Notebook: Mariners general manager Pat Gillick resigns
SEATTLE -- Mariners general manager Pat Gillick is leaving the job after four seasons.
Gillick will remain in his position until a successor is found, then become a consultant for the team. Seattle went 93-69 this year, but finished three games behind Oakland in the AL West and missed the playoffs.
"After much thought, I've decided to step away from my current role with the Mariners," Gillick said Tuesday in a statement. "I've had four chances at the brass ring here and think maybe it's time for someone else to take a shot at taking this team to a higher level.
"I believe we have a core of players in place, especially pitchers, that will allow the Mariners to contend for the next several years, at least, and I am looking forward to remaining involved with the Seattle organization," he said.
During Gillick's four years as general manager, the Mariners won more games (393) than any other team in the majors and twice reached the ALCS.
Seattle tied the major-league record with 116 wins in 2001, but lost in the ALCS to the New York Yankees. The Mariners also lost to the Yankees in the 2000 ALCS.
The Mariners won 93 games in 2002 and missed the playoffs.
"We wanted Pat to stay on board as our general manager, but we respect his decision to step back and serve as a consultant," Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said in a statement.
"We will begin a search immediately, which will include both internal and external candidates," he said. "We thank Pat for the exceptional job he has done the past four years, and the professionalism he has brought to the Mariners. Finally, we are pleased he will still be connected with our organization."
Gillick, 66, started his career as a baseball executive in 1963 with the Houston Astros and spent 10 years working his way up through the team's front office.
Gillick joined the New York Yankees in 1974 before moving to the expansion Toronto Blue Jays in 1976 where he was responsible for all baseball-related activities and helped guide Toronto to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.
He moved to Baltimore in 1996 and the Orioles reached the playoffs in his first two years as general manager, winning the AL East in 1997.
$94 MILLION PUNITIVE DAMAGE AWARD THROWN OUT
A state appeals court threw out a $94 million punitive damage award to the families of three ironworkers killed when a crane collapsed during the construction of Milwaukee's Miller Park.
The judges voted 2-1 that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America did not intentionally cause the three deaths, nor was its conduct certain to cause injury.
The court left intact a $27 million award for compensatory damages for the 1999 collapse.
Robert Habush, who represents the families of the dead ironworkers, said they planned to appeal to the state Supreme Court.
RUHLE OUT AS METS PITCHING COACH
Vern Ruhle was removed as New York Mets pitching coach and will be reassigned to another position within the organization.
Ruhle was hired by the Mets before this after he was dismissed following two years as pitching coach of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets, under Ruhle and first-year manager Art Howe, finished 10th in the National League with a 4.48 ERA. New York (66-95) was last in the NL East, 34.5 games behind champion Atlanta.
U.S. AMBASSADOR PRAISES MEXICAN CONTENDER FOR EXPOS
The U.S. ambassador in Mexico has jumped -- diplomatically -- into the debate about where the Montreal Expos should play next season.
Ambassador Tony Garza sent a letter to commissioner Bud Selig listing the attractions of Monterrey, the northern Mexican city under consideration at least as a host for some Expos games next season.
The Sept. 15 letter, faxed to The AP, stops short of advocating a move to Monterrey -- which might help keep the peace both with Canada and with his bosses in Washington, D.C. -- another candidate for the team.
"I understand that you have not yet made a final determination regarding who will host the next season of the Montreal Expos and that Monterrey, Mexico, is one of the sites under consideration," Garza wrote.
"I thought you might appreciate my perspective on the contender from Mexico," he added.
