Parent wants a job close to home

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

With a week to play, his club is 36 games above .500 and on its way to the playoffs with titles in both halves of the California League season. Parent has dealt well with injuries, development and the general grind of the manager's job all while adjusting to the new position.

And yet he's not sure if he'll be back next year.

Parent has expressed his desire to remain close to his family and work at a higher level than the Class-A Cal League.

"I'm going to see what (Seattle) offers me after the season," Parent said. "I've said I'm not coming back to Lancaster and I won't go to (Class-AA) New Haven. It's just too far from my family."

Parent's family, wife Wendy and sons Nick and Jake, weigh more heavily than any other factor in deciding where he will be next year, Parent said. Being within driving distance of his home Las Vegas home is important.

"I'm in a position where I don't have to go anywhere," Parent said. "I like the Mariners, but if they ask me to go somewhere and my family says no, then I'm staying home."

In theory at least, Parent could stay home and manage. The San Diego Padres' Class-AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate is the Las Vegas Stars. Parent played with the Stars on the way to his major league debut with the Padres.

Seattle has been very pleased with Parent's rookie managerial campaign and would like to see him return to their system.

"We'd like to keep him in the organization next year," Mariners director of player development Benny Looper said. "I've talked to Mark about next year and we'd like to have him back. We're prepared to talk to all of our staff after the season. I'm confident we'll make the right decision for everyone on the right job."

Parent has shown some interest in working in the Class-AA Texas League, where Seattle does not have an affiliate but could as their contract in New Haven of the Eastern League expires at the end of this season.

"I like Texas," Parent said, "but again it's about my family. If they don't want me to go, I'm not going, it's that simple."

Looper understands Parent's desire to be with his family and not as a bargaining ploy by the 12year major league veteran.

"I can understand and respect a decision like that," Looper said. "I can appreciate that he wants to put family first. He has to make the right decision for his kids and family.

"This is only his first year. In that time he's shown the ability to manage. That's why we'd like to keep him."

Parent had his eldest son, Nick, with him for several weeks this summer, paying him $5.00 a game to serve as a batboy with the club.

Nick became a fixture with the team, leaving only recently as his own baseball team started play.

Uploaded August 29, 2000