Mariners fire Don Wakamatsu

[Dr. Jack]

About time

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners have fired manager Don Wakamatsu and replaced him with Daren Brown on interim basis.

Wakamatsu was in his second season with the Mariners, who are just 42-70 this season entering Monday's game against Oakland and mired in last place in the American League West. He posted a record of 85-77 during the 2009 campaign.

Brown had been the manager of Seattle's Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma for the past four seasons.

The Mariners also fired bench coach Ty Van Burkleo and pitching coach Rick Adair, while releasing performance coach Steve Hecht from his contract.

"I have concluded that these changes needed to be made now and that they are in the best interest of the Mariners as we move forward," said Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik. "Don, Ty and Rick are all good baseball men and they have done their very best. But we are where we are. I no longer have confidence that Don, Ty and Rick are the right long-term fit for our organization. New leadership is needed and it is needed now."

The Mariners were expected to contend for the AL West title this season after making numerous offseason roster moves. The club acquired pitcher Cliff Lee from Philadelphia in a trade, but dealt the veteran lefty to Texas in early July after falling out of contention. Infielder Chone Figgins was also signed to a big free agent contract, but has struggled since leaving the Angels for the Pacific Northwest.

Brown has managed in the Mariners system since 2001 and will get his first chance to guide a team in the majors. The Tacoma Rainiers are currently atop the Pacific Coast League's North Division with a 61-54 mark and last year won the division title.

"Daren is an experienced manager with over a decade of minor league managing experience," added Zduriencik. "He is intimately familiar with our club; he was with the club in spring training and managed many of the players on our current roster in the minors. I believe he will do a fine job."

The 43-year-old Brown has a career minor league mark of 794-691.

Hansen spent the past eight seasons as the Mariners minor league catching coordinator, while Willis was in his first season as the organization's minor league pitching coordinator. He spent previous seven seasons as pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians.

Mariners fire Don Wakamatsu

[Mendoza Line]

Why do the Mariners hate minorities?

[Cameron]

Seems hard to believe Seattle actually had a "performance coach" all this time, LOL that was money well spent.

[Loonz]

lmao

[Bozzie]

Sounds like the club house hated him.
His fight with Figgins didn't help.