Mariners Spring Update

By RYAN DIVISH; The News Tribune

TUESDAY - Not that people in the Puget Sound area want to know, but it was 82 degrees at first pitch (7:07 p.m.) in the Seattle Mariners’ game against the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz. It was, as M’s manager John McLaren said before the game, “a beautiful night for baseball.”

The Game

Rangers 5, Mariners 1

Miguel Batista said he felt the best he has all spring training. The Mariners right-hander had no pain in his lower back and threw harder, but his location wasn’t quite as good, resulting in four runs on six hits in the loss to Texas.

Batista gave up a two-run homer to Hank Blalock and an RBI single to Frank Catalanotto in the first inning, and the Mariners never recovered.

“I was healthy tonight, that’s probably the best part that could happen,” Batista said. “I could do something tonight that I couldn’t do all season and let the ball go.”

Unfortunately for Seattle, when he let the ball go, it didn’t always go for strikes.

“My command wasn’t there,” he said. “At least I was able to put everything into the ball.”

A pair of walks led to another run for Texas on an RBI double by Ian Kinsler.

Texas used an array of relievers, all pitching one or two innings, to slow the Mariners. Adrian Beltre provided the Mariners’ only run, a solo homer deep to left field in the fourth inning. Seattle managed five hits – one more than Blalock, who was 4-for-4 with three RBI.

Beltre was the only player for the Mariners to have two hits.

Notable

Brandon Morrow sat in front of his locker with a somewhat disgusted look on his face. Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus approached him and asked, “How’d it go today?”

Morrow didn’t hesitate.

“I got shelled,” he said flatly.

To be fair, Morrow did get shelled.

Morrow, pitching against the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, faced seven hitters and recorded one out, giving up five runs on four hits and walking two.

“It was a tough one,” Morrow said. “Definitely frustrating.”

Morrow appeared to have good velocity with his fastball but little command. He put himself in trouble by walking the first two hitters.

“I was hitting my spots in the bullpen,” Morrow said. “I felt good in the bullpen.”

Part of the problem might have been the mound. On that field, it seems every pitcher – major leaguer or minor leaguer – has complained about the height and steepness.

“It’s completely different than the bullpen mound,” said Ryan Rowland-Smith, who threw before Morrow and walked the first hitter he faced.

Morrow said the mound bothered him and caused him to miss low.

“It seems like it’s a foot higher,” he said. “I don’t want to make any excuses, but since you brought it up, that’s why I felt like I was missing down in the beginning of the game. It felt like where your foot was supposed to land, it would fall another 3 or 4 inches. It’s tough to get used to.”

Quotable

“We’re thinking about it strongly, I think that’s safe to say. He’s hit behind the runner. He’s swinging at more strikes. He’s going to get more strikes with Ichiro (Suzuki) going first. I’m not going to say it’s 100 percent, but we’re leaning that way.”– McLaren, on Jose Lopez batting second.

Up Next

The Mariners return to Surprise Stadium, this time to face Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. today. Left-hander Erik Bedard will get the start for Seattle, facing the Royals for the second consecutive time. Seattle will face ex-Mariner Gil Meche. The game can be heard on 1000-AM.

Ryan Divish, The News Tribune

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Friday, May. 09, 2008

Mariners Spring Update

By RYAN DIVISH; The News Tribune