| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009 10:47 am |
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| RECENT POSTS: | |
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• Triunfel homers in Fall League Rising Stars game November 7 • Note to champions: Celebrate in taste, and please lose the eyewear November 5 • Report: Mariners claim D-backs right-hander Petit November 4 • Catcher Johnson resting after second hip surgery November 4 • My World Series prediction, plus thoughts on Griffey and Johjima November 4 |
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• Putz, Pavano file for free agency November 7 • MLB NOTEBOOK: Manny coming back to Dodgers November 7 • Report: Lincecum has agreement on pot charge November 6 • Ramirez to return to Dodgers next season November 6 • Mets decline 2010 option on former Mariner J.J. Putz November 6 • Royals trade Teahen to White Sox for Getz, Fields November 6 • Twins get SS Hardy, Brewers get OF Gomez November 6 • Mariners, Griffey continue to talk November 6 • Marlins trade Hermida to Red Sox November 5 • Yankees’ Girardi aids crash victim after winning World Series November 5 |
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Triunfel homers in Fall League Rising Stars game Mariners shortstop prospect Carlos Triunfel hit a home run to help the West come from behind tonight to beat the East 8-7 in the Arizona Fall League's annual Rising Stars game in Surprise, Ariz. Triunfel went 1-for-2 and his homer was part of the West's four-run third inning after the East scored all of its runs in the first inning off left-hander Mike Minor, a first-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves. Triunfel, who joined the Peoria Javelinas a little more than a week ago after strengthening the leg he broke in April, has a .111 average in 18 Fall League at-bats. Dustin Ackley, who the Mariners drafted with the second overall pick, started in center field and went 0-for-1 with a walk, a strikeout and a run scored tonight. Ackley is batting .295 in 44 Fall League at-bats for the Javelinas. Josh Fields, the Mariners' first-round draft pick a year ago, continued his solid relief pitching this fall. He relieved Minor with two outs in the first inning and retired all four hitters he faced. Fields has a 2.57 ERA in seven relief appearances for the Javelinas, having struck out six in seven innings. Right-hander Phillippe Aumont, who has a 14.14 ERA after two brutal outings among his seven innings of work for the Javelinas, didn't play tonight. One rising star who didn't appear tonight was Stephen Strasburg, the first overall pick of the Nationals who was supposed to start for the East but was scratched because of a muscle strain in his neck. He's 3-1 with a 5.28 ERA in four starts for the Phoenix Desert Dogs. The Mariners also had another emerging star -- literally -- when Quinn Branyan was born Friday morning. Quinn is the third child, and second daughter, of Russell Branyan and his wife, Jill. Russell is hoping to re-sign with the Mariners for next season. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Note to champions: Celebrate in taste, and please lose the eyewear Champagne and championships are as much a part of baseball as spitting and scratching, although that doesn't make either attractive. Personally, I'm not a fan of champagne-spraying, swig-from-the-bottle, act-like-goofballs pennant and World Series celebrations. When the cameras are in the clubhouse, the alcohol shouldn't be -- that's my view. But I understand that it's something that's been going on forever and guys will douse each other in their delirium. So I yield to baseball tradition and accept it. What bugs me, though, is the recent addition of goggles as a required element. Remember when men were men and they either dealt with the sting in their eyes or didn't spray with such abandon? I don't recall the 1995 or 1997 or 2000 or 2001 Mariners needing swim goggles. Or, as the Yankees displayed last night, full-blown ski goggles. Wouldn't surprise me if they'd struck a sponsorship deal with Scott or Bolle. It made me think of how the 2009 Mariners might have celebrated had they won a title this year. This was such a senstive group that even the traditional shaving-cream pie was replaced by ice cream because it irritated their eyes. The Mariners did administer numerous beer showers, but they made sure those occurred away from reporters and cameras, usually in the shower. Speaking of clubhouse champagne celebrations, the first I experienced first-hand was in 1995 after the Mariners beat the Angels in the one-game playoff for the AL West championship. It wasn't the champagne that stunned me (although I remember my clothes smelling so ripe as I headed home that I drove extremely carefully to make sure I wasn't stopped. I'm sure an officer would have believed this: "No sir, I don't drink. I was in the Mariners' clubhouse a few hours ago."). What I'll never forget of that scene in the home clubhouse at the Kingdome was the sudden tug I felt on the back of my shirt, and then the shock of what felt like a gallon of ice being dumped down my back. I turned to see reliever Jeff Nelson with an empty pitcher in his hand a devlish grin on his face before he turned to get another load of ice for his next victim. See, guys can have fun without alcohol. Or goggles. