M’s like their defense
The Seattle Mariners were one of the best defensive teams in baseball a year ago. There’s no reason to expect anything different this season, even as the team works with catcher Kenji Johjima on his throwing.
Johjima has been bothered by a tender throwing elbow and Milwaukee took advantage Sunday, twice successfully stealing on the Mariners’ second-year catcher. Johjima also committed a throwing error during a rundown.
This season’s defensive coach is John McLaren, who has returned to Seattle as manager Mike Hargrove’s bench coach, after serving the same role under Lou Piniella with the M’s from 1998-2002. One of McLaren’s tasks has been working with Johjima.
“We’re working to make a few adjustments with Kenji,” McLaren said Monday morning. “Overall, he made an amazing adjustment coming over here last year, and he is very intelligent. He’ll be fine, and I see him as an All-Star in the future.”
With Johjima’s throwing, McLaren noticed a problem. In Japan, McLaren said Johjima threw from several different arm angles. Now, McLaren wants Johjima to throw strictly over-the-top, but the tender elbow has prevented him from cutting loose.
Overall, McLaren said the Mariners’ defense is stellar. Last season, Seattle finished fourth in A.L. fielding, behind Boston, Minnesota and Oakland.
The defense could be even a better friend to the revamped pitching staff.
“We’re solid at second (with Jose Lopez), short (with Yuniesky Betancourt), third (with Adrian Beltre), and (Richie) Sexson at first has a large wing span to help over there,” McLaren said. “(Raul) Ibanez played a few positions before settling in left, and (Jose) Guillen has demonstrated a strong arm in right. This is a very strong team with the glove.”
McLaren believes Ichiro Suzuki is the anchor of the defense, and his move to center field for the entire season will only help. McLaren noted Suzuki has a penchant for not only hitting cutoff men accurately, but throwing people out.
On the road
Starting today, the Mariners will be in Tucson for three days to play the Diamondbacks (today), Rockies (Wednesday) and White Sox (Thursday).
Pitchers will commute each day, but several everyday players, including Suzuki, will play only one or two days.
No fan of split squads
Before playing the Cubs and Diamondbacks Monday with split squads, Hargrove said he is not in favor of the arrangement. The Mariners have one more split-squad situation March 29. Half the team will play San Diego in Peoria, while the remainder will be in San Francisco to face the Giants, having already left camp.
“You have to divide your team so fans can see veterans, but these games tend to get ugly too early,” he said.
On the field
Cubs (ss) 16, Mariners (ss) 4: At Mesa, Ariz., Michael Barrett hit two home runs and drove in four runs, Aramis Ramirez had a two-run homer and Alfonso Soriano added a solo shot in Chicago’s romp.
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Mike Morse and Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer in the third.
The Cubs sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the first against Ryan Feierabend and batted around in the fourth.
Mariners (ss) 8, Diamondbacks 5: At Peoria, Ariz., left-hander Jarrod Washburn allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings in Seattle’s win.
In four starts covering 13 2/3 innings this month, Washburn has allowed only three earned runs and 10 hits.
Richie Sexson and Jose Guillen drove in two runs each, Guillen belting his second home run of the spring.
Brandon Morrow, 22, the fifth overall pick in last June’s draft who appeared destined for AA ball, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The right-hander has not allowed a run this spring, giving up just two hits in 6 1/3 innings.
“He’s making us think about him,” Hargrove admitted.