Mariners Make Wakamatsu First Asian-American Manager

Zduriencik (l) Names Wakamatsu M's Manager, MLB's First Asian-American Manager

MOTIVES QUESTIONED: In Seattle, Stuart Eskenazi reports even before Wakamatsu was introduced yesterday, comments began "pouring into Web sites and talk-radio stations suggesting that he was being considered only because of the team's Japanese ownership" in Owner Hiroshi Yamauchi and its "investment in Japanese players" (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/20). Also in Seattle, Art Thiel writes Wakamatsu's Japanese heritage "makes a compelling story but also invites suspicion that the hire was another decision influenced" by Yamauchi. But the endorsements of Wakamatsu from Angels manager Mike Scioscia, ESPN analyst Buck Showalter and A's announcer Ray Fosse "mitigate against a fix" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 11/20).

NEW ERA: In Seattle, Steve Kelley writes a "new day has dawned in Mariners history," and a "better future is coming." The Mariners are a franchise that "finally has been dragged, cleats-kicking, into the 21st century," a franchise that "finally will read the game's complicated statistical reports as if they were magical tea leaves." The Mariners will be "more organized, more diligent, better prepared," and they will "make better personnel decisions." Zduriencik has "put together the best staff" since former GM Pat Gillick, former manager Lou Piniella and former VP & Special Assistant to the GM Roger Jongewaard worked for the team. If Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln and President Chuck Armstrong "stay out of the way and let the new guys run the show, the Mariners can lift themselves out of their 101-loss malaise" (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/20).

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