| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010 7:32 am |
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Sports 
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MARINERS UPDATE: A different kind of hitter Yuniesky Betancourt hasn't been a better hitter by sheer numbers since Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu moved him to second in the batting order. He entered Monday batting just .190 in seven games in the second spot.But Betancourt, formerly known as a free-swinging hitter who rarely worked the count and swung at nothing but strikes, has tempered himself. Three of his eight walks are from the second spot, as are six of his league-best eight sacrifice bunts. Batting second tends to force a hitter to become more disciplined, and few Mariners needed to tone themselves down like Betancourt. However, Wakamatsu said the situation hasn't forced Betancourt to change his ways as much as Betancourt himself has done it himself. Here's why: Wakamatsu said Suzuki may reach base four times in a game -- a huge benefit to the guy hitting behind him -- but many of those at-bats come on hits early in the count. Seeing that, Betancourt easily may be tempted to swing early in the count. "As the second hitter, are you going to go ahead and whack away or are you going to allow him the opportunity to steal that base? That in itself puts pressure on you to protect," Wakamatsu said. "There's more responsibility and it creates more of a thought process than whacking and slashing late in the lineup." Betancourt was a .364 hitter with runners on base compared with .157 when the bases were empty. He has been more effective this season batting eighth, with a .311 average and a .354 on-base percentage. He's batting .250 from the sixth spot and .268 from the ninth spot. Still making the M's cringe Adam Jones returned to Safeco Field on Monday with a set of offensive numbers that everyone predicted when he was everyone's top prospect with the Mariners -- a.344 batting average, .607 slugging percentage and .447 average with runners in scoring position. George Sherrill, after a few rough outings, has made a change to his mechanics and saved six straight games. And if that's not enough to deliver a sick reminder of what the Mariners traded away two winters ago in order to get pitcher Erik Bedard, the Orioles had won seven of their past 10 games. "What's new? We're winning now," Sherrill said. The Orioles remain last in the American League East, but Jones and Sherrill are playing well. Entering Monday, Jones had hit safely in 26 of 32 games and led the Orioles with 11 home runs. "I've just matured as a baseball player. I figured out my role and I'm not trying to do too much," Jones said. "I'm just playing the way I know how to play and the results are there." Sherrill, after a mediocre start to the season, has converted his past six save opportunities and has 10 saves overall. The key has been a change back to some old pitching mechanics after the Orioles had him start his delivery with his shoulders more open to the hitter. "My pitches were a little flat and it allowed right-handers to see the ball all the way across," he said. "I was like, 'Why is everything getting waffled?'" So he closed his shoulders, raised his glove slightly and is throwing with more of a downward plane while still hiding the ball as well as before. Not only that, but Sherrill has added up to four mph to his fastball. "The changes have allowed me to incorporate my legs more, where before it seemed like I was throwing with all arm," he said. Of note Closer David Aardsma, who'd pitched three straight days and coughed up the game Sunday at Anaheim, wasn't available Monday and probably won't be asked to pitch tonight. Mark Lowe filled the closer role Monday. … Ryan Rowland-Smith will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, start for Class AAA Tacoma on Friday and come off the DL and start June 11 at Baltimore. He has been out since April 15 because of triceps tendinitis. … Shawn Kelley played catch from about 120 feet Monday afternoon and is progressing well from his oblique injury. Wakamatsu said he probably won't come off the DL for a couple more weeks. … Right-hander Carlos Silva (shoulder inflammation) is feeling better but also remains a few weeks from starting any sort of throwing program. Until then, he will continue on a program of exercises, cardio work and stretching. … Reliever Roy Corcoran (stiff neck) will throw a simulated game Wednesday. |
- Sorry, Hawkeye; M*A*S*H gets bowled over
- Former Whidbey student shot
- County archive software paid for but waiting for set-up
- Ruling expected on Sultan beating statement
- ‘Roadkill’ caucus seeks a voice for centrist Democrats
- Police seek witnesses in two accidents
- PAWS calls out for critter care-givers
- Boeing has a busy test schedule
- Ex-Boeing engineer jailed for espionage
- Morning mystery: What happened to House Bill 3181?
- Lynnwood sets height limit on grass: 8 inches
(10) - State Senate votes to toss I-960's tax-raising hurdle (9)
- Schools do well in levy elections (7)
- School levies in Snohomish County all passing, Marysville bond failing (7)
- Cat wanders into police parking lot, is euthanized (6)
- A tidy lawn could be law in Lynnwood (4)
- Lynnwood makes law against too tall lawns (4)
- Two suspects sought in Everett shooting that injured two (3)
- Boeing now favored to win tanker, experts say (3)
- Vote on school levies by Tuesday (3)
- Jackson girls outlast Meadowdale owdale
- OBT raises barre in children’s program
- Junior firefighters
- School levies passing
- Mavericks topple Wolfpack
- Get a second look at Second City Feb. 13
- Sports Briefs
- Warriors advance 11 to regional meet
- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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