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Report: Mariners claim D-backs right-hander Petit The moritorium on announcements during the World Series will delay official release of this until Thursday at the earliest, but look for the Mariners to announce soon that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nick Piecoro, who covers the Diamondbacks for the Arizona Republic, wrote about it on his blog. This falls under the stockpiling-of-arms label for the Mariners. Petit, 24, is considered a strike-thrower who can be effective when he commands the bottom of the zone, but he has little margin for error because he runs his fastball to the plate at only 85-88 mph. Piecoro noted that Petit's yield of 1.96 home runs per nine innings is tied for the most in major league history. Petit is considered a hard-working kid with a changeup, slider and curve in addition to the fastball. His stuff is nothing to get terribly excited about, but he's known to have a good feel for pitching and probably best fits a long/middle relief role with an ability to spot start. A change in location, especially from a hitting paradise like Arizona to a death-to-fly-balls stadium like Safeco Field, could make Petit a better fit with the Mariners. If nothing else, he brings major league experience (229 1/3 innings) and adds to the Mariners' pitching depth, not to mention the competition for bullpen roles at spring training. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Catcher Johnson resting after second hip surgery Made a call to Mariners catcher Rob Johnson this afternoon to see if he's still feeling great after surgery Oct. 16 to repair the labrum in his right hip, and whether he's gearing up to have the left hip (similar injury) done soon. Johnson's wife, Kristan, answered. And for good reason. Rob had his left hip operated on Tuesday, three days earlier than originally planned. Johnson had surgery on Oct. 16 in Aspen, Colo., and the plan was for him to gain strength in the right hip and return for surgery on his left hip three weeks later. Nov. 7 was the target date, although Johnson obviously beat that. Kristan Johnson said the second surgery went well and that Rob was resting this afternoon in Vail. He still has a December operation planned in Seattle to fix an injury to his left wrist. Dr. Marc Phillippon, who performed a similar hip surgery on Alex Rodriguez last winter, operated on Johnson's hips. Doctors have told Johnson that he should recover from the surgeries before spring training begins in mid-February, although the Mariners plan to be cautious with him early in camp. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment My World Series prediction, plus thoughts on Griffey and Johjima Been away for a few days, but thought this would be a good time to throw out my World Series prediction. I know, it's pretty cheesy to wait until now to make a predicition. But wait until tomorrow and it'll be too late, which, I guess, tells you who I'm picking in Game 6 tonight. Not a lot separates these two teams, but I'm going with the Yankees to end it tonight for three reasons: 1, I can't pick against Andy Pettitte, short rest or not. 2, I can't pick against a Yankees lineup that has Johnny Damon creating all kinds of opportunities and the dangerous duo of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira behind him. 3, I won't pick against the Yankees' bullpen. Yes, the two Phils -- Coke and Hughes -- can be had, but behind them is closer Mariano Rivera. If it comes down to the eighth and ninth innings, and I wouldn't be surprised if it does, Rivera trumps a shaky Brad Lidge every time in my book. So my guess is that the Series ends tonight, which means the offseason business of baseball begins in earnest tomorrow. The Mariners have an infield to assemble, plus a heavy-hitting left fielder to discover. The first move, however, could be a decision on whether Ken Griffey Jr. returns. Speaking the past few weeks with folks in both camps, there was a fairly clear indication that Griffey's status would be resolved very soon. Griffey and the Mariners spoke during the final homestand and planned to have more discussions during the World Series. Even if there was something to announce it wouldn't happen until after the Series because of baseball's unwritten rule against major announcements during that time. Should Griffey return? I'm not going there because I've got to work with people in both camps. I do believe a good deal of the Mariners' success this year was because of the work he and Mike Sweeney did to alter the mood of the clubhouse. It would have been another quiet clubhouse without those two, and who knows how the Mariners would have responded to their struggles in May without Griffey and Sweeney keeping spirits up? Will Griffey return? I think he will. He said after the final game that he wanted to return and GM Jack Zduriencik said in a late-August interview that he would like Griffey to be part of the club in 2010. Zduriencik didn't specify what