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Lloyd McClendon gets ejected, goes on great on-field rant (Video)

Big League Stew

It's a good thing the start of the regular season is less than a week away, because Lloyd McClendon's managerial tirade game is already in mid-season form.

In the fourth inning of Seattle's Cactus League game against Cleveland on Tuesday, Indians left-hander Bruce Chen threw back-to-back pitches behind Rickie Weeks. Earlier, Mariners ace Felix Hernandez had plunked Michael Brantley, and Chen's two wild throws could be seen as an attempt to retaliate.

Home plate umpire Alan Porter elected to warn both benches before the rift escalated further.

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Almost immediately, an animated McClendon emerged from the dugout and was promptly tossed by Porter, which spurred the Mariners manager's on-field rant. Once he was done, he had to jog all the way out to right field because the clubhouse at Goodyear Park is located beyond the outfield walls, not behind the dugout.

When he met with reporters, McClendon explained why he was so upset.

''[Chen] threw behind him twice,'' McClendon said. ''If you think he's throwing at him, you've got to eject him.''

While it was quite a fiery display, especially for spring training, this wasn't even close to McClendon's masterpiece.

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He may never top the time he stole first base and took it back to the dugout with him after getting the boot when he was in charge of the Pirates back in 2001. It stands as one of the all-time best ejection meltdowns.

That Pittsburgh team lost 100 games that season, so it's understandable why McClendon would have been frustrated. Since this Mariners squad is poised to be one of the better teams in the AL, we don't expect to see anything at that level from McClendon this year.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter.