M’S See Future In Cloude’s Silver Lining

At spring training, Mariners pitching prospect Ken Cloude didn’t have much of a chance at making the 25-man big-league roster and described himself as a “dime-a-dozen” pitcher.

Little did he know the career with a target date for major league arrival for next year, is now getting a start in the middle of a pennant race.

Cloude, 22, skips Class AAA Tacoma and makes his debut this afternoon against the Chicago White Sox. He was 11-7 at AA Memphis after going 15-4 last year at Class A Lancaster and has drawn Lou Piniella’s attention because of his ability to throw strikes.

Throughout his four seasons in the minors, Cloude has consistently struck out more than twice as many batters as he has walked.

Piniella liked what he saw in spring training and when Cloude faced the Mariners in the exhibition game in Zebulon, N.C. nearly three weeks ago.

“Some our our older prospects would do well to copy him,” Piniella said before sending Cloude to the minor-league camp this spring.

Cloude’s plane was delayed Friday so he didn’t arrive until close to game time but did get a chance to see the team he’ll face today. Cloude’s nameplate on an empty locker right next to Randy Johnson’s has been waiting.

The Mariners sixth-round pick in 1993 will likely get at least a three-start trial this month.

Great tools

Mariners players and Piniella received a lot of recognition in the annual Tools of the Trade listings in the current issue of Baseball America. The publication polls managers league-wide.

Piniella was voted best American League manager by his peers. Randy Johnson was picked as the best A.L. pitcher, mostly because he also has what were judged to be the best fastball and slider in the league.

Ken Griffey Jr. was tabbed as the most exciting player in the league and best defensive outfielder.

Alex Rodriguez was second in the exciting-player voting and first as best defensive shortstop and best infield arm. Jay Buhner’s throwing ability from right field was voted best in the league.

Notes

Five of Griffey’s past six home runs have come off of left-handers. In his career, Griffey had homered off left-handers once every 16.18 at bats (88 HRs, 1,424 ABs) and every 16.23 times against right-handers (184 homers, 2,987 ABs). … Tom Paciorek, who provided two of the greatest moments in the early years of the Mariners when he beat the New York Yankees with final inning home runs on back-to-back nights in 1981, is in town as a television announcer with the White Sox and will be honored today as part of the Mariners’ 20th Anniversary celebration.