Fortunately, Mike Hargrove is not dead.He is, however, finished as manager of the surging Seattle Mariners. Hargrove made the stunning announcement before today's game.
(Thanks to Geoff Young at Knuckle Curve for the heads-up.)
Hargrove said that "my passion has begun to fade," a statement that I have a hard time believing in light of the Mariners' recent success.
Had the Human Rain Delay made the statement in one of the last two seasons, I would have understood. The Mariners were a struggling team with a lot of potential but not many wins, and I can imagine that the bench had to start feeling a little warm under Hargrove.
But now, with the team having seemingly righted the ship and possibly on course for a playoff berth, this decision makes zero sense if you take Hargrove's reasoning at face value.
There is some speculation that Hargrove and Ichiro don't have the best relationship, so this is how I see the situation playing out.
Ichiro, who is in a contract year, makes it known to the Japanese media and possibly the Mariners' management that he isn't the biggest Hargrove fan. Bill Bavasi, whose job is likely in danger if the Mariners don't reach the playoffs, then has a choice to make: Ichiro or Hargrove?
I don't know the nature of Bavasi's relationship with Hargrove, but if Bavasi's job is on the line, the safest course of action is pretty obvious. Pull Grover into the office and give him the golden handshake. Then schedule an appointment with Ichiro and his agent and do everything humanly possible to keep him in Seattle.
Hargrove is given the opportunity to resign on his own terms, which he does, of course. He adds the bit about having lost the fire, and the majority of the Mariners' fan base is none the wiser.
This is, of course, speculation, but it leaves Seattle fans with a choice: take Hargrove at his word, or dig a little deeper. I think most Mariners fans, given the choice Bavasi faced, would make the same decision. But I also think they deserve the truth.
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