Saunders showing some power in Venezuela
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 | 2:56 pm
If Michael Saunders hopes to compete for an outfield job with the Mariners next year, he'll need to show the team what he didn't this year -- power. Saunders, who hit 13 home runs and had a .544 slugging percentage at Class AAA Tacoma, batted .221 with one double, three triples and no home runs in 122 at-bats with the Mariners.
Before they sent him down to Venezuela for a winter ball season with the Lara team, the Mariners had Saunders stop this month at their facility in Peoria, Ariz., for some individual work with hitting coach Alan Cockrell and minor league hitting instructors Alonzo Powell and Jose Castro.
So far, his numbers have been good in Venezuela. He's batting .321 with one home run and two triples in 28 at-bats, apparently driving the ball much better than what he showed with the Mariners.
“He’ swinging the bat really well and he’s comfortable,” minor league director Pedro Grifol said. “He’s having a good time and at the same time working on the same things that Alan Cockrell and he worked on prior to going there.”
Saunders did show that he has the athleticisim to handle the defensive challenge of left field with the Mariners, and his speed on the bases fits well with the type offense the team wants. But it will take power, an element the Mariners sorely need, to win that job on next year's team.
Before they sent him down to Venezuela for a winter ball season with the Lara team, the Mariners had Saunders stop this month at their facility in Peoria, Ariz., for some individual work with hitting coach Alan Cockrell and minor league hitting instructors Alonzo Powell and Jose Castro.
So far, his numbers have been good in Venezuela. He's batting .321 with one home run and two triples in 28 at-bats, apparently driving the ball much better than what he showed with the Mariners.
“He’ swinging the bat really well and he’s comfortable,” minor league director Pedro Grifol said. “He’s having a good time and at the same time working on the same things that Alan Cockrell and he worked on prior to going there.”
Saunders did show that he has the athleticisim to handle the defensive challenge of left field with the Mariners, and his speed on the bases fits well with the type offense the team wants. But it will take power, an element the Mariners sorely need, to win that job on next year's team.
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