Beltre has new look
Adrian Beltre reported early to spring training, arriving at the Seattle Mariners’ complex Friday as a changed man.
His uniform number is bigger and his body is smaller. Those are two elements that were present during Beltre’s mammoth season in 2004, when he batted .334 and led the National League with 48 home runs while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That season, he played at about 215 pounds. He also wore No. 29, which wasn’t available with the Mariners last year because Bret Boone had it.
Boone is gone, so Beltre is back in his familiar number.
He’s also reshaped his body, with designs on making a bigger impact with the Mariners than last year. He batted .255 with 19 home runs and 87 RBI, all while wearing No. 5 and playing in the first year of a five-year, $64 million contract that carried immense expectations.
“I guess you could say I learned from the experience,” he said. “But there’s absolutely nothing good about last year. It was no fun at all. I’m a big part of this team, I hit in the middle of the lineup, and I didn’t do my job.”
The past few months, Beltre has tried to do something about it.
He lost more than a dozen pounds in a winter consumed with running and healthy eating.
His goal, besides returning to the player he was two years ago, is to avoid the leg problems that plagued him most of last season. He missed only five games because of a hamstring injury but was hampered most of the season.
”(Manager) Mike Hargrove and the trainers talked to me after the season and said it would be better to come in lighter because it would be easier on my hamstrings,” Beltre said.
Hargrove doesn’t believe Beltre will lose any power along with the weight. He said it should help his hitting.
“It makes it easier to move and it makes it easier on the joints,” Hargrove said.
Position players aren’t required to report for spring training until Monday, but Beltre arrived early to work with new hitting coach Jeff Pentland before he leaves for the World Baseball Classic and reports on March 2.
Mariners notes
With the arrival of Beltre and second baseman Jose Lopez, every starting position player has shown up early except first baseman Richie Sexson, left fielder Raul Ibanez and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, who will play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic and won’t report until after. … Designated hitter Carl Everett hasn’t arrived. … Relief pitcher Rafael Soriano joined the team one day late because of visa issues. Pitcher Travis Blackley, who was just days removed from shoulder surgery at this time last year, threw in the bullpen and said he feels good.
Police say Belle stalked
Albert Belle tracked his ex-girlfriend with a GPS device and repeatedly threatened her, according to a police probable cause statement filed in support of stalking charges.
The 39-year-old former baseball star was arrested in Scottsdale, Ariz., and charged with stalking. He made an initial court appearance late Thursday, and a judge set bail at $108,000, ordered him to be electronically monitored and to stay away from the victim.
Around the league
Tampa Bay first baseman Travis Lee avoided salary arbitration by finalizing a $2.45 million, one-year contract. … Ken Griffey Sr. is one of four candidates for Cincinnati’s first base coaching job.