Looking at Recent Mariners Coaches: Who Takes the Blame?

Sep 27, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners manager

(right) stands in the dugout during the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

In the 11-years since Lou Piniella left Seattle for Tampa Bay, the Mariners have had seven different head coaches. While not outrageous, it’s still a high turnover rate.

It doesn’t take much introspection to realize that a high turnover rate is a sign of poor performance.

With the M’s currently in the hunt for yet another manager, it’s worth taking a look at what these seven men did while skippering the M’s and also at what they’ve done since leaving.

Hopefully this will shed some light on the failures of the M’s over the last decade or so, and highlight where the blame should be directed. Is it an overarching flaw in the organization? Is it bad managing at the field level? Or a combination of both.

The M’s organization, obviously, wants to find a manager who can lock down the position for years to come, and perhaps looking at the  managerial casualties since Piniella’s departure is the starting point for avoiding an addition to the list.

Oct 7, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Athletics manager

(6) talks to the media before game three of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Bob Melvin

Tenure: 2003-2004

Record: 156 Wins — 168 Losses

Bob Melvin, the first manger after Piniella left, managed the team respectably in 2003, just missing the playoffs. The next season, things took a turn for the worst with the M’s losing 99 games and Melvin’s contract not being renewed. Since his departure, Melvin has become one of the more highly regarded managers in all of baseball, winning the award for N.L. Manager of the Year in 2007 with the Diamondbacks and taking the A.L version in 2012 with the Athletics as well. He has earned the nickname “The Mad Scientist” because of his managerial style. The M’s might be wishing they had taken a longer look at renewing his contract back in 2004.

Aug 26, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians former manager

(left) and

talk during a game against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Hargrove

Tenure: 2005-2007

Record: 192 wins — 210 losses

Mike Hargrove‘s stint with the M’s was cut short when he opted to retire midway through the 2007 season for personal reasons, and while this is presumably true, we’ll never truly know whether internal pressure influenced his decision to step down.

It was rumored that Ichiro Suzuki and Hargrove did not mesh well. Unfortunately for the M’s, Hargrove seemed to be a competent manager, as team’s under his command proved to be scrappy and entertaining. It’s difficult to say what Hargrove’s specific managerial style was, but he did come off as decidedly ‘old-school.’

Since his departure he hasn’t managed a team at the major-league level, so the M’s haven’t had to lose much sleep over letting one get away like they did with Bob Melvin.

John McLaren

Tenure: 2007-2008

Record: 70 wins — 89 losses

John McLaren became the M’s interim coach  in 2007 after Mike Hargrove‘s resignation, and led the team to a second place finish in the A.L. West. Unfortunately things went south in 2008, and McLaren didn’t even last until the end of June before getting the axe. The team went on that year to have one the franchise’s worst seasons, but how much of that is McLaren’s fault is up for debate.

McLaren never had chance to establish a noticeable managerial style, but he does have the distinction of being the last head coach during the infamous Bill Bavasi regime. McLaren has been all over baseball since his firing, but has failed to find a head coaching job.

The M’s didn’t miss out too much when they gave McLaren the boot, but his sample size wasn’t large either.

Jul 21, 2013; Scranton, PA, USA; Louisville Bats manager

questions the call of the home plate umpire during the seventh inning against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at PNC Field. The Bats defeated the RailRiders 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Riggleman

Tenure: 2008

Record: 36 wins — 54 losses

Jim Riggleman became the M’s interim coach after John McLaren was dismissed in June of 2008, but it appears the organization didn’t like what they saw as he was not retained after the season.

Though Riggleman didn’t stand out as game-changing manager style-wise, he did have managerial experience with both the Cubs and Padres prior to his stint with the M’s. Riggleman went on to manage the Washington Nationals for parts of three seasons —with varying levels of success.

Like with McLaren, the M’s probably don’t regret parting ways with Riggleman.

April 24, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays bench coach

(22) during batting practice before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Don Wakamatsu

Tenure: 2009-2010

Record: 127 wins — 147 losses

When Don Wakamatsu was hired by GM Jack Zduriencik in 2009, it appeared the M’s were fully embracing a new ‘moneryball-esque’ approach to the game with the signing of Chone Figgins and installing a youthful coach at the helm.

Unfortunately, Wakamatsu found himself out of a job by August of the 2010 season as the M’s proved to be underwhelming once again.

While Wakamatsu looked promising initially, he proved to be inept at the helm despite having —on paper— the tools necessary to build a winner.

Wakamatsu hasn’t held a head coaching position since, but has still found work around the league and could conceivably don a manager’s uniform again.

Aug 29, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman

(20) is congratulated by third base coach

(52) after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Daren Brown

Tenure: 2010

Record: 19 wins 31 losses

Daren Brown served as the interim manager in 2010 after Wakamatsu’s firing, but did not find a way to parlay that into a lasting gig. Brown has been with the organization since 2001 and could be a candidate to replace Eric Wedge.

Unfortunately, Brown’s name only adds to the list of glorified bench coaches who have helmed the M’s in recent years.

Sep 23, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik presents Seattle Mariners left fielder

(28) with a “300th Career Home Run” plaque prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

In Summary…

Most of the M’s managers since the departure of Lou Piniella have been nothing more than interim bench coaches.

The Mariners probably shouldn’t have dismissed Bob Melvin, and now they get reminded of that every couple series or so.

But beyond Melvin, the M’s have shown a distressing ability to hire coaches who either aren’t given enough time to make a lasting impact, or make little to no impact when they are. Recent M’s coaches haven’t meshed with the organization’s aims or haven’t been suited to effectively use the players they were given.

The failure of M’s coaches is linked as much to their own inability to win with what they’re given as it is to the organization’s failure to identity and hire the coaches who will take the team to the next level.

Now they’ve got another shot, hopefully this one pans out…