M’s brass erupts in anger

SEATTLE – Finally, after plummeting to a place from which no team has made the postseason, the Mariners’ decision-makers ripped into their sorry team.

Team president Chuck Armstrong berated members of the coaching staff Wednesday morning, hours before the imploding M’s got swept out of a three-game series against the same Los Angeles Angels they expected to unseat for the American League West title.

About an hour after Armstrong’s rage, manager John McLaren had a closed-door chat with general manager Bill Bavasi. Two weeks after Bavasi said McLaren’s job was safe, Bavasi did so again.

“This is not a field managerial issue. He’s not at the plate with guys on first and second and leaving them there – three times,” the GM said.

When their pregame talk ended, McLaren drew another line in this season that has had more than a geometry class. This one had a twist: Instead of claiming the players had a sense of urgency, the manager said the team wants players to begin fearing for their jobs.

“Yeah, I think we do. I think we might be a little complacent,” McLaren said, discarding his usual keep-it-positive vibe.

After the game, McLaren discarded all decorum.

“I’m tired of (expletive) losing! I’m tired of getting my (expletive) beat, and so are those guys!” McLaren shouted, jabbing his finger toward the clubhouse at the beginning of an expletive-laced tirade that emphasized his team is trying hard but not performing as it should.

After Seattle’s 20th loss in 27 games, Bavasi ordered each of the 25 players to sit at his locker to be held publicly accountable for his performance.

One player muttered under his breath: “What are we in, kindergarten?”