M’s CEO expects quick turnaround

SEATTLE – Do the Seattle Mariners now wait for the other shoe to drop – or rather, to be put to manager John McLaren’s backside?

It was a legitimate question after ownership fired general manager Bill Bavasi on Monday with the Mariners reeling from a three-game sweep at the hands of the Washington Nationals and saddled with the worst record in major league baseball – 24-45.

Howard Lincoln, the club’s chief executive officer, would not allow that Bavasi’s dismissal amounted to any particular endorsement for McLaren.

“John is our field manager,” Lincoln said at an afternoon press conference. “Quite frankly, as I sit up here, I’m not in the mood to sing the praises of anybody in our clubhouse, whether it’s the manager, the coaches or the players.

“It’s a very fluid and difficult situation we find ourselves in. I expect John and his coaches and these players to get going and do what is necessary to turn this thing around as quickly as possible. If that doesn’t happen, we will make further changes.”

If the sense of urgency hasn’t been translated to McLaren before, it seems to have been received.

“We’ve all been challenged,” McLaren said. “Who’s going to meet the challenge? We’re going to find that out.”

Precious few of the Mariners have so far. The club is next-to-last in both hitting and pitching in the American League, and 11th among 14 teams in fielding. Still, outside of juggling the batting order, McLaren has made precious few changes – the release of Brad Wilkerson opening up a spot in right field more than a month ago, and the temporary benching of Richie Sexson at first base while he retooled his batting stance.

That changed Monday with the move of center fielder Ichiro Suzuki back to right field, where he broke in with the Mariners in 2001 and played until moving to center in August 2006. In addition, outfielder Wladimir Balentien was optioned to Tacoma and catcher Jeff Clement was recalled.

“I’ve been thinking it over for a month,” McLaren said. “It’s nothing against Ichiro in center field, but I think he’s a great right fielder. I want to see him get the zest and smile and everything going. What I remember is all the spectacular things, and I want to try that. I’m not sure it’s going to work or make any difference whatsoever, but I’m going to try that.”

Suzuki is hitting .295, 38 points off his career average. McLaren said Suzuki has never seemed resentful about playing center and was positive about this change.

“He’s on board with anything that will help the ballclub,” he said.

Willie Bloomquist started in center field against the Florida Marlins on Monday. McLaren said Jeremy Reed, Seattle’s center fielder before Suzuki, would also be in the mix.

Bavasi said he hoped his firing wouldn’t add to the pressure on McLaren.

“I don’t think he can (feel more pressure),” said Bavasi. “I think it’s a shame he feels that way. But he can handle it. He’s got broad shoulders. He’s got courage. He’s not afraid of this stuff. I hope he sleeps well because he’s doing the best he can.”

But Bavasi has been McLaren’s biggest supporter, and it wasn’t a good sign when chief operating officer Chuck Armstrong held a closed door meeting with the manager and his coaches two weeks ago and could be heard giving them a loud, stinging lecture.

“For me to go in and talk to the manager and coaches about continuing to fight, we’re going to be evaluating that,” Armstrong said. “With the record we have, I’d have to say I’m disappointed in all of us.”