Eric Wedge Gets a Shot in Seattle

After a year away from baseball, which he probably needed after those terrible last couple of seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Eric Wedge is back in the game.

The 42-year-old has filled Don Wakamatsu's shoes as the Seattle Mariners seventh manager since 2003. He has a tough job ahead too: attempting to rebuild a once-flourishing franchise who was actually supposed to be pretty good in 2010. Turns out, they sucked their way to 101 losses.

Wedge was the Indians' skipper for seven years until they canned him with just six games left in the 2009 season as the team fell to last place in the American League Central.

Pretty much the only impressive thing on Wedge's resume was when he managed the Tribe within one win of the World Series back in 2007 when he was honored as the AL's Manager of the Year. He had this to say regarding his new club:

I think this is a terrific opportunity and I am excited to be a part of it. Seattle is a great city for me and my family. With the fan support, the ballpark, the ownership and management, the Mariners are in a great position to be very successful.

Yes, terrific. Good luck buddy!

[Associated Free Press] | [Seattle Post-Intelligencer] | [U.S.S. Mariner]