KING-5... OUR SISTER STATION IN SEATTLE HAS LEARNED FROM SOURCES CLOSE TO THE MARINERS... THAT A'S BENCH COACH DON WAKAMATSU-- WHO WAS BORN OUT IN HOOD RIVER-- IS THE FRONT RUNNER TO BE THE NEXT MANAGER OF THE MARINERS.
THE ONLY THING LEFT IS APPROVAL FROM THE OWNERS IN JAPAN... AND THAT COULD COME IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.
WAKAMATSU SPENT THE PAST TWO SEASONS AS THE BENCH COACH IN OAKLAND.
PRIOR TO THAT, HE WAS ON THE TEXAS RANGERS BENCH FOR 4 YEARS.
SAFE TO SAY, HE'S MAKING HIS ROUNDS AROUND THE A-L WEST.
THIS ISN'T THE 'SEXY NAME' MARINER FANS WERE PROBABLY HOPING FOR... BUT WAKAMATSU APPEARS THAT HE'S GETTING THE JOB.