By BRADY HENDERSON
MyNorthwest.com

The Mariners fired second-year manager Don Wakamatsu on Monday along with pitching coach Rick Adair, bench coach Ty Van Burkleo and performance coach Steve Hecht.

Daren Brown, who has managed in the Mariners farm system since 2001, including the past four seasons as manager of the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, replaces Wakamatsu on an interim basis. Minor league catching coordinator Roger Hansen will take over as the bench coach and minor league pitching coordinator Carl Willis will be the pitching coach.

"I have lost confidence in Don, Ty and Rick as the best fits for for us this season as we move forward," general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a press conference. "New leadership is needed and it is needed now."

Wakamatsu was 127-147 (.464) in less than two seasons as Mariners manager. He was credited for the Mariners surprising turnaround in 2009, when the team followed up a 101 loss season in 2008 with an 85-77 record.

But 2010 has been both disappointing and tumultuous. Expected to contend for a division title with the offseason acquisitions of Chone Figgins and Cliff Lee, the Mariners are in last place at 42-70, the second worst record in the American League, and are 22.5 games behind the first place Texas Rangers.

Team chemistry was noted as a big factor in the 2009 turnaround, but the clubhouse atmosphere has not been nearly as harmonious this season. When Ken Griffey Jr. retired in early June after being relegated to a bench role, he said that he had not spoken to Wakamatsu in weeks.

Wakamatsu's fate was seemingly sealed after a July 23rd confrontation in the Mariners dugout with Figgins, who Wakamatsu benched mid-game for what he deemed a lack of hustle. Figgins has been unapologetic about the incident since and Zduriencik had not publicly backed Wakamatsu until last week. He repeatedly told reporters that "Don is our manager," but was evasive when asked if Wakamatsu would be back next season.

"There was not a particular instance during the course of this year that drove me to this decision," Zduriencik said Monday. "It's a big picture view of where I want this organization to go and what I think we need to have at the top."

When asked during if he considered allowing Wakamatsu to remain for the rest of the season, Zduriencik said "When you make your decision, I think it's time to act. I think as opposed to prolonging what I thought was going to be the ultimate decision, why not make it now?"

Whoever is named Wakamatsu's permanent replacement will become the fifth manager the Mariners have hired since Lou Piniella left in 2002.

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