Don Wakamatsu not only has to prepare the Mariners for baseball, but he's also trying to improve the culture of his clubhouse:

Don Wakamatsu knew before he took the job as Seattle's manager that this 101-loss team's chemistry was toxic. It's been polluted by issues with and jealousies of Suzuki, Seattle's All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder and most marketable asset. The first-time manager is trying to change that environment by fostering trust through one-on-one meetings with every player that go beyond just baseball.

"I did my homework. I talked to several players from last year," Wakamatsu said Monday. "I am fully aware of the rumblings, or people's perception of it.

"I want to focus on creating that environment where maybe we bring the favoritism a little bit close to equality."

Good luck to him. Of course, the best thing he can do is get the team winning again. It's easier to tolerate jerks when your team is in contention. We didn't hear about these problems two years ago when the Mariners were over .500.