Mariners notebook: Lloyd McClendon, Nelson Cruz on Jack Zduriencik’s firing

CHICAGO – By all appearances, the news that Jack Zduriencik had been fired hit Lloyd McClendon hard.

“It hasn’t been a good day for a lot of different reasons, but obviously Jack was very dedicated to this organization,” McClendon said sitting in the dugout at US Cellular Field. “It’s always tough when you lose a family member and we consider Jack a family member. He worked extremely hard with myself, the coaching staff as well as the players. It’s just been one of those years where a lot of things did not turn out the way we thought they would.”

A manager will always be tied to the GM who hired him, and although Mariners team president Kevin Mather gave a heavy endorsement to keeping McClendon, he fell short of saying that it would be an expectation for the new general manager. McClendon knows the business and knows that there is only one thing he can do at this time.

“Same as I always do. Come out today and try to win a ballgame. After this day is over go home, refuel, come out tomorrow and try to win another ball game,” he said.

The players were told of the move in a closed door meeting at 3 p.m. Central, which Mather attended. It was tough news for Nelson Cruz to hear.

“Not just me, everyone here is here because of him,” he said. “I don’t think it is his fault at all. It’s a player’s job to do what they’re supposed to do out there. If you look at the team we should have the pieces we need to be in a better spot. Unfortunately he is the one who has to pay for that.”

On a personal note, Cruz appreciated the interest Zduriencik showed in his players on a day-to-day basis.

“He was always around, asking how you are feeling, what can we do to make things easier. He definitely cared, he was there for what we needed. It’s a sad day.”

Lineup

Ketel Marte, SS
Kyle Seager, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Franklin Gutierrez, LF
Austin Jackson, CF
Mark Trumbo, DH
Logan Morrison, 1B
Jesus Sucre, C

Taijuan Walker, RHP

Notes

• As I wrote this morning, Zduriencik’s last move was to option Mike Zunino to Triple-A Tacoma and call up John Hicks. McClendon said that he had seen Zunino start to take his offense into his defense and it was clear he needed a break.

“There’s just so many variables that go into catching, and then the offensive side of things as well, I think it just became overbearing for him,” Zduriencik said. “This gives him a chance to go down for 10 to 12 days to get a breather and maybe regroup a little bit and get it going.”

Hicks arrived at about 4 p.m. and was immediately given a quick tutorial on signs with three of the coaches. He has caught most of the Mariners’ pitchers either in Tacoma or spring training but will sit with bench coach/catching coach Trent Jewett tonight to get a good feel for how they handle the pitching at this level.

• McClendon said he should be able to name a starter for Sunday after the game tonight. For a second straight day Mike Montgomery is listed as a bullpen arm on the lineup card.

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