Mariners sign John Wetteland as bullpen coach

"The Seattle Mariners hired Rick Adair as pitching coach and John Wetteland as bullpen coach on Wednesday....

• Wetteland is a former All-Star closer who was the bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals in 2006.

He lost his job in June that season after Nationals manager Frank Robinson said he asked Wetteland several times to get the team's relievers to focus more and cut down on pranks, such as lighting firecrackers.

• Under Wetteland in 2006, Nationals relievers had 12 saves in 21 chances, with a 7-12 record and 4.41 ERA.

"It wasn't just their performance," Robinson said at the time. "It was the idea of them not handling themselves during game time in a professional way.""

• (Sometime Sirius/XM baseball analyst Kevin Kennedy is a big supporter of Wetteland). sm

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