Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hargrove praises Mariners’ effort

Everett Herald

PEORIA, Ariz. – It’s official. Mike Hargrove likes this team.

Ten exhibition games remain before the retooled Seattle Mariners begin the regular season, and their new manager’s self-assessment is positive.

“We’ve played well, been in games,” Hargrove said. “It’s a real tribute to our guys the way they have exhibited themselves so far.”

What that means in terms of wins and losses, Hargrove won’t dare say. He hasn’t even chosen his opening-day starting pitcher yet.

But he likes the way the team has responded to a new regime, especially at a spring training camp that has been different from the past. Previous spring trainings were more laid-back under Bob Melvin, who gave veteran players plenty of leeway to get themselves ready for the season. Hargrove has demanded hard work and professionalism, and he hasn’t been afraid to remind the offenders, even veterans, of his basic rules.

“From what I understand, and I’m not doing anything other than making a statement, this camp has been different than they had in the past,” Hargrove said. “We’ve asked them to do some different things and they have all accepted it and attacked it. It doesn’t mean the other way wasn’t good. Heck, they won 93 and 116 games, so people were doing things right before we got here.”

The Mariners won’t finish atop the Cactus League standings, and they will be hard-pressed to finish the exhibition schedule with a winning record. Hargrove measures a successful camp on little things, and he’s seeing them now.

“You see guys playing the game crisply,” he said. “I watch hitters talking to each other, asking ‘What does this guy throw, what was that pitch?’ I have been with clubs that didn’t do that, clubs that didn’t share information. This is good to see.”

Hargrove’s greatest concern is – no surprise – pitching. Of course, every other manager might be saying the same thing.