role he'd like Griffey to fill, although my understanding is that Griffey has made it clear that role and money would not be roadblocks to his return in 2010. And besides, the recent surgery to remove a bone spur from his left knee actually might allow him to move more freely and avoid the spells of pain and swelling that plagued him this year. One guy who won't return is catcher Kenji Johjima, who took his wont for playing time back to Japan. From the day he became a Mariner in 2006, Johjima made it clear it wants to play on a regular basis, so it was no surprise that playing time was a key issue in his decision to leave the Mariners. He spoke of that during his conference call with Japanese reporters (there was no opportunity for English-speaking reporters to talk with Johjima) after he announced he was leaving with two years remaining on his Mariners contract. But Johjima also wanted to make sure everyone understood that he harbors no bitterness toward the Mariners because of his dwindling playing time this year. In subsequent talks with Japanese reporters, he blamed himself for the playing-time predicament, saying if he'd played better he would have started more games. Bottom line is that Johjima wasn't the choice of the Mariners' current regime and, whether you think Rob Johnson is the answer or Adam Moore is the future, it was time for Joh to move on if he hoped to get a regular job. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Branyan feeling good, waiting for offer from Mariners Spoke with Russell Branyan on Monday night and this story on his progress from the back problems that bugged him this year ran in this morning's sports section. It didn't make our online edition, however, so here it is for the thousands ... OK, hundreds ... OK, dozens ... well, those of you who see this blog. By Kirby Arnold Herald Writer Russell Branyan hopes he has found the weak link in a body that broke down this season for the Seattle Mariners. Bothered with back problems from spring training and finally sidelined the final month because of a herniated disc, the big first baseman has been working three days a week with a therapist near his offseason home in Franklin, Tenn. “Just in the last week and a half, I've really started feeling good,” Branyan said. “I didn't realize that my supporting muscles, especially my hips, were so weak.” Playing on a regular basis for the first time in his career, Branyan set career highs with 116 games, 431 at-bats, 31 home runs and 76 runs batted in. He has experienced back problems other times in his career, but playing on a part-time basis gave him time to recover. Playing every day with the Mariners didn't allow that. “This past year was first year I've played every day in a long time, and now I know what I need to do to get through a full season,” Branyan said. One target this offseason is his core strength. “One thing my therapist here really exposed was how weak my hips are,” he said. “We were laughing at how weak some of the muscles are in my hips, and we're doing manual exercised to isolate the hips.” So far, he feels great. “I've been feeling awesome,” Branyan said. “I'm to the point where I'll start getting back in the gym shortly. I've been home only three weeks but it's amazing how much stronger I've gotten and how much I've learned what I need to do to compete over a full season.” Branyan, a free agent, wants to return to the Mariners and said he spoke briefly with general manager Jack Zduriencik after the season. “He said they want to talk and try to propose something,” Branyan said. “But I haven't heard anything yet. I like it out there, but that's out of my control at this point. I can't go to the team and say, ‘Sign me.' All I can do is wait and see what happens and enjoy watching the World Series.” Branyan's Series pick? “I've got to go with the Phillies,” he said. “But the way C.C. Sabathia is throwing for the Yankees, he's going to be tough to hit. Both teams have spots in their rotations where there's lots of uncertainty, so there could be a lot of scoring.” It's also been a nice offseason for Branyan from a non-baseball aspect. His wife, Jill, is within days of giving birth to their third child (a girl). And they are finishing off the new home they bought last winter -- installing a swimming pool and a garage. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Saunders showing some power in Venezuela If Michael Saunders hopes to compete for an outfield job with the Mariners next year, he'll need to show the team what he didn't this year -- power. Saunders, who hit 13 home runs and had a .544 slugging percentage at Class AAA Tacoma, batted .221 with one double, three triples and no home runs in 122 at-bats with the Mariners. Before they sent him down to Venezuela for a winter ball season with the Lara team, the Mariners had Saunders stop this month at their facility in Peoria, Ariz., for some individual work with hitting coach Alan Cockrell and minor league hitting instructors Alonzo Powell and Jose Castro. So far, his numbers have been good in Venezuela. He's batting .321 with one home run and two triples in 28 at-bats, apparently driving the ball much better than what he showed with the Mariners. “He’ swinging the bat really well and he’s comfortable,” minor league director Pedro Grifol said. “He’s having a good time and at the same time working on the same things that Alan Cockrell and he worked on prior to going there.” Saunders did show that he has the athleticisim to handle the defensive challenge of left field with the Mariners, and his speed on the bases fits well with the type offense the team wants. But it will take power, an element the Mariners sorely need, to win that job on next year's team. