Wakamatsu It Is

by Jeff on Nov 18, 2008 4:51 PM PST in Regular News Comment 25 comments

Expect an announcement by tomorrow morning, but Don Wakamatsu is the new manager of the Mariners.
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There were people within the Mariners organization who favored Joey Cora for the job. But in the end, Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik got total say over the decision and Wakamatsu was his man. In the end, the team's ownership, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Chris Larson and others, did have to approve the choice. But it's now done.

Wikipedia's already on the ball, so you know it's true.

Wakamatsu's an analytical mind who spent five years with the Rangers before joining Oakland as a bench coach last season. The fact that we're hiring a guy so recently with the A's might say enough on its own about this team's new direction, although I dunno, maybe he's bad. We already know he sucks at expressions.

Dave says he's known to be calm and mild-mannered, which raises two points:

1) people who miss Lou Piniella will hate him and want him fired, since good managers yell and scream and endanger the lives of others

2) we can break him

Here's to a new era in Seattle. We thought hiring Bob Melvin might've been a signal of change, and that one certainly didn't work out, but this time change has already been happening, and it's been dramatic. Wakamatsu was Zduriencik's personal choice. He is a part of the change, and as far as I'm concerned, that can only be good.

Go Don. Go Mariners.

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We can break him

Love it!

I don’t really know enough about him or his duties with the A’s to make any assumptions, but the fact that he is the choice of GMZ at least offers hope.. Analytical mind eh? That, coupled with the new statistical analysis department definitely sounds like a step in the right direction.

by seattlesundevil on Nov 18, 2008 4:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

We thought hiring Bob Melvin might’ve been a signal of change, and that one certainly didn’t work out

I probably would have worked out more or less if we hadn’t changed GMs

Furcal

by JI on Nov 18, 2008 4:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

There were people within the Mariners organization who favored Joey Cora for the job.

I have a feeling he’d use the same strategies as someone like Guillen.

As for the ownership not meddling in the offseason so far… we can only hope.

Furcal

by JI on Nov 18, 2008 4:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Putting together the scouting meeting and determining what is the most pertinent information is Wakamatsu’s domain. He is the staff organizer. Before the first game of each series, he’ll arrive at the stadium a good seven hours before first pitch to start putting the game plan on a board in the clubhouse. He’s already done it once, putting it to paper and in a notebook he’ll carry with him to the dugout.

The game plan will include everything from which outfielders the Rangers can run on to which opponent is most likely to bunt. It will include which opposing pitchers have good moves to first base and which ones the Rangers can be more confident running against.

“There is so much information out there,” Wakamatsu said. “It can be information overload. I want to try and refine it and decipher stuff that is going to apply.”

by Jeff on Nov 18, 2008 4:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs