McClendon plays it cool

NEW YORK -- After suffering a tough 10-inning loss to the Yankees on Wednesday, the Pirates still had to suit up and play Thursday's series finale.
But that doesn't mean manager Lloyd McClendon was any less steamed that Tony Randazzo, the first base umpire, called Gary Sheffield safe at first on what would have been a game-ending double play.

In a heated, though G-rated, tirade on Thursday, McClendon mused that he's earned himself a reputation that has soured his credibility with MLB umpires.

"I've probably been out of line a couple of times and as a result, I've paid the price for it," McClendon said. "Now I just keep my mouth shut and go about my business. I've learned that going out and jumping and arguing ... is not going to change the call.

"That's why I didn't go out and argue the call last night. What was that going to do other than get me thrown out of a ballgame? It wasn't going to change the score. Unless there's an opportunity for me to get an umpire to ask for help on a call, you probably won't see me go out there."

McClendon took particular issue because he felt Randazzo goaded him after the play and again after the game.

"When he made the call, he looked at me and shook his head," McClendon said. "If you made the call and you know you made the right call, why are you looking in my dugout? I didn't jump up and scream at him. I certainly didn't come out to argue to the call, did I?"

McClendon claimed that after the game ended, Randazzo stared him down from his position down the first-base line.

"Why would he be looking at me in the dugout when the game is over, when the only thing he has to do is make sure that runner touches first and then head off the field toward the umpires' room?" McClendon asked.

"You tell me that's not preconceived notions about how I'm going to react to a certain situation."

Review session: McClendon did propose a potential solution for late-game disputes: instant replay.

"I've been for it for quite a while, and I believe that in certain instances it should be used."

McClendon sees the merits of the instant replay systems utilized by the NBA and NFL. He likes the way the NBA only views replays that will affect the outcome of a game at the end of regulation (or quarter), and also believes the NFL's limited number of challenges are a good way to keep the system from being abused.

However, he doesn't know specifically how or when instant replay should be implemented in baseball.

"I'm sure it's something that's going to be talked about, but I don't have those answers," McClendon said. "I just think something should be in place."

Out of options: McClendon named Michael Restovich Thursday's starter in left field, and also pointed to him as the team's emergency first baseman. Restovich has struggled to break into the lineup, and McClendon said that Restovich is unlikely to do so any time soon.

"He's a guy that's out of options," McClendon said. "I think he's best served playing every day, but we don't have that option right now.

"But I think he's worth the risk of trying to hold on to and see if we can turn him around."

Knee-ding support: Reliever Mike Gonzalez has been bothered by a balky knee, and will wear a brace for the rest of the season, McClendon said.

The Pirates manager didn't believe the knee affected Gonzalez during Wednesday's outing, when the southpaw allowed a run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

"I just think it's a situation where he came in, and for whatever reason, couldn't get the ball down in the zone," McClendon said. "Every pitch was up, and he got away with a couple of them and there were a couple he didn't get away with.

"It had nothing to do with his knee -- he just made some bad pitches."

Leading man: McClendon said that Freddy Sanchez has earned a spot as the Pirates' leadoff hitter against left-handed pitchers. Sanchez is batting .328 (19-for-58) with six doubles in his last 15 games. Matt Lawton will bat second when Sanchez is atop the order.

On deck: The Pirates travel to Boston on Friday for the first game of a three-game series with the Red Sox. Josh Fogg (4-3, 4.33 ERA) starts for the Pirates and will be opposed by right-hander Wade Miller (2-2, 5.03 ERA).

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/