McClendon eager to face former club when Tigers visit

SEATTLE -- When the Mariners host the Tigers for a three-game series this weekend, it will mark the first time Lloyd McClendon faces his former team as Seattle's manager after spending 2006 as Detroit's bullpen coach and 2007-13 as its hitting coach.

Last October, McClendon interviewed to replace retiring manager Jim Leyland, but the club ended up hiring Brad Ausmus.

"It'll be fun to see a lot of friends and a lot of people I consider family," McClendon said. "That's always going to be special. I'm excited about that but I'm going to be trying to kick their [butt]."

McClendon said he had a "wonderful" eight years in Detroit and described the organization as "tremendous."

How's he going to pitch Miguel Cabrera?

"Very carefully," he said.