Hargrove resigns as Mariners skipper 07/01/2007 3:17 PM ET By Jim Street / MLB.com SEATTLE -- Mike Hargrove resigned Sunday as manager of the Seattle Mariners and was replaced by bench coach John McLaren. The stunning announcement came prior to the Mariners' series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field. In a prepared statement released by the organization, Hargrove said he was stepping aside because his "passion has begun to fade" and it would not be "fair to myself or the team" to continue. Making his decision even more surprising was the fact the Mariners won their seventh consecutive game Saturday night and have closed to within four games of the AL West-leading Angels. Hargrove will manage the team on Sunday and McLaren takes over on a full-time basis Monday night, when the team opens a three-game series in Kansas City against the Royals. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070701&content_id=2060013&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
