Originally published Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comments (80)
E-mail article
Print view
Don Wakamatsu will be Mariners' manager
Don Wakamatsu, who had been the Oakland Athletics' bench coach, will be named manager of the Mariners.
Seattle Times staff reporters
Oakland Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu is to be introduced to Seattle on Wednesday as the new manager of the Mariners.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik this afternoon told the six other candidates for the job that he was going in a different direction. Wakamatsu, 45, becomes the first Asian-American to manage in the major leagues.
The Mariners revealed this afternoon, after The Times reported Wakamatsu had indeed been hired, that the team will announce the appointment on Wednesday. Wakamatsu could not be reached for comment and is believed to be on his way to Seattle for an introductory news conference.
The defeated candidates were obviously disappointed, but grateful for the opportunity.
"I'm frustrated and disappointed, no doubt," Joey Cora said. "I thought I would have been a great fit. But that's his decision. He's the GM. He's trying to restore the franchise to where it was and he thinks that he has a better chance of doing it with the other guy. It is what it is."
Cora said he'll now put the Mariners out of his mind and focus on "a great situation" he has in Chicago as the White Sox bench coach under manager Ozzie Guillen. As for whether he anticipates managing any time soon, Cora was blunt: "I thought this was it, to be honest with you. It couldn't be any more fitting. I don't know what the future holds."
Red Sox third-base coach DeMarlo Hale, like Cora, has been down this road of rejection before on the managerial front and says it won't be tough to move on.
"You understand the process and you understand that there was only one person they could pick," Hale said. "It's not difficult at all. You've got to look at it as an opportunity. They've chosen another candidate, gone in another direction."
Arizona Diamondbacks third-base coach Chip Hale said it was tough waiting for the final word to come down.
"To be honest, I'm extremely disappointed," Hale said. "But I learned a long time ago, especially playing baseball in college and professionally, to be disappointed but not discouraged. There's a big difference in those two words. There will be other opportunities. This was a great learning experience. The Mariners are a great organization. That's why I was so excited."
The other finalists were Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills; Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo; and San Diego Class AAA manager Randy Ready.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Mariners to try Dustin Ackley at second base
Vizquel close to signing contract with White Sox
Tracy, Scioscia win Manager of the Year awards
Former Mariners manager John McLaren is glad to be back in the dugout
Scioscia, Tracy named managers of the year

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Monfort fired after excellent worker turned unreliable
- Sentence request for US woman in Italy murder case
- 31 years for man who killed girlfriend, then lit cigarette and waited for police
- Boeing facility death was suicide
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Man falls 8 stories, suffers minor injuries
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- First key vote today on Senate health bill
165 - Senate vote clears hurdle
161 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
126 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
84 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
77 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
70 - Case of accused "Street Mobb" pimp goes to jury
55 - Saturday links
48 - Bye week answers, volume four
46 - San Jose State post-game analysis
39
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- Restaurant review | Artisanal at The Bravern shows French flair in delicious style
- Seattle industrial artist Rusty Oliver is the man behind 'Smash Putt'
- Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again











