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KING reports Wakamatsu one step from being named manager
DMZ · November 18, 2008 at 12:26 am · Filed Under Mariners
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?
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.
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)?
ernier on
November 18th, 2008 7:35 am
It is interesting about ownership approval in Japan…hmmm. Hopefully Ichiro will approve!
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!
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 ….
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.
msb on
November 18th, 2008 7:57 am
hmm. Rick Peterson is out of work …
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.
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.
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 … “
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.
msb on
November 18th, 2008 8:32 am
You’d think a major, local news source like King 5
Silvi?!
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.
galaxieboi on
November 18th, 2008 9:00 am
USSM IS my local, major news source.
Breadbaker on
November 18th, 2008 9:02 am
I’m awaiting the headline, “Wakamatsu Whacks Washburn from Rotation.”
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”?
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.
galaxieboi on
November 18th, 2008 9:18 am
Just hire Cora to wander around the stadium with the Moose.
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.
msb on
November 18th, 2008 9:59 am
and Larry Stone reports Wakamatsu hasn’t heard a word ….
The Ancient Mariner on
November 18th, 2008 10:00 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.
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???
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.
Lauren, token chick on
November 18th, 2008 3:53 pm
Wakamatsu’s real name is Wilbur. Wilbur Wakamatsu. I’m in.
As long as he’s better than McLaren I’m on board.
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?
I kept expecting an 11th hour surprise announcement of Ned Yost as manager, so if this is true then it is rather refreshing.
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.
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)?
It is interesting about ownership approval in Japan…hmmm. Hopefully Ichiro will approve!
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!
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 ….
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’ll second that. Mel’s a “winner,” as Z wold put it, and a NW guy. He was hardly the problem last year.
hmm. Rick Peterson is out of work …
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.
Bah. Mel stinks. Fastball fastball fastball.
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.
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 … “
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.
Silvi?!
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.
USSM IS my local, major news source.
I’m awaiting the headline, “Wakamatsu Whacks Washburn from Rotation.”
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”?
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.
Just hire Cora to wander around the stadium with the Moose.
no, I want that to be Rizzs’ new job.
and Larry Stone reports Wakamatsu hasn’t heard a word ….
Slapping his forehead? No, we know he was doing a bit more than that . . .
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.
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???
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.
Wakamatsu’s real name is Wilbur. Wilbur Wakamatsu. I’m in.