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Griffey has bone spur removed from left knee Ken Griffey Jr. went through periods this season when he couldn't play because of swelling and fluid buildup in his left knee. A procedure today in Cincinnati may have revealed the source of the problem. Griffey, 39, had a bone spur removed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek in an arthroscopic outpatient procedure. Kremchek is the same doctor who operated on the knee last October when Griffey had torn cartilage and a torn meniscus repaired. That surgery was more severe than what Griffey went through today, and a release from the Mariners said the normal recovery period from such a procedure is 4-6 weeks. It's still unknown whether Griffey will return to the Mariners next year. He said on the last day of the season Oct. 4 that he would like to return, but the ultimate decision depends on the wishes of his family and the Mariners. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said last week that he spoke with Griffey during the final homestand this season. Zduriencik, in an August interview, said he hoped Griffey would return next year in some capacity but didn't specify whether it would be as a player. The two sides are expected to continue talks and Griffey's status for next season could be resolved in as little as the next few weeks. Griffey played 117 games this year and batted .214 with 19 home runs and 57 runs batted in. While his offense was limited, nobody discounted the positive impact Griffey made in the clubhouse. Today's surgery may have addressed the main reason Griffye missed periods of time this season because of soreness, swelling and fluid in the knee. The hope is that Griffey will be able to move more freely with the bone spur removed from the knee. The big question now is whether he'll be moving more freely swinging a baseball bat or a golf club. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Wakamatsu finally getting some national attention On the first Sunday in October, I wrote in my weekly column in the newspaper that the Mariners' Don Wakamatsu deserved to be the American League manager of the year. At the time, nobody with the national media even included Wakamatsu in the discussion of manager-of-the-year candidates. That absolutely floored me because few teams in the past century improved by as many games from one year to the next as the Mariners did this year. Those of us who cover the Mariners spent the better part of the year, since the day the Mariners hired Wakamatsu last Nov. 19, getting an inside look at how he not only put together a staff and team but also restored a positive attitude to a wreck of a clubhouse. In their defense, the national media wasn't exposed to what those who covered the Mariners on a regular basis saw. From the East Coast, the story that stood out was Mike Scioscia and what he did to help the Angels deal with the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart. But guess what? Someone is paying attention to Wakamatsu. Former Dodgers general manager Fred Claire wrote yesterday on MLB.com about the job Wakamatsu did this season. He didn't come right out and say he deserved to be manager of the year, but Claire gave Wakamatsu high marks. We'll learn just how much credit Wakamatsu gets on Nov. 18. That's when the Baseball Writers Association of America will announce results of its voting for the AL manager of the year. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Not long after extension, Johjima spoke of unhappiness over playing time After the initial shock of learning that catcher Kenji Johjima was leaving the Mariners with two years and $16 million left on his contract, the general feeling among some in the organization is that it comes as no tremendous surprise. Johjima, a proud player who half-jokingly said he wanted to catch all 162 games, had lost considerable playing time the past two years and he didn't hide his disappointment in the situation. Relief pitcher Mark Lowe remembers having a conversation about it with Johjima midway through the 2008 season. Lowe reached the big leagues with the Mariners in 2006, Johjima's first season in Seattle, and the two had a good relationship, Lowe said. "I talked to him last year about it during batting practice one day," Lowe said. "We were in the outfield at Shea (Stadium). He told me, 'I don't care how much money I'm making. I don't play for the money. I want to play every day.' " That's consistent with what Johjima said this afternoon in a conference call with Japanese reporters (he declined to have a similar call with English-speaking