The Mariners fired manager John McLaren this morning. For those scoring at home, that's a GM, a manager and a batting coach now looking for work. Next up, Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro.
When evaluating McLaren, I go back to what Jose Guillen said of him last year: "He's too nice to everybody. I want to see him get tougher and get mean to a lot of people."
Guillen's point was proven this season. Through all the losing, McLaren always insisted that his guys were playing hard, that he believed in them, etc., etc. I'm sure things were different behind closed doors, but based on Guillen's comments, I doubt they were significantly different. If not, then why continue to play Sexson? Why bat Vidro third? Why not move Ibanez out of left field? McLaren made no serious move to improve his club's chances of winning. Granted he was handed lemons, but instead of doing anything with them, he just stared at them.
That doesn't even get into his general befuddlement over the terrible defense, his bizarre explanation for moving Ichiro to right field, his inability to strategically fill out a lineup card, his mis-use of the bullpen, etc.
Bench coach Jim Riggleman takes over, but he'll be gone when a new GM is hired.
|
