Mariners
Mariners choose Mike Hargrove

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

Mike Hargrove, also known as Grover, twice took Cleveland to the World Series.

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Seattle officials met with both Hargrove and fellow finalist Grady Little yesterday and picked the former Cleveland and Baltimore manager over Little.

The team has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference today to officially announce the hiring.

Ironically, the man known as the Human Rain Delay for his deliberate, time-consuming habits in the batter's box is coming to a club that never has rain delays at home.

Club officials were not available for comment last night, but the pick may have been based on Hargrove's longer experience handling a big-league club, 13 years to Little's two with the Red Sox.

Grover, as he is nicknamed, is also known to have strong leadership skills and is regarded as a solid game manager.

More than anything, Hargrove might be getting the job because of the similarity between the Indians team he took over in July 1991 and the current Mariners.

Cleveland that year finished 57-105 and had only Albert Belle, Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar in the everyday lineup, of the players who would, four years later, take the team to 100-44 (and an American League Championship Series win over Seattle).

Hargrove is thought to be the man that Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi wanted. Bavasi had cited the importance to an organization of a strong relationship between manager and general manager.

Melvin was fired Oct. 4, after the Mariners' 63-99 season.

Hargrove had a strong relationship for years with Cleveland general manager John Hart. But he fell out of favor after he was unable to win it all, despite taking the Indians to the World Series. They lost to Atlanta in 1995 and Florida in 1997.
 
The organization produced stars Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome, and Hart brought in experienced players Kenny Lofton, Roberto Alomar, Orel Hershiser and Dennis Martinez. Hargrove melded the youngsters and veterans into a juggernaut.

Despite the strike-shortened season in 1995, Cleveland won the American League's Central Division by a record 30 games.

Hargrove managed Baltimore from 2000-03. He was fired after the team finished fourth in the AL East each season. This year, he was an assistant to Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro.

Hargrove, who turns 55 next week, was a first baseman with Texas, San Diego and Cleveland from 1974-1985, finishing his career with a .290 batting average and 80 home runs.

It is believed Hargrove will be allowed to name most of his coaching staff. That might mean Bryan Price, Mariners pitching coach in recent years and the only holdover from Melvin's staff, will no longer be with the club.

Bob Finnigan: 206-464-8276 or bfinnigan@seattletimes.com