SEATTLE (AP) -The Mariners overhauled their coaching staff Monday, hiring Mel Stottlemyre, Jim Riggleman and Norm Charlton.
Stottlemyre, a former pitching coach with the Yankees and Mets, took the same position in Seattle. Riggleman, an ex-manager in the majors, will be the bench coach. And Charlton, who spent 13 seasons as a relief pitcher in the big leagues, is the bullpen coach.
Also, Eddie Rodriguez took over as the Mariners’ first base coach.
Seattle manager John McLaren, a major league coach for 21 years before taking the helm when Mike Hargrove abruptly resigned on July 2, has experience working with each of his new hires – not to mention Larry Bowa.
Bowa, a longtime major league shortstop and former manager of the Padres and Phillies, was on Joe Torre’s staff with the Yankees last season. McLaren has asked him to be Seattle’s new third base coach.
Bowa, mentioned as a possible replacement in New York now that Torre is gone, has asked for time to take care of a private issue not directly affecting himself before he answers the Mariners’ offer, but indications are he will accept.
“We were looking for hardworking guys who can teach, and who have a proven track record of helping teams win,” Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said.
The 65-year-old Stottlemyre was a spring training instructor for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. He has been living in the Seattle suburb of Sammamish since leaving the Yankees after a 10-year term, following the 2005 season.
The only member of Hargrove’s staff from the beginning of last season who will return for 2008 is hitting coach Jeff Pentland.
The 54-year-old Riggleman, who would like to manage again, spent the past three seasons as a minor league field coordinator with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Mariners were a surprise last season, reaching 20 games over .500 and leading the AL wild-card race in late August before 15 losses in 17 games doomed them. They finished 88-74, a 10-game improvement over 2006, and in second place in the AL West following three consecutive last-place seasons.
Add A Comment