M's reportedly to interview McClendon for manager

M's reportedly to interview McClendon for manager
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on October 12, 2010 at 6:29 PM

The Mariners are building a list a handful of managerial candidates, and Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon is on it. He'll interview with the M's later this week, according to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.

McClendon is an interesting case among the multitudes of managerial possibilities out there. He went 336-446 as Pirates manager from 2001-05, but he had a 75-win season and two 72-win campaigns mixed in. Considering the Pirates haven't cracked 70 wins under two managers since, and just lost 105 games this year, history has made McClendon's Pittsburgh tenure look better in comparison.

McClendon has taken a good share of the blame the past five years whenever the Tigers offense has struggled, and not everyone has worked well with him. But he also gets credit for some offense emergence, such as the return of Magglio Ordonez after his first-half power outage in 2009. He also gets credit for finally getting through to Brandon Inge on changing his mechanics, helping him to an All-Star first-half in 2009 and some respectable production this year.

Wedge appears to be next Mariners manager
Club representative says announcement could come next week
By Jim Street / MLB.com | 10/15/10 6:53 PM ET

SEATTLE -- Acting quicker than expected, the Mariners appear to have landed the most sought-after former Major League manager available -- Eric Wedge.

The 42-year-old Wedge, a candidate for most of the existing managerial openings, reportedly has accepted an offer to manage the Mariners, who compiled a 61-101 record this past season.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik was not available for comment and has not been made official by the club.

"We will not be making an announcement today," a club spokesman said on Friday. "We hope to have something early next week."

Wedge managed the Indians for seven seasons, 2003-'09, leading Cleveland to the American League Central Division championship in '07. He compiled a 561-573 overall record.

The Indians won 93 games in '05 and 96 games in '07, when he was selected as the AL Manager of the Year. The Indians came within one victory of the AL championship before losing three straight to the Red Sox in the AL Championship Series.

Wedge, who was dismissed with six games remaining in the '09 season and sat out the 2010 season, also has interviewed for managerial openings with the Pirates, Blue Jays, Brewers and Cubs.

The news of Wedge's hiring by Seattle was first reported by SI.com.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said Friday afternoon that he was unaware that his former skipper would be managing the Mariners, but said whoever secured his services would be getting, "An impact guy who can make a difference."

"The GM that hires him is going to get a guy that will be in the trenches with him elbow-to-elbow."

Shapiro added, "You won't find a manager who works as hard or cares as much and is as driven to succeed as Eric. He was outstanding in every aspect of the game for us."

Wedge has "clear strengths, toughness, complete preparation and consistency in his approach," according to Shapiro. "He is not afraid to hold someone accountable and the players will understand his expectations. He's not the kind of guy to let things slide."

Shapiro said it was a difficult decision to part ways with Wedge a little more than a year ago, but it was a move that he felt had to be made.

The fact the Mariners acted as quickly as they did came as something of a surprise. On Thursday, Zduriencik made it sound like the process would go well into next week, and perhaps beyond the World Series, which begins on Oct. 27 and ends on Nov. 4 if it goes seven games.

It became apparent early on that the next Mariners manager would have previous big-league experience, something Wakamatsu did not have before being selected over 10 others interviewed for the job in 2008.

Bobby Valentine, Cecil Cooper, John Gibbons, Lloyd McClendon and Wedge reportedly interviewed for the Seattle managerial opening this week and it was believed that Clint Hurdle, the Rangers' current hitting coach, would be interviewed after the Texas season ended.

"When we conclude the interview process, we will make a decision we are most comfortable with, and I honestly don't know how long that will take," Zduriencik said on Thursday.

Less than a day later, that decision was made.

Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.