media). He said playing time was the key issue in his decision to return to Japan, and that he believed the Mariners were committed more to younger catchers Rob Johnson and Adam Moore. The playing time issue conflicts with the "family and friends" reason attributed to Johjima in the news release from the Mariners on Monday. Johjima's outfield talk with Lowe occurred during the Mariners' interleague series against the Mets in late June, 2008. About two months earlier, on April 25, the Mariners and Johjima had agreed to that three-year, $24 million extension which we now know included the opt-out clause. However, it already had been a sour season for Johjima, the new contract notwithstanding. On the day of his news conference to announce the extension, Johjima was batting .200. By mid-June, his playing time suffered as the Mariners, already in the throes of a terrible season, began looking at players who might (or might not) help them in the future. They called up Jeff Clement, the former first-round draft pick who was seen as the catcher of the future or, if his defense didn't improve, a possible first baseman or DH. Clement started seven of the final 11 games in June, 2008, as Johjima began spending more time on the bench. After starting three straight from June 15-17, Johjima started only four times the rest of the month and none in back-to-back games. Johjima's playing time diminished each season he was with the Mariners, from 144 games in 2006 to 135 in 2007, 112 in 2008 and 71 this year. Injuries played a part in that, but so did Johjima's hitting slump and the preference of some pitchers over the years (Jamie Moyer, Jarrod Washburn, Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez) to have others catch them. It wore on him. "When he first came over, he was the guy guaranteed to catch every single game," Lowe said. "Things have changed a lot in our organization. I know he always wanted to play. It's a long season, it's a grind. If you're not happy, it makes you miserable." My take? This should be an amicable separation for both parties. Johjima will go back to Japan and finish his career happily. The Mariners, while saying this creates a lot of uncertainty with their catching (which it does, considering the offseason surgeries of Johnson and the inexperience of Moore), have about $8 million each of the next two years to add to the money they'll use on their greatest needs -- offense, a veteran catcher and a new contract for Felix Hernandez. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Johjima: 'I would like to play every day ... for a team which really wants ... A big thanks to Masayuki Takami of the Nishinippon Shimbun for transcribing, translating and feeding these quotes from Kenji Johjima's conference call with the Japanese media today. (You get two strokes the next time we play golf, Masa. As long as I get two mulligans.) Here's a portion of what Johjima said: Q: Why leave the Mariners now? Johjima: "I have been thinking since I came here (to the major leagues), I would like to go back home while I still can perform at a very high level. I thought it is time to do. "Of course, it is a very hard decision, I had been thinking if it was the right time to do or not. I asked myself so again and again. But I concluded that I would like to play every day, I would like to play for a team which really wants me, needs me. That’s my straight answer." Q: When did you have thoughts of returning home? Johjima: "I had some thoughts during the season, but didn't have enough time to think about it. After I came back to Japan (following the Mariners' season), I talked to my wife and family, then reached my decision. I told them what exactly I wanted." Q: What do you want from your next team? Johjima: "Playing time will be the most important condition to choose. That’s the reason I left the Mainers. Of course, I have to compete to get the job, but it was huge disappointment for me not to play every day the past two years. I would like to go to a team which will give me an opportunity." Q: What are your thoughts on the Mariners and their fans? Johjima: "Four years ago, the reason I chose the Mariners was their quick action. (When I became a free agent) they rose their hands faster than any other teams. I thought it was a huge gamble for them to give me a chance. So, I greatly appreciate that. "As for the fans, I wish I could have an opportunity to explain my thoughts ... because they have been supporting me for four years. I feel deeply sorry I may not have a chance to do so." ... 