We Like Mike

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."

That's what Teddy Roosevelt said anyway, and former Mariners manager Bob Melvin certainly goes into the "poor spirits" category. Melvin's timid, uninspired field generalship earned him the nickname "Bobby By The Book." Every decision of Melvin's was supported by strategic tradition and statistical verification.

Did Melvin experience defeat? Yes, the Mariners lost 99 games last year. But the losses didn't seem to affect Melvin, who threw up his hands and blamed fate whenever another of his uber-rational, Panglossian decisions went awry.

This is why, despite the Mariners' awful start, we like new manager Mike Hargrove. He's not afraid to screw up.

Case 1: May 10th at Yankee Stadium. After Aaron Sele allowed seven runs in three innings, Hargrove didn't bring in his worst relievers and concede the game--with the Mariners needing a win, he brought in the cream of his bullpen. Mateo, Putz and Hasegawa held the Yankees scoreless the rest of the way, giving the M's offense a chance to come back. Which they didn't. But that's not really Hargrove's fault.

Case 2: Saturday against San Diego. Hargrove tried a bunt in the first inning. Normally, we hate first inning bunts, and we think Hargrove does too. But the Mariners were struggling to get runs and leads in games, so it made sense. In the end, the bunt wasn't made. The Mariners scored three runs in the inning and won the game.

We are aware that Melvin's new charges, the Arizona Diamondbacks, are leading their division. He's finally hit a string of good luck, we think, and is a perfectly competent manager.

Still, we'd rather have Hargrove in charge. His moves may sometimes be irrational, but so was building the Panama Canal.