Mariners fire bench coach Hassey

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- Stuck in last place, the Seattle Mariners have fired bench
coach Ron Hassey.

Hassey held the job for two years. Told before Tuesday's 4-2 win over
Toronto that his contract would not be renewed for 2007, Hassey decided
not to finish out the season after talking with manager Mike Hargrove
and general manager Bill Bavasi.

"This guy is really a sharp guy and a good baseball guy," Bavasi said.
"The role of being Mike's bench coach might not be the right spot for
him. That's the way we felt, Mike and I felt."

"Mike and Ron are real close and Mike talked to him the day before
yesterday and we were real comfortable in having him stay," Bavasi
said. "This is his choice. He was more comfortable taking his leave
now."

First-year administrative coach Dan Rohn also was fired. A nine-year
member of the Mariners organization, he was fired immediately after
Seattle's 10-0 loss to Toronto on Wednesday.

"With Dan, Mike was more comfortable making the move today," Bavasi
said.

Hargrove, who turns 57 next month, twice led Cleveland to the World
Series (1995, 1997). But he is 138-169 (.450) in Seattle.

The Mariners were in contention for the AL West this season until an
0-11 road trip in August ruined them.

Hassey's position has yet to be filled but Bavasi said it will come
from within the current staff.

"We'll move someone around," he said.

The position of administrative coach won't be filled the remainder of
the season.

I think we can blame this entire disaster of a season on Ron Hassey. That
bench was just a mess. Sunflower seed all over the place, spit, it was just
terrible. A clean bench and dugout area can add 15-16 wins a season and
that would put Seattle in first place!!! So Goodbye Mr. Hassey and your 30
years of experience and you being the only catcher in history who caught 2
perfect games. Who needs you?


"Ed Varner" <Ed.Varner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1158215881.934929.266700@i3g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...

On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 09:26:04 -0700, "Erik Kusta" <eriktax@yahoo.com>
wrote:


Not to mention administrative coach Dan Rohn, who insisted on wearing
a uniform instead of street clothes while he compiled his reports.
That in itself probably cost us a few games. Who ever heard of a
baseball coach wearing a uniform.

On 13 Sep 2006 23:38:02 -0700, "Ed Varner" <Ed.Varner@gmail.com>
quoted:


And later, on KOMO radio, Hargrove kept saying "Bill and I decided..."

I just hope that Bill and Mike are on the same bus out of town. They
can go wherever they want together.

I also liked Rohn's comment that the Mariners "would continue to
succeed."


J.B.