McClendon Finishes 4th In Manager Of The Year Votes

SEATTLE, Wash. (1090 The Fan / AP) – It wasn’t just the city of Seattle that took notice of Lloyd McClendon’s work in 2014 — the Baseball Writers’ Association of America thought he was one of the American League’s best skippers.

The Seattle Mariners manager finished with 29 points in the voting for the AL’s Manager of the Year, 16 points shy of the winner, the Baltimore Orioles’ Buck Showalter.

In McClendon’s first year in Seattle, the team finished within one game of a playoff birth; it was the first time in more than a decade that Game 162 had meaning for the Mariners. McClendon’s 2014 Mariners finished 87-75, the most wins in a single season since 2007.

Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels was second in the AL with four firsts and 61 points, and Kansas City’s Ned Yost finished third with 41 points.

Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams, who led his team to an National League-best 96, won the NL honor.

Voting took place before the playoffs, when Baltimore swept Detroit in the Division Series and then was swept by Kansas City in the AL Championship Series.

Until the ALCS, the Orioles had not lost four in a row since May and had not dropped consecutive home games since June 28-29.

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