Hargrove gone because of Ichiro??

Question

There have been rumors that Ichiro is about to sign a 5 year 80-100 mill deal and from what I know it was no secret that him and Hargrove never really saw eye to eye. Hargrove just left Seattle because he "lost passion for the game." I watched him manage in Cleveland for years, which i miss dearly, and that man was full of passion. Does anyone see the coincidence in that? Ichiro gets the big contract, Hargrove leaves, sorta a "me or him thing" I have never liked Ichiro and this is just another reason to add to that list.

Answer 1

This is actually something that a lot of the baseball fans at my work and my husband's work have been discussing a lot since Hargrove left. A lot of us (especially we Japanese) hate to admit it, but we kind of think there might be something to it, especially when we listen to some of the subtext in the interviews Ichiro gives in Japanese.

Ichiro is a very smart man and is very careful to not give interviews in English, despite the fact that he can speak it. This is so that he can be sure that his answers are very precise. Sometimes, we notice that there are some layers to what he says that don't quite come over in translation to English, and while he never says one thing or another, it was known that he didn't see eye to eye with Hargrove. Culturally, though, it would be very unlikely that he would ever give an ultimatum. That's not really proper behavior. But of course, that wouldn't stop him from making his wishes known less directly.

Personally, I like Ichiro, but I would tend to also feel bad if it were a heavy-handed way to press Hargrove out. In my opinion, it sets a bad precedent for a player to strongarm a manager out, no matter the value of that player. I really think it could have impact on the cohesion of the team, if it looks like one player gets his way at the expense of the others. I've read some books about Ichiro both in English and in Japanese and I know that he tends to have a bit of a "for myself" attitude, which seems to show in this case. Again, I like him, but it's not a character trait in him that I admire a great deal.

In contrast, from what I've heard of Hargrove, the man is a very compassionate man, and yes, with a deep passion for baseball. I think he was turning the club around for Seattle and things were going well, so it was very odd timing to retire, in my thinking -- unless the Ichiro decision were a factor, or unless there were personal factors of which we were unaware. I think also that Hargrove is a private man (unlike, say, a Lou Piniella, who was more public about his emotions), who keeps his personal life and emotions more private. It's conceivable that there are things going on in his life we don't know about. This is just speculation, of course.

(Note: This was written after Ichiro signed, but speculation about reasons for Hargrove's resignation are still relevant, I think.)

Answer 2

Hargrove was a great manager, but if I had to choose between him and Ichiro I would choose the MVP of the All-Star Game.

Answer 3

I doubt it. I think he's gone because of Sharon--that is to say, Mrs. Hargrove.
The man you saw was a lot younger, and managing in a city that revered him as a player.
If Hargrove has to go to keep Ichiro in Seattle, then it's no contest. See ya later, Grover. . . .

Answer 4

I have a lot of respect for Hargrove. I actually had my picture taken with him when he was with the Texas Rangers a long time ago. They guy probably needs to retire. MLB is really diverse now and I do not think he is able to deal with it.

Answer 5

Assuming you are a Cleveland fan, I would guess you dislike Ichiro for hating on Cleveland, but it sounds like speculation on your part. I think its possible to lose interesst in the game, as it seems that way with LaRussa who said he doesn't know how much longer he could coach, even though he seemed very motivated in the past.

Answer 6

No, he left for the reason he said he was leaving. No managers ever get themselves involved with player contract negotiations. I believe we should just take him at his word and not try to read more into it.