HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source
Heraldnet.com
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009 10:38 am
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
RECENT POSTS:
• Saunders, and his power, are back from Venezuela  November 25

• M's prospect Dunigan makes Class A All-Star team; Liddi doesn't  November 25

• Bedard, Royals: Could be a match made in ... Kansas City  November 24

• Can Edgar Martinez overcome traditional Hall of Fame measuring sticks?  November 24

• Mariners add three to major league scouting staff  November 23
Archives:
RELATED ARTICLES:
• Mariners’ Martinez deserves to be in Hall of Fame  November 29
• Jays sign Gonzalez to 1-year deal  November 26
• Mariners bolster minor league coaching staff  November 24
• Albert Pujols wins second straight NL MVP award  November 24
• Mariners hire three to join scouting department  November 24
• Mauer a near-unanimous pick as American League MVP  November 23
• Ex-Mariner Vizquel agrees to $1,375,000 deal with White Sox  November 23
• Mariners’ Feierabend can’t wait for spring training  November 22
• Nationals add former M’s manager as a coach  November 20
• Former UW hurler Lincecum wins second consecutive Cy Young  November 19
 

ADVERTISEMENT
Mariners Blog
October 23, 2009

 
ADVERTISEMENT
 

Wakamatsu finally getting some national attention


Posted at 1:03 pm by By Kirby Arnold

On the first Sunday in October, I wrote in my weekly column in the newspaper that the Mariners' Don Wakamatsu deserved to be the American League manager of the year.

At the time, nobody with the national media even included Wakamatsu in the discussion of manager-of-the-year candidates. That absolutely floored me because few teams in the past century improved by as many games from one year to the next as the Mariners did this year. Those of us who cover the Mariners spent the better part of the year, since the day the Mariners hired Wakamatsu last Nov. 19, getting an inside look at how he not only put together a staff and team but also restored a positive attitude to a wreck of a clubhouse.

In their defense, the national media wasn't exposed to what those who covered the Mariners on a regular basis saw. From the East Coast, the story that stood out was Mike Scioscia and what he did to help the Angels deal with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart.

But guess what? Someone is paying attention to Wakamatsu. Former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire wrote yesterday on MLB.com about the job Wakamatsu did this season. He didn't come right out and say he deserved to be manager of the year, but Claire gave Wakamatsu high marks.

We'll learn just how much credit Wakamatsu gets on Nov. 18. That's when the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce results of its voting for the AL manager of the year.
READER COMMENTS
Be the first to comment.
You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet.

To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here.
Log in or register to post new comment | Log out
  Return to Mariners Blog
View All Coupons

FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
30yd Carpet Purchase
Completely Floored

Nutcracker
Family Packs Available
Pacific Northwest Ballet

25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers
Smokey Point Grooming

Lube, Oil & Filter
Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE
American Car Care Center

$1 off French Dip
$4.99 Burger Basket
50th Street Burger

Always Free
Transmission Diagnostic
Danas Transmission

Over 1 Million Lights
Lights of Christmas
Warm Beach Camp

15% Off
All Repairs!
AAMCO Trasmissions

$5 Off
Stylecut
Third Dimension Salon

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
Lube Oil Filter
American Car Care Center

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!
American Distributing

Holiday Getaway
$99 dbl Occupancy
Manresa Castle

Holiday Specials
up to 25% off!
Wild Birds Unlimited

$2 OFF
at Box Office
Everett Silvertips

Buy 1 Dinner Entree
Get 2nd 50% Off
Changs Mongolian Grill

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!
Sockeye's Restaurant

75% OFF
Many Items. Hurry!
Eagle Furniture

Buy 1 Dinner Entree
Get 2nd 50% Off
Changs Mongolian Grill
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
>> view all top cars
>> view all cars
Top Homes
>> view all top homes
>> view all homes

ADVERTISEMENT
|Contact Us |Advertiser Services |Home Delivery |Newsstand Locations |Classifieds |Feedback |About the Company |Work@the Herald |Site Map
© 2009 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA.