Lookout Landing: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Cal RB Jahvid Best Seriously Injured, Carted Off Field

It's Wakamatsu

According to King 5:

KING 5 Sports has learned from sources close to the Mariners that A's bench coach Don Wakamatsu is the front runner to be the next manager of the Mariners. The only thing left is approval from the owners in Japan, and that could come shortly.

Wakamatsu was Oakland's bench coach in 2008. Prior to that, he spent 5 years with the Rangers as bench coach and third base coach.

He also worked in the Angels' minor league organization and was a minor league manager.

He is well-acquainted with the American League West.

0 recs  |  Comment 35 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Fascinating

Not a surprise at all. Good choice, GMZ

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Nov 18, 2008 12:29 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Wak-man

“I’m chomping at the bit”

by ThundaPC on Nov 18, 2008 12:54 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

like Tonkatsu?

breaded fried pork.

Yum!

Insert perverted sports related sexual innuendo

by wwbaker3 on Nov 18, 2008 1:49 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I cannot explain to you how wonderful tonkatsu is.

Although as of recently I’ve become addicted to udon noodles. I blame it on our recent trip to Takamatsu, which is famous for udon. Goodness gracious, it’s like beautiful Japanese girls prancing around in my mouth tantalizing my tastebuds and serenading my heart with delicious sweet nothings.

by brayden04 on Nov 18, 2008 2:35 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Udon:

the single greatest food item!

I grew up eating it and still get constant cravings for it, hahaha

Insert perverted sports related sexual innuendo

by wwbaker3 on Nov 18, 2008 2:54 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

the single greatest food item!

That’s a lie, that distinction is for Beer.

Beer, the greatest single food item. It’s official because I said so.

Also, the #2 greatest is BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.

by chrisisasavage on Nov 18, 2008 7:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hrm.

Beef chow fun. With black bean sauce.

by rtang on Nov 18, 2008 9:43 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I like Udon a lot...

…but have you had Pad Thai? Yes I realize it’s not Japanese, but it’s phenomenal!

Pad Thai > Udon

by GhettoBear04 on Nov 18, 2008 9:12 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I've had Pad Thai in America, but not the real stuff.

So I couldn’t comment. But Udon. Oh Udon has stolen my heart.

by brayden04 on Nov 18, 2008 4:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It's a fucking noodle.

But that said, I still need to go to Takamatsu.

Favor the Bold

by IcebreakerX on Nov 18, 2008 2:27 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Larry Stone says otherwise, for the moment.

Talked to Waka, Waka hadn’t heard anything.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 18, 2008 10:11 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

And the TNT says Waka is just one that's high on the list.

There may be two others, and Zduriencik hasn’t told anyone yet.

News Tribune Mariners Blog

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Nov 18, 2008 10:24 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Wait for it.

Don’t want to dead meme it before the hiring even happens.

by Two Rs and Two Ls on Nov 18, 2008 2:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Seems to make sense

GMZ said he wanted to be the most prepared team from top to bottom both statistically and from a scouting standpoint. Judging from JY’s quote on his job description in the “Guess the Manager” thread, Waka shares this standpoint. It’ll be interesting to see if GMZ hired the best candidate rather than the one least likely to feud.

by edddgar on Nov 18, 2008 4:47 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Well...

…it’ll make the surrounding neighborhood happy…

by rtang on Nov 18, 2008 4:51 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Don Wakamatsu Fun-Fact # 413-5 R89:

Don Wakamatsu was the Rangers interim manager for four crucial games in 2006.

Texas was still in the playoff hunt in late August of that year, but was about to embark on an eight-game road trip… beginning with four in Detroit (the eventual AL Champs). This was one of those “make-or-break”-type series.

Buck Showalter had been suspended by Major League Baseball a day earlier, along with Angels’ manager Mike Sausage for a spat involving intentional throwings of the baseball at the other teams’ hitters. Buck did not make the trip to Motown.

With Wakamatsu at the helm, the Rangers took three of four from the Tigers… in games of 2-4, 2-1, 3-1 and 7-6.

Wakamatsu became a folk hero… the ‘never-heard-of-him’ bench coach had kept the Rangers meager playoff hopes alive in a tightly-contested series… and he did it when their dogdick of a manager forced them into a boxing match days earlier.

Showalter rejoined the club after the Detroit series in Tampa, where the Rangers were to make quick work of the lowly Devil Rays before heading back home… champions beyond all stats and blogs…

Instead they wheeled off three straight loses… And would never recover.

But don’t let Showalter’s short fuse sedate you… It was just the bitter taste of jealousy that ruined his team…

Jealousy…

…for WAKAMATSU.

GREINKE HO!!!!!

by oc on Nov 18, 2008 9:14 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

By reading a game thread of your own volition you agree to accept all liability for any and all damage done to your delicate sensibilities.
Start posting about the Mariners »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
FootbaLL III (Nov 7th)

Recent FanPosts

Ichiro_small
Ackley and Triunfel on MLB TV right now
Small
Xbox LLive, Pt 3
Clemente_small
OT on a friday morning 11/6
Curry_small
Curiously wondering what the plan is...
Griffeys_last_game_1_small
Is anyone else going to make fun of this picture?
Sth70021_small
Exploring Hit f/x, Albeit Badly.
Hunter_small
Somewhat OT: Kid dies from aluminum bat, family now rich
Small
OFFTOP: 10/30/09
Commproj08_ajones_small
Sounders Playoffs Gamethread

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Sexy People

1_small Graham

Small Matthew

Small Jeff