Mariners Choose Eric Wedge as Manager, Expect Renewed Intensity

by John Hickey

Filed under: Indians, Mariners

For the second time in six years, the Mariners are dipping into the ranks of former Cleveland managers to fill a managerial opening.

Eric Wedge, who managed in Cleveland for seven seasons from 2002-09, and who has interviewed for almost every available managerial job that has come open since, is the man general manager Jack Zduriencik has picked to lead the Mariners in 2011.

The news, first broken by SI.com, was quickly confirmed, but the Mariners say they have no plans for an announcement through the weekend. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig frowns on clubs making major announcements on gamedays in the playoffs, but waivers have been given in the past, so the announcement could come down early next week.

Mike Hargrove, who managed the Mariners from 2005-07, also had Cleveland ties, having managed the Indians from 1991-99. And he spent lots of time with Wedge in Cleveland in 2004 when Wedge was in his third year and Hargrove was an Indians consultant.

 

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