Lefebvre Officially Out -- Mariners Fire Manager Today; Paul Is Also Out

Jim Lefebvre, who in three seasons as manager of the Seattle Mariners improved the club's record by 10 games and helped increase attendance by nearly one million, today was fired.

General Manager Woody Woodward announced the decision after meeting with Lefebvre for three hours this morning at a hotel in Tempe, Ariz. Woodward, who could not be reached for comment today, said in a news release that he hoped to reach a decision on a replacement "within the month."

Also fired was pitching coach Mike Paul, who was brought to Seattle by Lefebvre from the Oakland Athletics' coaching staff. Paul helped the staff lower its earned-run average from 4.15 in 1988 to 3.79 this season. In 1991, the bullpen set a club record for saves with 48, despite not having closer Mike Schooler available until July 12.

Third-base coach Bill Plummer and bench coach Ron Clark will interview as candidates for the Mariners' managerial spot.

Among the strongest candidates to replace Lefebvre appear to be Plummer, 44, and Bucky Dent, former New York Yankee manager and a close friend of Woodward's; Bucky Showalter, 35, former Yankee third-base coach; Tom Trebelhorn, ousted as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers this week; Reds Manager Lou Piniella, another Woodward friend who may be able to step out of his $650,000-a-year contract with Cincinnati; and John McNamara, who was the Mariner advance scout before he was hired (then fired) by Cleveland.

Clark and Don Baylor, 42, hitting coach with Milwaukee until Trebelhorn's firing, are considered long shots.

For the Mariners, bullpen coach Dan Warthen is expected to be named pitching coach. Batting instructor Gene Clines and first-base coach Rusty Kuntz also are expected to be offered contracts to return next season.

Woodward, in a statement released by the club, said: "The entire staff and Jim felt the change needed to be made."

Lefebvre also could not be reached for comment. He took over in 1989 and guided the team to a 73-89 record. Last season the club was 77-85. This year the Mariners were 83-79, the first winning season in club history.

Along the way Lefebvre became the American League team's winningest manager, compiling a record of 233-253 (.479), the highest winning percentage for a manager in the team's 15-year history.

"I feel proud of what I've done here and no one can take that away from me," Lefebvre said Sunday after the season ended. "They said I'm not the guy to take the team to the next level. Aren't we there already? We've wanted a winning season. We're there."

Some have said Lefebvre lost control in the clubhouse because of the way he handled players. However, he said Sunday, "I didn't lose control of the clubhouse. You don't lose control of 25 or 30 guys. That's strictly (not true).

"You tell me the way we played on the last road trip (5-2), the way we've played at home, that there's trouble in the clubhouse."

He also was criticized for the way he handled the bullpen. Critics said he either gave the relievers indistinct roles or that he wore them out.

"They say we never established a bullpen. Whoever said that is a jealous guy in the bullpen. We didn't have the closer who broke the team record for saves (Schooler) . . ."

Lefebvre said he expects to manage again. One possibility is the potential opening with the Chicago White Sox. Chicago's manager, Jeff Torborg, is rumored to be moving to the New York Mets.

"I can leave knowing in my heart I did the best I could do with my head high and chest high," Lefebvre added. . Next manager?. Leading candidates to replace Jim Lefebvre as manager of the Seattle Mariners:. -- Bucky Dent: He was a coach this season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Dent, 39, knows Woodward from their days with the New York Yankees, and also has going for him experience as a major-league manager, having managed the Yankees for less than a full season in 1989 and '90. . -- Bill Plummer: Plummer, 44, knows the talent in the Mariners' organization. He has been with the organization as a coach and minor-league manager since 1980. He was the third-base coach in 1988 and 1990-91 and the bullpen coach in 1989. But he has no big-league managing experience.. -- Bucky Showalter: The Yankees' third-base coach before Stump Merrill was fired as manager last weekend, Showalter has been with the Yankees organization for 15 years as a coach and minor-league player and manager. As a result, he knows Woodward. Like Plummer, he has no big-league managing experience. He is 35 years old.. -- Tom Trebelhorn: Fired Wednesday after slightly more than five years as Milwaukee Brewers manager, he is considered an innovator and a players' manager. Like Lefebvre, he was let go not because he did a poor job - the Brewers had the best record in baseball during the season's last two months - but because the organization was looking for a change. He is 43 years old.. -- Don Baylor: Baylor, 42, was the Brewers' hitting instructor under Trebelhorn. He has been rumored as a managerial candidate for the last few years. The Brewers will probably consider him but hire Toronto coach Gene Tenace, a former teammate of new Milwaukee GM Sal Bando. One of Baylor's drawbacks is his lack of managerial experience.. -- Ron Clark: He was the M's infield coach and Lefebvre's "right-hand man" in the dugout this season. He would bring to the job familiarity with the M's players, especially those at the major-league level. Clark has managed in the minor leagues but not in the majors. He is 48 years old.. -- Lou Piniella: Piniella, 48, managed Cincinnati to the World Series title in 1990, his first season with the Reds. But this year the Reds were never really a factor in the National League West. He also has managed the Yankees. It has been suggested that he would like to move on.. -- John McNamara: McNamara, 59, has managed in the big leagues with Oakland, San Diego, Cincinnati, California, Boston and Cleveland. He spent the 1989 season as a special assignment scout with the Mariners..