M’s ask Lopez to improve mental game

PEORIA, Ariz. – Jose Lopez began Camp Concentration on Thursday, joining the Seattle Mariners a day late for spring training after visa problems in Venezuela delayed his arrival.

This is an important year for Lopez, whose play waned in the second half of the past two seasons.

Lopez has been a pre-All-Star break player. When combining his numbers from the 2006 and 2007 seasons, he batted .282 with 105 RBIs before the break but .250 with 36 RBIs after.

Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi put him on notice in December when he said the team needs more consistency out of the second base position.

Lopez heard those words and says he worked on his deficiencies – particularly the concentration issues – while playing winter ball in Venezuela.

“It’s physical and it’s mental,” Lopez said. “You need concentration.”

Theories for the falloff range from fatigue to focus to personal issues. Lopez plays baseball almost nonstop, participating in the Venezuela Winter League. Despite his experience he remains a young player at 24. His 2007 season was fractured by the death of his brother in a motorcycle accident.

“I feel like his mind wandered at times,” Mariners manager John McLaren said. “It’s all behind us and it’s a part of growing up as a player and as a person. We are well aware that he had a tragedy last year. That’s one of the issues he was going through.”

Lopez said he focused on hitting the ball to the opposite field at winter ball and he wants to continue that at spring training.

“(Concentration) was a little problem for me last year, missing RBI with runners on base,” he said. “With less than two outs, you’ve got to move the runners.”

Pitchers win first round

It was obvious during the first session of live batting practice that the pitchers are ahead of the hitters, with many more misses, popups and grounders than hard-hit balls. Relievers and young pitchers threw. The starters are among the group that will pitch today.

The most intrigue came from R.A. Dickey and the hitters’ reaction to his knuckleball. It dipped and dived and buckled knees, including Lopez so badly once that all he could do was smile.

McLaren apologizes

When McLaren talked Tuesday about the visa issues that delayed second baseman Lopez’s arrival from Venezuela, he mentioned the difficulty in working with the government down there.

“He did everything right and they just dragged their feet,” was among his comments.

The Mariners received some criticism over McLaren’s comments.

“It was a poor choice of words. I know exactly where they’re coming from and I apologize,” said McLaren, who managed winter ball in Venezuela early in his career. “I appreciate Venezuela because it’s done a lot for my career. I’ve got to wear this one. It’s totally my fault.”

Lopez said he was surprised when he realized the visa problem would keep him in Venezuela.

“Last week I went to the embassy on Tuesday to pick up my visa and they said no, come back next week,” he said. “I was supposed to be here last Saturday.”

Of note

McLaren and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre may reach a decision by today on the order of the starting rotation behind opening-day starter Erik Bedard and No. 2 Felix Hernandez. Left-hander Jarrod Washburn and right-handers Carlos Silva and Miguel Batista will comprise the rest of the rotation, although not necessarily in that order. … Invited infielder Tug Hulett, who played for the Spokane Indians, was the chosen performer at the “American Idol” portion of the team meeting, singing “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling.” “I’m not saying it was bad, but it certainly needed more background music,” McLaren said.