Avila: 'Ridiculous' That McClendon Was Hired In Toledo To Succeed Ausmus
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
When Lloyd McClendon was named manager of the Toledo Mud Hens in November, the move was seen by many as nothing more than a succession plan. The Mud Hens are Detroit's Triple-A affiliate, and the Tigers haven't exactly been rock-solid at their managerial position.
It had always been a possibility Tigers manager Brad Ausmus would be fired at the end of the 2015 season. But general manager and vice president of baseball operations Al Avila made the decision to keep him around for 2016.
Meanwhile in Toledo, McClendon is a former Tigers hitting coach (2006-13), and was just fired as the Mariners' manager in October. If things go downhill with Ausmus next season, fans will quickly point to McClendon as the next option, as he bides his time in the minor leagues waiting for another chance.
"Hiring McClendon has nothing to do with Ausmus, to tell you the truth," Avila said Tuesday, on MLB Network's "High Heat" show. "It's kind of ridiculous. I guess people can speculate all they want, because McClendon didn't have to take a job at all. He could have stayed at home and watched the games on TV and collect a paycheck, and then if something were to happen with any managerial position in all of Major League Baseball, anybody could have called him at home."
McClendon has compiled a 499-607 major league record as a manager, 336-446 in five years with the Pirates, and 163-161 in two seasons with Seattle.
The Mariners missed the playoffs during both seasons under McClendon, by one game in 2014. He won AL Manager of the Year that season.
McClendon made his first stop with the Tigers organization in 2006, when Jim Leyland brought him onboard as bullpen coach. He made the transition to hitting coach the next year, and spent seven seasons in the position. During McClendon's tenure, two Tigers players won four AL batting titles (Miguel Cabrera in 2011-13 and Magglio Ordonez in 2007).
"To our advantage, we felt, 'Hey, we have a guy that has major league experience, knows the organization, it's gonna be great for the affiliate in Toledo because they're excited to have him onboard," Avila said. "I mean, McClendon will sell tickets there and he's a guy who wants to show the industry he's not gonna sit back and take a paycheck. He's gonna go to work."
Regardless of when, or if, McClendon gets another shot in the majors, Avila says the Mud Hens manager is not part of some larger succession plan.
"It really has nothing to do with Ausmus because anything that happens with any manager at the major league level, and you want to replace that guy, it doesn't matter if he's sitting in Toledo or sitting at home or sitting anywhere else," Avila said. "It's ludicrous to tell you the truth."
