McLaren sticking with Cairo at 1B
SEATTLE – After almost a week of fencing with the media over his first base situation, Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren tried to cut the matter down to size Sunday.
After a long meeting with general manager Bill Bavasi, McLaren had reporters ushered into his office before the series finale with Detroit and without being questioned addressed the issue of struggling slugger Richie Sexson’s benching and replacement with utility infielder Miguel Cairo.
“One thing I really want to emphasize here – this situation at first base is more about Cairo than it is Sexson,” McLaren said.
“Jeff (hitting coach Jeff Pentland) has been doing a couple things with Richie behind the scenes, and in the meantime we put Cairo out there and to be honest he’s energized us. He’s given us great defense. He’s given us a different look, with some speed. He’s a contact hitter. And we’ve played pretty good. In the situation we’re in, I’m not going to change it.”
Which is why Cairo was in the starting lineup for the fifth straight game Sunday, with Sexson – in the last year of a contract that will pay him $15.5 million – on the bench.
Sexson is hitting just .200 with nine home runs and 21 runs batted in, and in May struck out 25 times in 59 at bats. Cairo is not a power threat, but in eight starts dating back to May 10 is hitting .310.
More to the point, the Mariners had won three of their previous four games going into Sunday, though Cairo made the last out in a 7-5 loss – a situation that seemed Sexson might be called upon to pinch hit.
“We’re starting to play good,” McLaren said, “and again, it’s about Miguel, not about Richie. I think we’re trying to make this story into something it’s not. Richie’s our first baseman, but we’ve got a hot hand going and I’m not going to change the way we’re playing right now.
“Somebody told me the rumor of the day was that we’d released the guy. It’s funny how things start.”
Sexson has not spoken to the media since his benching.
“He’s got pride and he wants to do well and he knows he’s struggling,” McLaren said. “It’s not an easy situation for him, it’s not an easy situation for myself. But first and foremost and what will always be No. 1 is the team.
“We’ve spoken. I’ve told him how I feel about it and how I feel about him. I’ve tried to support Richie as much as anybody. I believe in Richie. He’s working hard at it behind the scenes with Pent and I’m sure he’s anxious to get back out there – he can’t do anything on the bench. We know he’s going to be back out there, it’s just a matter of when.”