Friday, June 6, 2008

CHIBA (Kyodo) Norihiro Nakamura hit a three-run homer to key a four-run third inning Thursday, helping to back an effective outing by Takashi Ogasawara as the Chunichi Dragons downed the Chiba Lotte Marines 4-1 in interleague action.

Mr. Full Swing: Norihiro Nakamura of the Chunichi Dragons hits a three-run homer in the third inning against the Chiba Lotte Marines on Thursday at Chiba Marine Stadium. The Dragons won 4-1. KYODO PHOTO

Kazuhiro Wada had a sacrifice fly with one out and the bases loaded in the third and Nakamura followed with a drive to right — his 10th homer of the season — off Lotte rookie starter Yuki Karakawa (3-1) at Chiba Marine Stadium.

Ogasawara (6-3) held Chiba's bats to one run in 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking three to tied Kazuki Yoshimi for the team lead in wins.

SEATTLE, (AP) Finally, after plummeting to a place from which no team has made the postseason, the Seattle Mariners' decision-makers ripped into their club.

Team president Chuck Armstrong berated members of the coaching staff Wednesday morning, hours before the imploding Mariners got swept in a three-game series by the same Los Angeles Angels they expected to unseat for the AL West title.

Later, Armstrong refused to comment on the outburst during a 5-4 loss that sent Seattle to a season-low 18 games under .500.

It's the worst record in the major leagues and leaves the Mariners 15 1/2 games out of first place.

No team that has been 17 games under .500 has rallied to make the playoffs.

"What's said between me and the coaches stays between me and the coaches," Armstrong said through a team spokesman.

About an hour after Armstrong's rage, manager John McLaren had a closed-door chat with general manager Bill Bavasi. Two weeks after Bavasi said McLaren's job was safe, Bavasi did so again Wednesday.

"This is not a field managerial issue. He's not at the plate with guys on first and second and leaving them there — three times," the GM said.

When their pregame talk ended, McLaren drew yet another line in this season that has had more than a geometry class. But this one had a twist: Instead of claiming the players had a sense of urgency, the manager said the team wants players to begin fearing for their jobs.

"Yeah, I think we do. I think we might be a little complacent," McLaren said, discarding his usual keep-it-positive vibe.

After the game, McLaren discarded all decorum.

Shouting and jabbing his finger toward the clubhouse, McLaren unleashed an expletive-filled tirade, emphasizing his team is trying hard but not performing as it should.

McLaren then stomped off into his office and closed the door.

"He could have said that a month ago," Bavasi said later.

McLaren, a 56-year-old baseball lifer in his first full season as a major league manager, barely contained the emotion in his voice before the game.

"I'm sure ownership is not happy, putting $120 million on the board and being 17 games under .500," he said. "There should be some people knowing that we can't go on like this."

When the manager, a noted pal of the players, is mentioning the ninth-highest payroll in baseball, that's significant.

"People want to see some results. They've had it. And rightfully so," he said.

"Anybody that's happy in our clubhouse, there's something wrong with him."

We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.