Mariners Closing In On Record
They are closing in on a major league record - most home runs by a team in a season - and the Seattle Mariners are not overly concerned about their place in the record books.
“I didn’t know anything about it until someone mentioned it a couple days ago,” Edgar Martinez said. “It might be something nice to look back on some day, although with expansion next season someone could break it again.”
Last season, the Baltimore Orioles hit 257 homers to blow past the existing record of 240, which had been owned by the 1961 Yankees. The Mariners hit 245 last year - the second highest total in big-league history.
Today, they have six games remaining and have hit 254 home runs.
“It would be great, but I don’t think anyone in here spends much time thinking about it,” Mike Blowers said. “If we get it and it stands, it might be one of those things I’ll mention when I’m all done with baseball and sitting at home in Graham.”
Jay Buhner, whose 38th and 39th home runs Sunday pushed Seattle closer to the record, said he doubted setting the mark would impress the Mariners or their fans.
Buhner hit milestone
When Buhner hit his 250th career home run here Friday, it was one of his longer bolts of the year - a 420-foot shot - and it caromed back onto the field off a wall beyond the center-field fence.
“I thought when I hit it, at least I won’t have to fight some fan for it,” Buhner said.
But as Buhner rounded the bases, Oakland center fielder Jason McDonald trotted over, picked up the ball and tried to throw it into the stands. He didn’t realize it was a milestone, and when a fan dropped the ball, a cameraman beyond the wall retrieved it - and tried to throw it into the crowd.
By that time, the Mariners’ dugout had dispatched help and the ball was soon in the Seattle dugout, along with the man who hit it.
“I’ve set myself up, now,” Buhner said. “You hit 250 home runs, people expect 300.”
Buhner expects it, too.
“When I first came up I thought I could hit 30 home runs a year, I just didn’t know if I’d ever get the chance,” Buhner said. “Now that I’ve got 250, yeah, I want 300. I’ll get there.”
Now he has another short-term goal - 40 home runs this season. If he gets it, he’ll be the 10th player in major-league history to hit 40 or more in three consecutive years.
“I’d like it, but if we get this clinched, I might need a couple days rest,” Buhner said. “Of course, if I’m close …”
With his two homers Sunday, Buhner may get the rest he needs.
Notes
Griffey didn’t add to his league-leading home run total Sunday, but he tossed in a pair of RBIs that gave him 143 this season, and stole his 15th base of the year. The RBI total is a career high, and he’s never had more than 18 steals… Infielder Giomar Guevera, who made his major league debut Friday as a pinch-runner - and was immediately erased on a double play groundball - made his first appearance in the field. He played second base in the bottom of the ninth inning… . For those who wondered, Seattle pitchers combined to throw 239 pitches during the 15-inning game Saturday… . Reliever Mike Timlin might be settling into his role with the Mariners. In his last 10 appearances, including two-thirds of an inning Sunday, he has allowed one earned run.
xxxx ON DECK Final road game of the season begins at 7:05 p.m. Monday in Oakland and will be televised on Cable channel 25. Probable starting pitchers: Seattle’s Jeff Fassero (15-9, 3.67 ERA) vs. Eric Ludwick (1-3, 8.00).