Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon has emerged as a candidate to become the Marlins' manager according to CBSSports.com senior baseball writer Danny Knobler.
McClendon, who managed the Pirates from 2001-05, interviewed with Marlins officials on Tuesday, according to Knobler's sources. The Marlins have yet to confirm or deny the report.
The Pirates were 336-446 under McClendon. After winning 75 games under McClendon in 2003 and 72 games in 2004, the Pirates went six years without getting to 70 wins. This season Pittsburgh won 79 games.
McClendon joined Jim Leyland's Tiger staff in 2006 and has played a big part in helping the Tigers to two World Series and three ALCS appearances including coaching triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera. Tigers fans, however, weren't happy with the lack of offense in the World Series.
McClendon, a native of Gary, Indiana, played eight years in the big leagues for the Reds, Cubs and Pirates and finished his career as a .244 hitter with 35 home runs and 154 RBI in 570 games. He played five different positions: catcher, first base, third base, left field and right field in his career and didn't break into the big leagues until he was 28 years old.
Mike Redmond, Larry Bowa and Luis Gonzalez have also been mentioned as candidates for the Marlins job. Redmond is considered the favorite.
Wow, Clark...Guess I beat you on this one by 2 minutes...LOL... I swear it wasn't on purpose.
Posted by: Flav C. | October 31, 2012 at 03:15 PM
By the way, CBSSports.com is doing pretty good on bringing sports news first than everybody else.
Posted by: Flav C. | October 31, 2012 at 03:22 PM
Morris Buttermaker would be a perfect fit for Loria.
Posted by: Tatum O'neal | October 31, 2012 at 03:28 PM
Being politically correct, Cliff Floyd will interview next. That way ,Loria has complied with MLB diversity hiring rule, by pretending to be interested in hiring Lloyd Floyd.
Posted by: curt flood | October 31, 2012 at 03:42 PM
Maybe Barry Bonds would like an interview.
Posted by: spitballer | October 31, 2012 at 04:56 PM
"curt flood" , I think by interviewing McClendon they just did that.
Posted by: Flav C. | October 31, 2012 at 05:07 PM
By interviewing McClendon,Loria must be trying to appeal to his large Afro-American fan base at the ballpark...all 20 of them
Posted by: Action Jackson | October 31, 2012 at 06:15 PM
Action...Loria is appeasing his WASP fan base. McClendon is Irish.
Posted by: Randle P. McMurphy | October 31, 2012 at 06:28 PM
McClendon and I come from the same Northwestern region of Ireland, in Donegal.
Posted by: Donovan McNabb | November 01, 2012 at 08:12 AM
Just read that the Marlins tried to acquire Ervin Santana yesterday through trade, right before the Royals acquired him. The Royals sent one of their top pitching prospects. I wonder what the Marlins offered...
Posted by: Flav C. | November 01, 2012 at 09:40 AM
Marlins offered Carlos Santana
Posted by: black magic woman | November 01, 2012 at 09:53 AM
I'd love to see Sal Fasano get an interview or some sort of consideration.....
Posted by: Thememanxx | November 01, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Having men who have never yet managed in the big leagues decline consideration as the Marlins manager speaks volumes about this team's travails. With all that money still due Ozzie, the managerial budget must be low as well. Redmond sounds like he has the credentials, but as an organizational mainstay, I am worried that he will be a Loria pawn.
Here is an excellent analysis of one of the recent trades. Also at the bottom and within the article are other useful links. Lou, you will be pleased with the link for Ozuma, he is tearing up the Dominican league.
http://fansidedradio.com/2012/10/31/dugout-dirt-the-miami-marlins-managerial-problem/
I wouldn't mind seeing the team give new free agent McGehee a spring tryout. Nothing ventured and he could help at 3B if things work out.
Posted by: Stan M | November 01, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Stan, its great to see Ozuna tearing it up, but don't read too much into those numbers: hitter-friendly parkers, tired pitchers....and a nice warm weather help to inflate those numbers.
I rather see how he goes in Jacksonville and in the Southern League, who is not that nice to hitters.
Posted by: Flav C. | November 01, 2012 at 11:24 AM
As a Tiger AND Marlins fan, I would loke to point out McClendon's nickname is Legendary Lloyd.
I would also like to thank the Legendary one for "turning" Cabrera into a successful hitter. Never possible without Lloyd. he also did a fine job with Fielder--not surprising. Now his efforts with players who actually NEEDED help are a little more suspect---Boesch, Avila, Peralta, Inge,Raburn,Kelly and a few more. Legendary does a great job with super stars and has problems with others. The Marlins are a whole bunch of "others", bet that Stanton hits 30 homers under his "tutelage."
Posted by: Lou | November 01, 2012 at 11:26 AM
another case of a coach that will be trying to make chicken liver out of chickenshit....
Posted by: Frank Perdue | November 01, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Redmond hired as new manager.
Posted by: Flav C. | November 01, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Had to get the diversity interview out of the way first.
Posted by: mike hill | November 01, 2012 at 12:05 PM
So far I'm liking Redmond. Luis Gonzalez could be interesting but who knows? This franchise has turned into such a joke around the league and it's painfully obvious. Total...Total miscalculation by Loria and crew and now we'll be stuck with a cheap manager and paying for Ozzie, Bell...etc...for years. What about a guy like Mike Maddux to manage the team?
The Manager and who will be hitting/pitching coaches for this team as well?
Posted by: flagstafffishfan | November 01, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Good on the job training for Redmond before he replaces Gardenhire in Minnesota.
Posted by: Fredi G, | November 01, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Can Redmond platoon with Brantley and get rid of Buck and his stupidass contract?
Posted by: Y NOT | November 01, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Loria and Sampson enjoyed the part of the interview where Redmond explained his unorthodox methods for getting out of slumps.
Actually part of the interview was a "live demo" of his methods.
They hope he implements that ASAP in the Marlins organization.
Posted by: Flav C. | November 01, 2012 at 12:21 PM
I am with Stan on this one and worried that Loria likes Redmond because he is a company man whom Loria believes he can exert control over. I hate to be pessimistic, and this is with all due respect to Mike Redmond, but I don't believe hiring a manager with only singe A experience makes the team better or a more attractive place for free agent. Though I sincerely hope I am proven wrong on this.
Posted by: Camera Mike | November 01, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Marlins ,with their heavily back-loaded contracts,are threw spending money on A type free agents,so dont worry about them not wanting to come here,as they wont be offered or asked to. Redmond will be asked to win with less than proven talent. Big Surprise. .500 baseball will be the goal.
Posted by: Peter Gammons Dog | November 01, 2012 at 12:36 PM
ESPN reporting Redmond hired to 3 year contract
Posted by: Stan M | November 01, 2012 at 12:58 PM