Advertisement

Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Oct 9 (The Sports Xchange) - The Seattle Mariners fired manager Lloyd McClendon on Friday after two seasons. McClendon, 56, guided the Mariners to a 76-86 record in 2015, also leading to the dismissal of general manager Jack Zduriencik in late August. Mariners executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto was hired during the final week of the regular season to determine McClendon's fate. McClendon was named manager on Nov. 5, 2013. He compiled a 163-161 record in two seasons in Seattle. He has a 499-607 career mark as a major league manager with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2001-2005) and Seattle. He was under contract for 2016. "I have a great deal of respect for Lloyd, as a person and as a manager," Dipoto said in a statement. "It is a credit to his professionalism that the team continued to play hard through the final day of the season. However, after extensive conversations it became clear to me that our baseball philosophies were not closely aligned." Dipoto was hired on Sept. 29 after previously serving as general manager with the Los Angeles Angels. He clashed with the on-field coaching staff with the Angels before he resigned during the 2015 season. Dipoto also announced that batting coach Edgar Martinez and infield coach Chris Woodward have been invited to return to the coaching staff. In addition, pitching coach Rick Waits and coach Chris Prieto have been invited to return to the Mariners organization. Bench coach Trent Jewett, third base coach Rich Donnelly, outfield coach Andy Van Slyke and bullpen coach Mike Rojas will not be returning to the Mariners. - - - The Astros announced the roof will be closed at Minute Maid Park for games Sunday and Monday. "Our ballpark fully enclosed can get really loud when it's 40-50,000 people. It's bring your earplugs," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. (Editing by Andrew Both)