M's pick Wedge as manager

[TellItToTheDA]

One, as Joseph pointed out, I called this weeks ago. But I'm ECSTATIC!

http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/archives/225054.asp


Jon Heyman of SI.com reported Friday afternoon that the Mariners will hire Eric Wedge to replace Don Wakamatsu as manager.

Wedge, 42, most recently managed the Cleveland Indians from 2003-2009, going 561-573. The Indians won the American League Central title in 2007.

Earlier Friday, the team informed Bobby Valentine that he was no longer a candidate for the job.

Wakamatsu was fired Aug. 9 amid one of the worst seasons in Mariners franchise history. He was replaced by Triple-A Tacoma manager Daren Brown on an interim basis. The team finished 61-101.

The Mariners also reportedly interviewed former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon, former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and former Astros manager Cecil Cooper this week.

Mariners interim pitching coach Carl Willis was Wedge's pitching coach in Cleveland, where he helped develop pitchers such as CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee. Willis replaced Rick Adair, who was fired with Wakamatsu.

One current Mariner might not be thrilled with the choice of Wedge – outfielder/designated hitter Milton Bradley. Wedge was Bradley's manager in Cleveland, and by most accounts they did not see eye-to-eye on a few issues.

According to an SI.com story from 2004, Wedge pulled Bradley from a spring training game for not running out a pop fly that fell in for a hit. After that incident, the Indians traded Bradley to the Los Angeles Dodgers for, among others, future Mariner Franklin Gutierrez.

[Nateyb24]

Hopefully he does better then this guy a ex Indian manager who had success but flopped with us:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Hargrove

[phredmojo]

`yet another howie and chuckie fuck up. thiis team is going nowhere but down as long as they are with the team

[Igoe4Mariners]

Not to sure about this move, but well see how it plays out...

[TellItToTheDA]

`yet another howie and chuckie fuck up. thiis team is going nowhere but down as long as they are with the team

No no no. You don't get to just make a ignorant statement like that, and not back it up. You tell me right now how the hell it's a fuck up, or back off. Every sign points to this being a great hire. Wedge was a scapegoat in Cleveland. The Indians won more than 80 games four times and twice won more than 90 under Wedge from 2003-09. He led the Indians to the ALCS in 2007, only to have the dismantled around him in both 2008 and 2009.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-Postseason-100310

“I'm burning,” Wedge said. “I've got all the desire in the world to manage again.

“I took a year off to spend with my family, get refreshed physically, emotionally, everything else. I'm ready to dive back in head-first. And when I'm in, I'm all in.”

I don't know about you, but that's exactly what I want to hear from a new manager. And he brings that perfect mixture of being a player's manager, while at the same time getting on a guy's case when need be:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5684756

"He expected the players to police themselves in the clubhouse which I loved. He wasn't in your face and expecting you to do this, that and the other thing. He expected you to take care of yourself and if you didn't then he would get involved. He wasn't a big meeting guy. He picked and choosed his spots at the right time."

http://mopupduty.com/index.php/eric-wedge-for-manager/

One time during Spring Training, current Blue Jays broadcaster Pat Tabler paid a visit to the Indians’ camp. Upon arriving, Tabler took the opportunity to listen in on Eric Wedge addressing all of his players on the field. Tabler said that Wedge was such a remarkable orator and so persuasive in his speech that he wanted to put on a jersey himself and “go get ‘em” with the rest of the Indians squad.

This is a great hire. And go right the hell ahead and rain on everyone's parade, just like you would have if the team had hired Bobby V, or Lloyd McClendon, or John Gibbons, or anyone. Stop bitching and recognize a good move when you see one.

[JosephC]

To go from AL Manager of the year in 2007 to fired in 2009, all it seems to take is one bad season for the team to ditch managers. He has the ability to direct a team to playoffs which is a good sign. I agree with phred on the fact that I don't like how C & H use managers as scapegoats, but I don't feel that it has anything to do with the pick of Wedge. If they want a manager gone, they could do it to any manager they pick. Also, woudn't his .495 make him the third best manager of record for the Mariners behind Lou and Mike Hargrove?