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Aardsma: Teammates worked hard to make sure Johjima, Ichiro were appreciated What David Aardsma loved most about the Seattle Mariners of 2009 was the hope they carried into 2010. Granted, there would be changes to the roster next year. Nobody knows if Ken Griffey Jr will return (an educated hunch here: he returns), or if Mike Sweeney or Russell Branyan will come back either. What's comforting is that guys under contract for 2010 who became not only valuable players but good teammates and friends will return. Scratch one: catcher Kenji Johjima. The Mariners announced today that Johjima is opting out of the final two years -- at $8 million per year -- on his contract and will return to Japan to play closer to family and friends. But what about his friends over here? Aardsma, the Mariners' closer, was surprised today when he heard that Johjima was leaving. Aardsma was among several Mariners who made sure Johjima and fellow Japanese teammate Ichiro Suzuki felt comfortable in the clubhouse. He'd heard the horror stories of last year's clubhouse conflict, particularly the ill feelings toward the Japanese players, and wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. “We had an unbelievable clubhouse this year and we tried to make sure everybody was included,” Aardsma said. “Obviously there was the language barrier with Ichiro and Kenji, but we tried to reach out to them more and I think they enjoyed it.” Aardsma, new to the Mariners this year, also remembers Johjima reaching out to him at spring training to ensure they understood each other as pitcher and catcher. He said there was no language barrier. “People are going to assume there will be an issue when you don’t speak the same language,” Aardsma said. “But he did a great job of trying to understand us. My first day here, he had his interpreter pull me aside and say Kenji wanted to do everything he could to make sure we worked together, that I could come to him at any time. When somebody tells you that, there’s definitely no issue.” Aardsma realizes that it was a difficult season for Johjima, who missed time with injuries and also lost much of his playing time to Rob Johnson. But he never had an indication that Johjima would leave. “It’s hard when you see a guy walk away from the team,” Aardsma said. “You never want to see a part of your team leave. When a guy is a free agent you understand, but right in the middle of their contract it hurts. But when your heart is telling you to do something else, you’ve got to listen to it.” ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Johjima decides to leave Mariners, opts out of contract Catcher Kenji Johjima, relegated to backup status this year with the arrival of Rob Johnson, has decided to leave the Mariners. The Mariners said this morning that Johjima has opted out of the final two years of his contract and will return to his native Japan to finish his career. Johjima, 33, played this year in the first of a three-year, $24 million contract. He made $8 million this season and would have made $8 each of the next two years but has decided to exercise a clause in the contract allowing him to opt out of the second and third years. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a conference call a few minutes ago that treturning home to play closer to his family was the sole reason Johjima gave for leaving. Zduriencik said there was no buyout involved in the deal. Johjima, who batted .247 this year, played 11 seasons with Fukuoa of Japan's Pacific League. "After lots of very deep thought and deliberation, I have decided to return home to resume my career in Japan," Johjima said in a statement released by the Mariners. "I have had a wonderful experience competing at the Major League level. The last four years have been extraordinary, with great teammates and great coaches. I will always be indebted to the Mariners organization for giving me the opportunity to follow my dream. This was a very difficult decision, both professionally and personally. I feel now is the time to go home, while I still can perform at a very high level. Playing close to family and friends was a major factor. I will miss the Seattle fans and their gracious support. Thank you all." Johjima's departure leaves the Mariners' catching situation in a state of uncertainty. Johnson had surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, and he's scheduled to undergo a similar procedure on his right hip next month. Johnson also will have surgery on his left wrist this offseason and may have surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. The Mariners say he'll be ready when spring training begins, but they also know there's no certainty with that. The Mariners also have catcher Adam Moore, a highly regarded prospect who was called up in September and played a few games. "It does leave a void,." Zduriencik said. "Any time you’re looking at a young catcher who is unproven, that remains to be seen. With Rob, we think he’s going to be ready for spring training, but we’ll see." Zduriencik said Johjima's departure and Johnson's health will make catching one of his more immediate offseason tasks. Johjima signed as a free agent before the 2006 season, a deal influenced greatly by the Mariners' Japanese ownership. It was a curious signing from a baseball operations perspective because, even though the Mariners had lost veteran Dan Wilson to retirement, they had drafed Jeff Clement with their first-round pick the previous June. Johjima came to the Mariners with major concerns over his ability to communicate with pitchers because he didn't speak English. The bigger problem, however, was that he struggled to connect with the pitchers from a baseball sense when he called games. Johjima's learning curve was steep, coming from