choices for this team in this century. I mean, really, if Mr. Yamauchi really watches most M’s games he must’ve been slapping his forehead along with the rest of us. How often do you let your underlings make bad hire after bad hire before you say “I want you to run it by me first”?

  21. Grizz on November 18th, 2008 9:17 am

    The hold-up is Chuck Armstrong arguing for co-managers — Wakamatsu to run the club, and Joey Cora to wave to the crowd while running out the lineup card or making pitching changes and to sign autographs during the rest of the game.

  22. galaxieboi on November 18th, 2008 9:18 am

    Just hire Cora to wander around the stadium with the Moose.

  23. msb on November 18th, 2008 9:26 am

    Just hire Cora to wander around the stadium with the Moose.

    no, I want that to be Rizzs’ new job.

  24. msb on November 18th, 2008 9:59 am

    and Larry Stone reports Wakamatsu hasn’t heard a word ….

  25. The Ancient Mariner on November 18th, 2008 10:00 am

    Slapping his forehead? No, we know he was doing a bit more than that . . .

  26. fcb on November 18th, 2008 10:39 am

    you know, going into this process I kind of assumed the Mariners would go with Joey Cora for the sentimental factor, in lieu of say, logic. For a moment it sounded nice and then this occurred to me…THERES NO CRYING IN BASEBALL.

    lols for Grizz and Galaxie.

  27. jjracoon on November 18th, 2008 12:20 pm

    Get him in here so we can get the rest of the team sorted out. Seeing players being grabbed already worries me since with the price the Mariners will be paying, they need every opportunity possible!! At least if it was Cora we would get some emotion in the position. He has the enthusiasm of a college grad!!Now can he coach???

  28. John D. on November 18th, 2008 3:06 pm

    I’m starting the Bandwagon for keeping Mel as pitching coach right now.

    Pass. I don’t care if he’s a winner or not. His “establish the fastball” philosophy is awful and if last season was any indication, he’s completely incapable of recognizing when his pitchers are hurt.

    I second the motion.

  29. Lauren, token chick on November 18th, 2008 3:53 pm

    Wakamatsu’s real name is Wilbur. Wilbur Wakamatsu. I’m in.

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