[Igoe4Mariners]

No no no. You don't get to just make a ignorant statement like that, and not back it up. You tell me right now how the hell it's a fuck up, or back off. Every sign points to this being a great hire. Wedge was a scapegoat in Cleveland. The Indians won more than 80 games four times and twice won more than 90 under Wedge from 2003-09. He led the Indians to the ALCS in 2007, only to have the dismantled around him in both 2008 and 2009.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-Postseason-100310


I don't know about you, but that's exactly what I want to hear from a new manager. And he brings that perfect mixture of being a player's manager, while at the same time getting on a guy's case when need be:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5684756


http://mopupduty.com/index.php/eric-wedge-for-manager/


This is a great hire. And go right the hell ahead and rain on everyone's parade, just like you would have if the team had hired Bobby V, or Lloyd McClendon, or John Gibbons, or anyone. Stop bitching and recognize a good move when you see one.

Thanks for the info. I didn't really know anything about him until now. I feel much better.

But isn't the Milton Bradley situation something to worry about for next year? Or do you think we try to cut him or trade him?

[JosephC]

After Milton stormed out of the dugout, he was no problem at all last year. I think the two can joke about it and move on. I honestly think Milton was half made a villain by the media, the other half himself. At the same time, there is no guarantee Milton will even make the team out of spring training. He seems to have lost all skills with the wood.

[Nateyb24]

`yet another howie and chuckie fuck up. thiis team is going nowhere but down as long as they are with the team

Did you want Valentine to?? I sure was dissapointed when i found out he didn't get the job for 1 reason we get Wedge if he has a good year then a bad year he will probaly get immediately fired after a year and half just like Wak was.

They wouldn't be able to do this to Valentine unless he was horrible for like 5 or so years the media would see it as disrespect. They probaly figured Valentine would step up and say something to them i hope Wedge does to.

Shouldve just kept Wak if this was the route we were going the team over performed in 09 then underperformed in 10 not much Wak couldve done if you ask me.

[phredmojo]

don't like valentine, but at least he would have been a Z hire and not a chuckie and howie hire like melvin, hargrove, maclaren, wak were and now wedge is

[phredmojo]

the guarantee is this


2011:$12M and untradeable. no other GM is stupid enough to take him. even if we ate all 12 million

[clarknova]

Dudes! This forum got kick ass all the sudden. You all waited for me to leave didn't you?!

Seriously though- Wedge, for me = Ok? Same reaction I'd have to any of them, including Bobby Valentine. I was all amped up on him at first, but if asked, I would have no real reason as I don't credit field managers with creating wins often. They do dumb stuff, and I've read that Wedge will probably do some stuff that I'll find insanely annoying (bullpen use, lots of bunting), but they all do that.

Here's my guarantee- If the M's young talent produce a .500 team, everyone will think Wedge was a great hire and the future is bright. If the PLAYERS aren't ready and the team loses 90+ games, fans will demonize him like he had something to do with it. Sigh.
I heard all these fools on the radio just LOSING it over us NOT getting Valentine. Literally freaking out (ok, to be honest it was "freak out Friday")- screaming about Jack having his head up his ass and not knowing what he's doing AT ALL... For NOT hiring Bobby Valentine. Dudes, I'm sorry, but that's dumb. LOL! How the hell do any of these people know that Bobby Valentine would make the Mariners winners? They don't, and I know this because I KNOW that he wouldn't, because he couldn't, because he can't frickin' control the talent he is handed! Sheesh people, get a grip.

Field manager = line up cards, bullpen usage, pinch hitting, bunting/stolen base calls, inspiration (via meetings, respect, and occasional supportive freak outs). This isn't the NFL. He's not hitting clean up. He's going to sit on the bench and chew gum in an windbreaker and occasionally wave his hand around.

THAT being said- I want a guy with some personality. Inspiration might not mean the World Series, but it could be the difference between the 2009 M's and the 2010 M's. Then again, who knows? You can't quantify happiness. There is no statistic for moral support.