Relationship rescue: Dr. Phil would say just win, baby.(BASEBALL)

Regardless of who is to blame, Mariners manager Mike Hargrove is in the middle of a fight he can't win. Either Hargrove repairs his relationship with Ichiro Suzuki or Hargrove soon will be looking for another job.

Hargrove and Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi deny a rift exists between the manager and the right fielder, but Ichiro's complaints to Japanese media about the atmosphere around the team reflect his frustration with Hargrove's leadership.

Several people with knowledge of the situation say there are philosophical differences between Ichiro and Hargrove and that Ichiro perceives Hargrove to be too laid-back, which creates an undisciplined environment. Those people say the relationship, from Ichiro's perspective, is "untenable" and "potentially irreconcilable."

Hargrove disagrees. "We have a good relationship, a working relationship," the manager says. "I don't know that there's anything bad about it."

Ichiro doesn't want to be traded; he is comfortable in Seattle. His sentiment could change, however, if the Mariners fail to address his concerns. Both Ichiro's and Hargrove's contracts expire after the 2007 season. At this point, it's difficult to imagine Ichiro's signing an extension if Hargrove stays.

The risk for Hargrove is obvious: Ichiro is a Japanese star playing for mostly Japanese ownership and is a central figure in the Mariners' marketing efforts. Hargrove, a manager with no previous link to the club, is much more disposable.

The Mariners are coming off back-to-back 90-loss seasons, the first of which occurred under Bob Melvin. It is not unusual for star players to grow frustrated under such circumstances. Nor is it unusual for certain teammates and superiors to grow frustrated with a star player, which seems to be occurring with Ichiro in Seattle.