Blue-Collar Buhner Provides M’S Backbone

Jay Buhner has talent, which explains why the Seattle Mariners spent nearly $15 million to keep him - and why Lou Piniella keeps a wary eye on him.

There are few things Buhner can’t do on a baseball field, or won’t try off one.

He can hit for power. He trains hunting dogs, like his own - “Ribbie” - named for his favorite statistic, the RBI. He is considered one of the top defensive right fielders in baseball. And he is a bad hair trend-setter.

Never a major-league All-Star, Buhner has been a Mariner since 1988. On a team with such gate attractions as Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson and such phenoms as Alex Rodriguez and Ron Villone, Buhner is often overlooked by the national media.

Not by his teammates, however.

“He’s a blue-collar worker with whitecollar production,” Piniella said.

“Jay is the backbone of this team,” Chris Bosio said.

On a team that will use its sixth openingnight left fielder in as many years, Buhner has been a rock of dependability in right - and the man with the responsibility of batting behind Junior in Seattle’s lineup. In the past two seasons, Griffey has 85 home runs and 199 RBI.

Buhner has 48 homers, 166 RBI.

Griffey’s appreciation of his teammate, friend and neighbor was evident last December, when Buhner was an “I’ll take it” phone call away from accepting a $14 million offer to play baseball in Baltimore. The Mariners last offer was in the $12.5 million range.

“Junior called me and when I told him what was going on, he was mad,” Buhner said. “He made some phone calls. He was like my second agent.”

Griffey made it clear he would view Buhner’s departure as a sign the Mariners were headed the wrong direction. A week later, Buhner had a three-year, $14.5 million contract to remain a Mariner.

Buhner has won games with his bat, his glove and his arm, and Piniella would add one category: his presence.

The world of professional sports increas ingly is marked by petulance rather than perseverance, but Buhner carries a code that makes him something of a throwback. He is unfailingly on time. He works hard. He plays hard. And he knows he owes the fans.

Last May, the Mariners sponsored a Buhner buzz-cut night, and anyone attending the game with a haircut that resembled Buhner’s - meaning almost no hair at all - got in free. Barbers were on hand to do the buzzing on request. More than 500 fans, including two women, took advantage of the offer.

When Griffey helped him get his new contract, Buhner promised to buy Griffey lunch on the road every day this season.

Junior, of course, accepted.

Mariners notes

Ordered to slice heavily into its payroll this spring, Seattle continued to go in the other direction - signing switch-hitting catcher Chad Kreuter to a one-year contract. Kreuter, 30, will battle Dan Wilson for the starting job and is coming off a year in Detroit in which he batted .224 with one home run and 19 RBIs. Kreuter’s career average is .239. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Mariners designated catcher Chris Howard for assignment.

Veteran infielders Felix Fermin and Luis Sojo might not arrive in camp until midweek because of persistent visa problems.