Notes: McClendon happy with new gig

03/05/2006
LAKELAND, Fla. -- There was nothing novel about Lloyd McClendon addressing a half dozen or so Pittsburgh reporters prior to the Pirates' game Sunday at Joker Marchant Stadium -- he'd had hundreds of such powwows with the scribes during his tenure as the Bucs skipper.
The fact that McClendon conducted the interview while wearing a dark blue Detroit Tigers jersey, however, was certainly something new.
McClendon, who was let go last September after nearly five years as manager of the Pirates, has grown accustomed to his new threads. And he's become comfortable in his new role as a bullpen coach for his mentor, former Bucs skipper and current Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
"It's outstanding," said McClendon. "It's a pleasure to come to work every day. Jim makes it easy. He tells us all the time, 'You don't work for me; you work with me.' I think that's pretty darned good."
McClendon looks back fondly on his 14 years with the Pirates, even if things didn't go as well as he'd have liked during his time as a manager, and he has no lingering animosity for his former employers.
"I was with the club for 15 years. There are some good memories. Some bad, but most of the memories are very good," said McClendon.
"I went into the Pirates job with my eyes wide open. I understand how things work. It's unfortunate in this business. Time ran out. Guys were getting better, but time ran out. I wasn't the first [to be let go] and I won't be the last that that happens to. It's just the way the game works."
When Leyland decided to return to managing after spending the previous six seasons scouting for the Cardinals in Pittsburgh, he wasted no time adding McClendon to his big-league staff.
"I think he's a very bright baseball man," said Leyland. "He's a very well-rounded baseball man. He's an intelligent guy. He brings a lot.
"I thought he did a heck of a job [in Pittsburgh]. Plus, he's a friend. It's pretty nice when you've got a friend you think is a heck of a baseball guy. That's a pretty good combination."
While McClendon is enjoying his new role for now, he's made no secret of his desire to return to the managerial ranks some day.
"I'm only 47," McClendon said. "I'm not burned out yet."
Snell debuts: Right-hander Ian Snell, who is among the top four candidates to fill the final two spots in the Pittsburgh starting rotation, made his debut Sunday against the Tigers.
In two innings, Snell blanked Detroit while walking one and striking out one. He was able to effectively mix in his fastball, changeup and curve among his 27 pitches.
"Ian threw the ball extremely well today," said Pirates manager Jim Tracy. "I saw Ian throw breaking balls for strikes, I saw him throw changeups for strikes and I saw Ian throwing strikes early in the count.
"When you have the kind of stuff that he has, you start to force hitters to have to expend themselves offensively instead of limiting where the ball is going to show up in those specific areas."
Snell has pitched about as well as anyone could in the Minor Leagues, as evidenced by his 61-20 career record in the Minors and the no-hitter he threw last season at Triple-A. But to this point, those numbers haven't translated into big-league success. In 18 career appearances with the Bucs, including six starts, he's gone 1-3 with a 5.67 ERA.
With Kip Wells expected to be sidelined by a blood clot for at least two months, Snell knows this could be his best chance to open some eyes and show the new coaching staff that he deserves one of the two openings in the starting rotation. Still, he's trying not to put undue pressure on himself.
"I see there is opportunity. But I just want to go out and show that I can do it first instead of saying, 'Oh, I'm going to have that spot,'" Snell said.
"I'm trying not to think too much. If you think too much, you carry it on the field; you worry; you tell yourself you have to do good. I just want to go out and be myself, like [pitching coach Jim] Colborn told me. That's what I've done."
Tracyball: A sequence in the third inning epitomized the type of play that Tracy wants to see from his team this season.
Nate McLouth led off the inning, worked the count full and then hustled down the first-base line and reached safely on an error by Tigers shortstop Don Kelly. With the hit and run on, Freddy Sanchez was able to make contact with a pitch well out of the strike zone to move McLouth over to second base on a soft grounder to shortstop. Sean Casey followed with a single up the middle to score the speedy McLouth from second with the Bucs' only run.
Tracy's "rag smash" drill also paid early dividends when Pirates starter Brandon Duckworth snared a line drive back through the box in the first inning on Sunday and was able to throw out a runner venturing too far off second base for a double play.
Bucs bits: The 4-1 loss to the Tigers on Sunday was the Bucs' first in four Grapefruit League games. The Pirates also were held without a home run Sunday for the first time this spring. ... Four of the Pirates' last five managers were in uniform Sunday at Joker Marchant Stadium. In addition to Tracy, McClendon and Leyland, Gene Lamont was on hand as the Tigers' third base coach. ... Chris Duffy (shoulder) is expected to make his first start in center field on Monday. Tracy said he is not sure when shortstop Jack Wilson, who had his wisdom teeth removed on Thursday, will be ready to make his spring debut.
On deck: The Pirates will return home to McKechnie Field on Monday to take on the Twins at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Victor Santos will start for the Bucs against Minnesota southpaw Glen Perkins. Ryan Vogelsong, Matt Peterson, Marty McLeary, John Grabow and Matt Capps also are scheduled to pitch for Pittsburgh.

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