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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 M's NOTES: Mariners making coaching change at 3rd base By Kirby Arnold Herald Writer The Seattle Mariners will have a new man in the third-base coach’s box next year. The Mariners said Monday that Bruce Hines won’t return for the 2010 season, explaining only that they decided to go another direction. All of the Mariners’ other coaches — bench coach Ty VanBurkleo, pitching coach Rick Adair, hitting coach Alan Cockrell, first-base coach Lee Tinsley, bullpen coach John Wetteland and performance coach Steve Hecht — will return. General manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Don Wakamatsu met after the season and evaluated the coaching staff before making a decision. “There’s an awful lot that goes into every decision you make. When you evaluate your players and staff, you have a certain criteria,” Zduriencik said. “In this particular case, as much as we appreciated Bruce’s efforts, we came to the conclusion that we were going to do something different there.” Zduriencik and Wakamatsu have discussed potential replacements and, while it’s possible someone from within the organization could fill the vacancy, it seems more likely the Mariners will make an outside hire. “My guess right now is that we’ll open it up a little bit,” Zduriencik said. “We’re not interviewing anybody yet. We hope to bring in someone who has a dynamic that Don and I are both happy with.” Hines, who also was responsible for the Mariners’ infield play, coached this year at the major league level for the first time since 1991, when he was the California Angels’ first-base coach. He had been the Angels’ minor league field coordinator before coming to the Mariners this year. Talks, but no decision, on Griffey Zduriencik said he spoke with Ken Griffey Jr. about the possibility of returning next year but no decision seems imminent. “We had some talks with Ken at the end (of the season),” Zduriencik said. “I have not talked to Ken recently, but I’m sure we’ll get to that. At this moment in time, everybody’s kind of winding down at the end of the season and kind of engaged in the playoffs.” Griffey said after the final game Oct. 4 that he would like to return for another year, but a final decision would be based on the desires of his family and the Mariners. Fall League update Dustin Ackley, the Mariners’ first-round pick in the June draft, went hitless Monday for the first time in five games with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League. Ackley, who played left field in the Javelinas’ 8-1 victory at Mesa, went 0-for-5 with one strikeout and is batting .333 in 15 at-bats. Right-handed pitcher Anthony Varvaro pitched two scoreless innings Monday and hasn’t allowed an earned run in three innings. Right-hander Phillippe Aumont has allowed two hits, two walks and one earned run in 2 1/3 innings of relief and right-hander Josh Fields has allowed two hits, a walk and one earned run in two innings. Left-handed starter Nick Hill has started once, allowing four hits, two walks and one earned run in three innings. First baseman Joe Dunigan has gone 4-for-13 with a home run and infielder Juan Diaz is 3-for-3 with a home run. Diaz is playing the first two weeks while shortstop prospect Carlos Triunfel strengthens his left leg, which he broke in April. 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 out

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