"It's alarming that I found out that way" - Former manager Scott Servais reveals shock at discovering his firing through news alert after nine seasons

Former Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais became the second manager to be fired this season after the Mariners announced his departure on Thursday. Servais spent nine years at the helm, having been hired by the club in 2016.

While reports of Servais' exit started circulating on Wednesday, the former MLB catcher didn't receive any word from the franchise. In fact, Servais became aware of his firing via a news alert.

“When you're part of an organization for nine years, it feels like family,” Servais said. “And it was alarming that I found out that way. But it happened. I can't say it didn't happen. It absolutely happened that way.”

Scott Servais, at the time of his firing, had the second-longest active tenure at an MLB franchise behind the Tampa Bay Rays' two-time AL Manager of the Year Kevin Cash.

Despite the team's glaring issues at the plate, Servais was hopeful of seeing out the season with the Mariners, knowing well that failure to secure a postseason spot for a second consecutive season would cost him his job.

“I knew probably at the end of the year, if we didn't get into the playoffs, whatever, that there would be kind of a reflection time on where the organization was at and where I fit moving forward," Scott Servais said. "I just, my expectation was that I'd get a chance to finish out the year. Unfortunately, it just didn't happen.”

Scott Servais bemoaned the lack of offensive productivity from the Mariners

The Seattle Mariners' pennant chances received a massive boost after the Houston Astros started the season like a house on fire. The Mariners had a substantial 10-game lead over the Astros in June and seemed favorites for the AL West top spot.

However, with the Astros finding their feet and the Mariners being the second-worst team in the MLB since June 19, Servais' team surrendered its substantial lead to Houston.

“I thought, for whatever reason, we just weren't able to get it going offensively on a consistent basis," Servais said. "And saying that line drives me crazy, because it seems like I've said it so much, but it's the truth. We just couldn't get the offense going here.”

Servais' statement holds as the Mariners have been one of the least effective offensive teams, failing to back their incredibly disciplined rotation. Mariners Hall of Famer and former catcher Dan Wilson was appointed as Scott Servais' successor, and the former All-Star guided his team to a narrow 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants in his first game on Friday night.