Once again we continue to trawl MLB coaching rosters for interesting names who might be available for the Mariners as they reshape their coaching staff. If you missed the methodology/justification/general precis of this series, start here with the setup; you can go on from there to review candidates from the AL Central, and then click here for the next installment, the NL East. Today we’re covering primarily the NL West with the AL West shoehorned in there because I’m skipping most of the AL West,
as the Astros and Angels are both involved in their own coaching searches. I’m also skipping the Rangers, because my pick for them – Kyle Moore, who managed the Triple-A Round Rock Express this season, has apparently just taken a job as assistant field coordinator for the Cardinals, per his LinkedIn. Boo. Let’s start then with the lone candidate from the AL West:
Todd Takayoshi (A’s)
Current role: minor league hitting coordinator
Age: 56
Bonus points: Attended Kennedy Catholic in Burien (Go Lancers)
The WAC Player of the Year in 1991 out of University of Hawai’i at Monoa, Takayoshi’s playing career went from the independent leagues to the Angels; he then transitioned to coaching. Takayoshi boasts over 20 years of experience in coaching and player development, the last three of which have come in his current role with the A’s, where he’s overseen the hitting development of prospects like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. There are probably some of you reading this who have firsthand experience with “Coach Tak,” who runs off-season camps around the Seattle area.
On to the NL West!
First I must say I’m actually skipping the Dodgers. Current bench coach Danny Lehmann is a name I’ve actually seen connected to the Mariners – and before that the Braves – and I get it, because the 41-year old has been around for a bit after getting his start as a video scout with the Dodgers, so has a reputation for being all about data and analytics. As for on-the-field experience, he has a background as a strong defensive catcher in college at Rice before becoming a Twins farmhand. Also, his uncle is Dog the Bounty Hunter? Unsure if that’s a plus or not. But I don’t think anyone from the Dodgers is actually an under-the-radar candidate for any job, and nothing I could turn up about Lehmann made me particularly excited about him to add to that, so I’m utilizing my skip power in order to talk about people I’m more excited about, like…
Nic Wilson (Rockies)
Current role: Assistant hitting coach (MLB)
Age: 33
Bonus points: Grandmother Elizabeth Wilson was the first Black and female mayor of his hometown in Decatur, Georgia; once dreamed of being the governor of Georgia; values education and lifelong learning.
Wilson is the youngest candidate we’ll profile in this series but he is a rising star who the Mariners should get their hands on before his hometown Braves do. Go read this Medium post from the Rockies or the linked MLB dot com article above, I think you’ll be sold.
Relevant quote: “In a nutshell, his ability to communicate with everybody is over the top good. He’s just over the top really good with people.” – Mark Brewer, former Rockies pitching coach
“Man, I love baseball.” – Nic Wilson
Ryley Westman (Padres)
Current role: Director, player development
Age: 42
Bonus points: N/A
Despite having a solidly Gen Z name, Westman has almost two decades of coaching experience, the bulk of it coming with the Rangers and Padres, and at a variety of positions, from manager to bench coach to hitting coach to catching coordinator to player development.
Relevant quote:“If we’re truly going to impact these guys, the better that you can relate with them and understand how they’re going to receive your message and know who they are, because they’re all different…really spend time with them, know them, invest yourself in them, and when it’s time to deliver that message or ask something from them or motivate them to another level, the the relationship you have with them is really going to carry a lot of weight.”
I should note here that commenter OlyFan was hopeful for a Nick Punto shoutout; I also debated Triple-A manager Pete Zamora for this slot, but Westman won out mostly because there’s a lot of interview footage of him due to his long tenure with the Padres and I was very compelled by him; however, I am willing to hear arguments in the comments.
Ed Lucas (Giants)
Current role: Director of Player Development
Age: 44
Bonus points: former Mariner; Ivy League Player of the Year (Dartmouth, 2004); kickass wife who has built an empire so that Ed can coach For The Love of the Game (ask me more about Holly and how she took on Hugo Boss over their attempt to trademark the word “boss” and how awesome she is, please, I beg you). Also would he be the first Mariners coach to have tweeted at Jon Bois? Maybe!
Jake Lamb (Diamondbacks)
Current role: Assistant, Player Development
Age: 36
Bonus points: Former Mariner, UW alum, Seattle-born (shoutout Bishop Blanchet), actual big-league playing experience, also it’s JAKE LAMB
Do I know anything about Jake Lamb other than that he’s Seattle baseball royalty? I do not. Do I care? Also no. Bring him home.
