Mariners | Ichiro and Adrian Beltre each earn Gold Gloves

DANA POINT, Calif. — Ichiro has become a virtually automatic Gold Glove choice, and now Adrian Beltre may be reaching that status as well.

Both players earned the fielding honor Thursday, the eighth straight Gold Glove award for Ichiro, and the second in a row for Beltre.

The Mariners were the only American League team with two representatives on the team, chosen by major league managers and coaches.

"I certainly felt Adrian missed on some Gold Gloves in the National League when I was over with him," Jim Riggleman said by phone. Riggleman was the Dodgers' bench coach from 2001-04 when Beltre played in Los Angeles.

Riggleman, who started the season as Mariners' bench coach and finished it as manager, believes that Beltre is on the verge of being a Gold Glove fixture at third base.

"I was glad to see him win last year, and after winning in '07, I think everyone is more aware how good he is," Riggleman said. "It became a more natural vote in '08."

Voting for Ichiro is now completely natural. He has won a Gold Glove in each of his eight major-league seasons since coming from Japan, the first player to do so at the outset of his major-league career. Ichiro is actually working on a streak of 15, having won seven consecutive Gold Glove awards playing for the Orix Blue Wave.

"I take it to heart that this award is given for work done for an entire season — from the very first day of the season to the very last game," Ichiro said in a quote released by the Mariners.

Said Riggleman: "Ichiro is so fundamentally sound. He's an error-free, mistake-free player. He's got a great, accurate throwing arm, and he gets to the ball good. This is very well-deserved. I'm glad to see the managers agree."

Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners' new general manager, called the tandem awards "fantastic."

He added, "It's great for both players and the organization to have two Gold Glovers in the lineup. The organization is proud of both guys."

Cleveland outfielder Grady Sizemore, from Everett, earned his second Gold Glove.

The Mariners have had a Gold Glove winner for 22 seasons in a row, the longest current streak in the major leagues.

Riggleman standing by

The general managers meetings ended quietly here Thursday as most GMs headed for the airport by early afternoon. Zduriencik left early in the morning to attend a quarterly ownership meeting in Seattle as well as to meet with team president Chuck Armstrong about managerial candidates.

Riggleman remains very interested in retaining his Mariners' job despite having conditionally accepted the position of Manny Acta's bench coach on the Washington Nationals.

He has not yet been contacted by Zduriencik about a possible interview, though the GM indicated to reporters he would be calling Riggleman.

"I know there are a lot of good choices to pick from, a lot of good names," Riggleman said. "I know the Mariners' personnel; I'd like to be a part of the future of the Mariners. I look forward to getting a chance to talk to Jack."

Farrell likely on list

Baseball sources believe that Boston pitching coach John Farrell is likely to be among five to seven candidates to receive an interview for Seattle's managerial job next week.

Pitching coaches have not historically been successful as managers. Roger Craig, who won the 1989 pennant with the Giants, is an exception.

Zduriencik, however, said he was "not opposed" to considering a pitching coach.

"As a general rule, you see a lot of successful managers from the position ranks, but I wouldn't rule that out," he said. "

Notes

• Yahoo.com had an intriguing Mariners rumor involving a three-way deal with the Yankees and Rockies.

Outfielder Hideki Matsui would go from the Yankees to Seattle for a pitching prospect; Ryan Rowland-Smith was mentioned. The Yankees would package the prospect with second baseman Robinson Cano and another young player to Colorado for outfielder Matt Holliday. A Mariners source downplayed the rumor.

• First-base coach Eddie Rodriguez has taken a job as a special assistant on the Kansas City Royals' coaching staff.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com