Mariners notes: Mariners bench coach can’t shoulder duties

These are painful days, both physically and mentally, for Seattle Mariners bench coach John McLaren because of the condition of his right shoulder.

McLaren, who has thrown thousands of batting practice pitches in his career, said he needs surgery before he’ll do it again, and that prospect is not easy on him.

“I feel like I’m not pulling my share of the load,” he said.

McLaren often bragged that he threw more home-run pitches to players such as Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez and Alex Rodriguez than anyone, and he was proud of it.

“You can really get self-satisfaction from it,” he said. “I remember one day we were in Boston and (Griffey) wanted everything thrown away to him. Being at Fenway Park (and the Green Monster in left field) he was looking to hit the ball the opposite way, and his first time up he hit a home run away. It makes you feel good to know that a player worked on it and it carried over into the game.”

Slap-happy hitter

Ichiro Suzuki’s current hitting groove, when it seems he makes contact with the most unhittable pitches, reminds manager Mike Hargrove of everything he never liked about Ichiro when he managed the Orioles.

“It ticks off the opposing manager,” Hargrove said. “I know that from first-hand experience.”

Hargrove said Ichiro remained patient and didn’t make any major changes to his approach despite a bating average that was less than .300 until his 5-for-5 game Tuesday.

“Ichiro doesn’t force things,” Hargrove said. “He’ll make adjustments in what pitches to look for and areas to look for a pitch. But as far as changing his style and changing the way he goes about it, he stays consistent. He stays the same and it works. One of the things he does really well is that he gives his talent a chance to work.”

Among Ichiro’s many talents is the ability to make contact with pitches out of the strike zone, including one hit Tuesday on a pitch that was nearly in the dirt.

“He said it was 2 inches off the ground, and I think it was 1 1/2,” Hargrove said.