Japanese ball where pitchers primarily "pitch backward" by establishing the breaking ball instead of the fastball. Still, he had a good season his first year and gave the Mariners much-needed offense, batting .291 with 18 home runs, 76 RBI and setting an American League record for hits by a rookie catcher with 147. He batted .287 in 2007 but slumped terribly last year, when his average plumeted to .227. Meanwhile, his playing time diminished. The Mariners called up Clement -- who also struggled and dealt with knee problems before the Mariners traded him midway through this season -- and Johnson was called up late last season and given a strong look. Johjima suffered a broken toe midway through the past season and Johnson got most of the playing time at catcher. Johnson also won the faith of the pitching staff and, even though the Mariners hesitated to say who was their No. 1 or No. 2 catcher, got most of the playing time by the end of the season. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment All Mariners coaches will return except third-base coach Hines This one pales in comparison to the Kenji Johjima news that broke earlier this morning, but the Mariners announced that all but one of their coaches will return next year. Third base coach Bruce Hines will not come back, and GM Jack Zduriencik said simply that "the club has decided to go in a different direction." Hines also was responsible for the Mariners' infielders. Otherwise, everyone else will return from a staff that, along with manager Don Wakamatsu, left a huge imprint on the past season. From the first day of spring training, Wakamatsu and the coaches got to know every player on a professional and personal basis. Pitchers, in particular, raved about pitching coach Rick Adair. The others who'll return are bench coach Ty Van Burkleo, hitting coach Alan Cockrell, first base coach Lee Tinsley, bullpen coach John Wetteland and performance coach Steve Hecht. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Thoughts on Mariners prospects Ackley, Aumont and Halman Mariners outfield prospect Dustin Ackley, their first draft pick in June, got two more hits today in his second Arizona Fall League game. Both were singles, one an infield hit, to give him a 4-for-9 start to his pro career. All four of Ackley's hits are singles, which already seems to be enough fuel for some doubters to criticize the organization for spending such a high draft pick on a scrawny singles hitter. Ackley is hardly a physical specimen and, even though one of the first things the Mariners introduced him to was the weight room, he doesn't seem like the kind of player who'll plant 30 home run balls a year in the right-field seats at Safeco Field when he reaches the majors. That shouldn't mean he has absolutely no potential for power. There is, after all, a skinny guy at the top of their lineup who has shown he has the hands and bat speed to drive a pitch whenever he wants. Phillippe Aumont, who pitched a 1-2-3 inning of relief in his first Fall League game, is working specifically on his fastball command. “It’s about him being able to repeat his delivery,” said Pedro Grifol, the Mariners' minor league director. “There have been some mechanical inconsistencies that we want him to focus on. We want him to command the fastball opposed to just controlling the fastball. Controlling it means throwing it for strikes, but commanding it means being able to put it where you want to put it.” That's basically the goal for every pitcher in the organization, with added emphasis on developing an effective changeup. The Mariners required their minor league pitchers this year to throw the changeup 15 percent of the time, up from 10 percent last year. "We feel it is such an important pitch for all our pitchers,” Grifol said. Few Mariners minor leaguers had a season as adventurous as outfielder Greg Halman, who showed plenty of power at Class AA West Tennessee (25 home runs) but also a huge penchant for striking out (an organization-high 183). When Halman dealt with a heel injury midway through the season, the Mariners used his recovery as an opportunity to send him to their facility in Peoria, Ariz., and attack his issues with hitting instructors, trainers and even a sports psychologist. Once on a pace of nearly one strikeout in every two at-bats, Halman finished the season by striking out a little more than a third of the time. That's still too much, especially in an organization that won't tolerate a lack of plate discipline (Yuni Betancourt, where are you?). Among those concerned with the situation were Halman's parents back home in the Netherlands. Roger Hansen, the organization's minor league catching coordinator who was the point man during Halman's summer work in Peoria, flew to Amsterdam and spent five days there last month to talk with the player and the parents. Halman then returned to Peoria for 2 1/2 weeks of hitting-specific work. “The parents care so much,” Hansen said. “He’s such a huge prospect that it was good for me to go there and put everything to rest. Basically, I told them, ‘Here’s what it takes to get ready for the big leagues.’ They were very thankful that I came over. They want the truth. They don’t just want to be told, ‘You’re going to be great, you’re going to be this.’ They wanted to know exactly what is the next step to take, where he is headed and what he needs to do on and off the field.” ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Ackley gets two hits, Aumont pitches scoreless inning in Fall League First-round draft pick Dustin Ackley got his first two professional hits today as he and four other Mariners prospects played in the Peoria Javelinas' 6-4 loss to Surprise in their second game of the Arizona Fall League. Ackley went 2-for-4, both singles, and scored a run. He played center field. First baseman Joe Dunigan went 1-for-3, walked once and scored once, and also committed one of the Javelinas' two errors. The other was committed by shortstop Juan Diaz, who's scheduled to play the first two weeks with the Javelinas before shortstop Carlos Triunfel joins the team after strengthening the left leg he broke in April. Right-hander Phillippe Aumont, the Mariners' first-round pick two years ago, pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning although Josh Fields, last year's first-rounder, gave up two hits and a run in the sixth. The Javelinas will play Friday against the Peoria Saguaros, who are managed by former Mariners third baseman David Bell. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
More details on catcher Johnson's hip surgery The Mariners released a few more details today on the upcoming surgeries scheduled on each of Rob Johnson's injured hips. X Johnson will have surgery Friday in Vail, Colo., on his left hip to repair a torn labrum. The surgery will be performed by hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon. X About three weeks after surgery, Johnson will return to Vail and Philippon will perform the same procedure on his right hip. X After about a month of rehab from the hip surgeries, Johnson will return to Seattle for surgery on his left wrist by wrist specialist Dr. Carlton Keck. The Mariners say that, as of now, Johnson should recover in time for the start of spring training in mid-February. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Fall League opens; let the Ackley Era begin Outside Stephen Strasburg, no player comes into the Arizona Fall League with the combination of pro baseball expectations and lack of pro experience as the Mariners' own Dustin Ackley. PIcked second overall in the June draft, just after the Nationals took Strasburg, Ackley brings the promise of a sweet left-handed swing that the Mariners hope will play well in Safeco Field fairly soon. The first step in the process begins Tuesday when Ackley and seven other Mariners prospects play for the Peoria Javelinas on the opening day of the Arizona Fall League. Each of the six teams in the league plays 32 games through Nov. 21, with rosters comprised of top prospects from every major league organization. The Javfelinas include players from the Mariners, White Sox, Tigers, Dodgers and Brewers. Other Mariners on the Javelinas roster are right-handed pitchers Phillippe Aumont, Josh Fields and Anthony Varvaro, left-handed pitcher Nick Hill, outfielder Joe Dunigan and infielders Carlos Triunfel and Juan Diaz. Triunfel, finishing his rehab from the broken leg he suffered in April, won't play the first two weeks, so Diaz will be his temporary replacement on the roster. Most eyes, at least by those with Mariners interests, will be on Ackley. While other players go into the Fall League with specific areas of their game to improve, the Mariners basically want Ackley to play and become accustomed to the pro game. One thing they will focus on, however, is Ackley's bulk ... or lack of it. Many with the Mariners were surprised to see how thin he was when he was at Safeco Field in August. So he'll spend plenty of time with minor league strength/conditioning coordinator James Clifford. “We’re not asking these guys to get stronger while they’re playing, but in Ackley’s case, he’ll be spending a lot of time learning our system and technique in the weight room,” said Pedro Grifol, the Mariners' minor league director. “That will get him off to a good start on the offseason program.” ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment Catcher Johnson to have surgery on both hips When we last spoke with Mariners trainer Rick Griffin, two days before the season ended, he was pleased that no players were scheduled for offseason surgeries. That apparently changed after catcher Rob Johnson had an MRI last week. Shannon Drayer, who covers the Mariners for ESPN 710 radio, wrote on her blog this morning that Johnson will have surgeries on both hips, a wrist and possibly his right elbow. The Mariners say they are preparing a release with more details on what Johnson faces. How concerning should the Mariners be over this? It can't be good when a guy whose job is to spend a couple of hours a night in a crouch needs surgery on both hips. But Johnson is a tough-as-nails kid who, everyone would hope, already has played through the worst of his condition. Time will tell. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment |
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