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Quote:Hargrove, 57, said his decision to step down, which he first broached with general manager Bill Bavasi on June 20 -- when the Mariners were riding a six-game losing streak that ended that night against Pittsburgh -- boiled down to the fact that it was getting increasingly difficult to summon the 100 percent effort he demanded of his players.

"I don't expect people to understand it. I really don't. Because there's times I don't understand it," Hargrove said after his final victory left him with a 192-210 record as the M's skipper. "But I ask everyone to respect it."

Hargrove tried several times at the news conference to make a preemptive strike against conspiracy theorists searching for hidden reasons for his abrupt announcement. He stressed the decision had nothing to do with health, his job security or a clash with any player or front-office person.

"There are no dark, sinister reasons for this decision," he said. "This has been my decision."

Quote:make a preemptive strike against conspiracy theorists