Baseball: Hargrove named Mariners manager

SEATTLE, United States (AFP) - Mike Hargrove, who directed the Cleveland Indians (news) to two pennants in the 1990s, was named manager of baseball's last-placed Seattle Mariners (news).

"He has a tremendous resume and is battle-tested in every facet of leading a major league club," Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said of Hargrove, who agreed to a three-year deal.

Hargrove, 55, built a 721-591 record as Indians manager from 1991-99, guiding them to five straight American League Central Division titles and trips to the World Series (news - web sites) in 1995 and 1997.

In his first season with Cleveland, after taking over in July 1991, Hargrove finished off the campaign 57-105.

In Seattle, he will take over a team that lost 99 games under former manager Bob Melvin.

Japan's Ichiro Suzuki, who set a major league record with 262 hits this season, was the team's lone bright spot in 2004.

Yahoo