Jack Zduriencik gets an extension; Kurt Busch gets my heart started (plus Mariners notes)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 | 6:00 pm
Pretty big day news-wise at Safeco Field, and I’m not just saying that because Kurt Busch is here to throw out the ceremonial first pitch (the redneck NASCAR side of my heart flutters, though).
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik got a contract extension today. It’s hard to expect anything other than that from a guy who has replenished the organization with young players who just might make a longterm impact.
The Mariners say only that it’s a multi-year deal without being any more specific. Whatever that is, Zduriencik is pleased with it. He said he was approached within the past few days by Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and CEO Howard Lincoln.
Zduriencik said the security of a contract beyond this year is comforting but doesn’t change what he has worked on since he became GM 2 ½ years ago.
“It’s nice to know you have some security, but your job is your job and you have to do it every day regardless of what situation you’re in,” he said. “We set our goals in motion, we set our agenda when I took this job and as the years have gone on, we’re getting to where we want to get to. We’re certainly not satisfied where we’re at by any means at all. But there are some signs of things that are positive for the future.”
A few other notes from the clubhouse:
• Anthony Vasquez, the 24-year-old left-hander who has struggled mightily in his two big-league starts, will stay in the rotation and start Sept. 5 at the Angels, pitching coach Carl Willis said.
• First baseman Justin Smoak is scheduled to play all nine innings in the field tonight for Class AAA Tacoma. He has played each of the past two games, DHing last night, and been fine physically. Smoak is coming back from a broken nose and broken cheekbone after he was hit in the face by a ground ball, and he could be activated very soon.
• Third baseman Chone Figgins’ return from a strained hip flexor may not be so swift. Manager Eric Wedge said Figgins was sore today after a few days of fairly strenuous work.
“There was some soreness today, and we’re going to back off, check him again tomorrow,” Wedge said. “He still might go to Tacoma on a rehab assignment (but) there’s a chance he might go on the road with us and continue to work out where we can monitor him.”
• Last, but not least in the motorsports blood that runs through me, there’s former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch’s appearance tonight. He’s here supporting his foundation and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
How nervous is Busch for the pitch compared with the butterflies he’ll feel Sunday night at Atlanta, where he’ll race at nearly 200 mph for 500 miles?
“I’ve thrown about six or seven first pitches over the years,” Busch said, “but I’m more nervous for this than I am in the race car. It’s a little cold out here and I’m a little stiff.”
If you think the Mariners spend a lot of time traveling, try driving in NASCAR’s top series. Busch raced last weekend in Bristol, Tenn., and spent Monday and Tuesday testing on the newly rebuilt Phoenix International Raceway, then buzzed up to Seattle for today’s function at Safeco Field. Thursday, he’ll fly back East for another appearance for Coca-Cola. And Friday he’ll begin practice in Atlanta to prepare for Sunday night’s race there. These guys do this pretty much every week from early February through late November.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik got a contract extension today. It’s hard to expect anything other than that from a guy who has replenished the organization with young players who just might make a longterm impact.
The Mariners say only that it’s a multi-year deal without being any more specific. Whatever that is, Zduriencik is pleased with it. He said he was approached within the past few days by Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and CEO Howard Lincoln.
Zduriencik said the security of a contract beyond this year is comforting but doesn’t change what he has worked on since he became GM 2 ½ years ago.
“It’s nice to know you have some security, but your job is your job and you have to do it every day regardless of what situation you’re in,” he said. “We set our goals in motion, we set our agenda when I took this job and as the years have gone on, we’re getting to where we want to get to. We’re certainly not satisfied where we’re at by any means at all. But there are some signs of things that are positive for the future.”
A few other notes from the clubhouse:
• Anthony Vasquez, the 24-year-old left-hander who has struggled mightily in his two big-league starts, will stay in the rotation and start Sept. 5 at the Angels, pitching coach Carl Willis said.
• First baseman Justin Smoak is scheduled to play all nine innings in the field tonight for Class AAA Tacoma. He has played each of the past two games, DHing last night, and been fine physically. Smoak is coming back from a broken nose and broken cheekbone after he was hit in the face by a ground ball, and he could be activated very soon.
• Third baseman Chone Figgins’ return from a strained hip flexor may not be so swift. Manager Eric Wedge said Figgins was sore today after a few days of fairly strenuous work.
“There was some soreness today, and we’re going to back off, check him again tomorrow,” Wedge said. “He still might go to Tacoma on a rehab assignment (but) there’s a chance he might go on the road with us and continue to work out where we can monitor him.”
• Last, but not least in the motorsports blood that runs through me, there’s former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch’s appearance tonight. He’s here supporting his foundation and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
How nervous is Busch for the pitch compared with the butterflies he’ll feel Sunday night at Atlanta, where he’ll race at nearly 200 mph for 500 miles?
“I’ve thrown about six or seven first pitches over the years,” Busch said, “but I’m more nervous for this than I am in the race car. It’s a little cold out here and I’m a little stiff.”
If you think the Mariners spend a lot of time traveling, try driving in NASCAR’s top series. Busch raced last weekend in Bristol, Tenn., and spent Monday and Tuesday testing on the newly rebuilt Phoenix International Raceway, then buzzed up to Seattle for today’s function at Safeco Field. Thursday, he’ll fly back East for another appearance for Coca-Cola. And Friday he’ll begin practice in Atlanta to prepare for Sunday night’s race there. These guys do this pretty much every week from early February through late November.
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