Mills and Hale to return

With the Seattle managerial search coming to a close with the hiring of Oakland bench coach Don Wakamatsu, that means that the Red Sox coaching staff will be returning to the team almost intact from 2007. Though the Sox let first base coach Luis Alicea go at the end of the season, two candidates who interviewed in Seattle -- bench coach Brad Mills and third base coach DeMarlo Hale -- did not get the manager's job with the Mariners.

"I appreciate the opportunity," Hale said, about an hour after speaking to Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik. "I thought the interview went well. I thought we talked pretty candid. I was myself and I expressed how I felt. I think that's all you can do. You try to have him understand that this is a good direction or leadership quality. Ultimately he has the choice."

The Mariners, though, have not yet made an official announcement about the decision.

"I'd be lying to you if I told you I wasn't disappointed because I think it's going to be a good situation up there," Mills said. "They've got a lot of good things in store to happen up there."

Mills and Hale were among the seven candidates -- none of whom has previous major league managerial experience -- brought in by the Mariners last week to interview for a job left open by the midseason firing of John McLaren, who was replaced on an interim basis by Jim Riggleman. Also interviewed for the position were White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, Arizona third base coach Chip Hale, St. Louis third base coach Jose Oquendo, and Triple A Portland (Padres) manager Randy Ready. The Mariners were also interested in interviewing Sox pitching coach John Farrell, who declined.

It was the first managerial interview for both Mills and Hale.

"I appreciate it being one of the chosen ones to go through the process," Hale said. "Just getting that chance to go through that process, then the next step happens. Then you get the change to have the managerial title and go forward. We'll see."