The inevitable happened Friday as the Mariners fired manager Lloyd McClendon. McClendon spent two seasons at the helm for the Mariners, compiling a 163-161 record. McClendon oversaw a promising 2014 season, in which Seattle finished 87-75 and came a game away from qualifying for the playoffs. The Mariners were hoping to build upon that this season, with the addition of Nelson Cruz to the lineup, but finished a disappointing 76-86.
Most would agree that McClendon was neither the best nor the worst manager in Mariners history. But what made this move inevitable was the change at general manager. The man who hired McClendon, Jack Zduriencik, was fired in August. Zduriencik’s replacement, Jerry Dipoto, was undoubtedly going to want his own guy in place as manager.
The more interesting part of today’s announcement to me was seeing what happened with the rest of the coaching staff. The Mariners didn’t get rid of everyone on the staff. Four of the eight were also dismissed, but two were offered other positions in the organization, and two were retained, those being hitting coach Edgar Martinez and infield coach Chris Woodward.
When Martinez, a Seattle legend, was brought on board midseason I thought it came with an element of risk, because I figured there was no way the Mariners could get rid of a guy who has the street next to Safeco Field named after him, even if the offense continued to tank. I don’t know if today’s news is an indication of that, but the way it all shook out certainly caught my attention.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
