Mariners name Wakamatsu manager

Nov 19, 2008 - 10:00 PM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners made history Wednesday when they named former Oakland Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu as their new manager.

Wakamatsu, 45, is the first Asian-American skipper in major league history and will be managing in a city with a large Asian population.

"If I can set some type of stepping stone for future Japanese-Americans, I'm glad to bear the burden of that torch," he said Wednesday during a news conference when he was officially introduced.

Wakamatsu was one of seven finalists interviewed by Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik in the past four days.

"This is something I've looked forward to for a long time," Wakamatsu said. "It is a tremendous opportunity and I can't wait to get going with Jack and his group as we start working on the 2009 season."

However, he will have his work cut out as the Mariners are coming off a 101-loss season. Seattle (61-101) became the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games.

The lackluster play prompted ownership to make drastic moves. Seattle fired both general manager Bob Bavasi and manager John McLaren at midseason after the Mariners posted a 25-47 mark.

Jim Riggleman was named interim manger on June 20, while Lee Pelekoudas took over for Bavasi and cut loose underachievers like Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro.

Wakamatsu is the Mariners' fourth manager in the last two seasons. McLaren became the Mariners' manager by default when good friend Mike Hargrove resigned in the midst of an eight-game winning streak midway through the 2007 season.

A former catcher, Wakamatsu was with the Texas Rangers as a bench coach and third base coach from 2003-2007 before serving as the A's bench coach this past season.

"When I started this process, there were some key attributes we were looking for," Zduriencik said. "We wanted energy, a passion and the skills to translate that passion to the players. We wanted leadership, a presence that could help us as we define the 'Mariners Way' to win."

Wakamatsu said his best traits are communication and leadership.

"Those two things go hand in hand," he said. "I think they are two most important things no matter what business you are in. People need to know where you stand."

Wakamatsu spent 12 seasons in the minor leagues with seven organizations from 1985-1996 and had a brief stint with the Chicago White Sox in 1991. He ended his playing career as a player-coach with Seattle's Class AA Port City affiliate in 1996.