Published: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Mariners move Suzuki out of leadoff spot
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Associated Press
The Mariners have moved ichiro Suzuki from first to third in the lineup.
Desperate to revive an offense that has been the worst in baseball for two years running, the Mariners will shake things up at the top of the lineup this season.
Eric Wedge told reporters in Peoria, Ariz. Tuesday that Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle's leadoff hitter since 2001, will bat third this year. Wedge added that Chone Figgins, who has struggled mightily since signing as a free agent with Seattle two years ago, will get a crack at the leadoff spot to start the season. Wedge also said that Dustin Ackley will likely be the No. 2 hitter, though that is not set in stone.
“I feel like our best opportunity to score runs is with Ichiro hitting third for us,” Wedge told reporters. “I think it helps the guy in front of him, helps the guy behind him, helps him. ... Everybody in there wants to win, Ichiro as much as anybody.”
Tuesday's announcement wasn't a big surprise. Wedge already said last month that he was leaning towards moving Suzuki out of the leadoff spot after the right fielder had his worst season since coming to the Major Leagues from Japan. Wedge also said in the past that he would consider batting Figgins leadoff, which was the spot in the batting order where he thrived while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
“I'm going to give Chone Figgins the first shot at it,” Wedge said. “I'm confident that Figgins can get back to his old self as a leadoff hitter. That's when he was the Figgins that produced, that got on base, that scored runs. He was really a pain for opposing teams when he did leadoff for Anaheim.”
Figgins has not produced, gotten on base or scored runs like the Mariners would have liked since signing a four-year deal worth $36 million after the 2009 season. He hit .259 in 2010, and that was only after he finished the year strong. Figgins was even worse last year, batting just .188 before a hip flexor injury ended his season in August — though he already had seen his playing time decrease at that point.
Wedge is hoping that by putting Figgins back in a familiar role, he can regain his old form and allow the Mariners to get some value out of what currently looks like an awful signing.
“I feel like to give him the greatest chance to get back on track and succeed is to give him that opportunity to lead off for us,” Wedge said.
Suzuki also will be trying to bounce back from a down season after putting up career lows in several offensive categories last season, including a .272 batting average and .310 on-base percentage. The move to the No. 3 spot means Suzuki will be trying to change his game at age 38. At the top of the order, his primary goal was to get on base — and the way he approached the game, that meant getting hits — but now he will be in a run-producing role.
Suzuki knew this move could be coming and says he'll be up to the challenge.
“I came (to spring training) prepared mentally because there was a possibility I'd be hitting elsewhere,” he said through interpreter Antony Suzuki, according to MLB.com. “I was always prepared to do what is best for the team. So if this is the case, this is the best for me to do.”
These moves certainly look like a gamble. The top third of the Mariners' batting order now consists of two veterans coming off of career-worst seasons, and Suzuki has never put up the type of power numbers teams usually look for in a No. 3 hitter.
With the move, Wedge is trying to end two consecutive seasons of his team putting up the worst numbers in baseball in nearly every offensive statistical category. He is willing to shake things up in hopes of turning things around, even if that means a big change for the player who has been Seattle's leadoff hitter for more than a decade.
“Ultimately, it's not just about Ichiro, it's about our club, and it's about his 24 other teammates,” Wedge said last month when talking about the possibility the lineup change. “Ichiro understands that, and I damn sure understand it.
“What we're going to do is make sure we put out the best possible lineup to score more runs. It's not acceptable the amount of runs we've scored the last couple of years.”
Eric Wedge told reporters in Peoria, Ariz. Tuesday that Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle's leadoff hitter since 2001, will bat third this year. Wedge added that Chone Figgins, who has struggled mightily since signing as a free agent with Seattle two years ago, will get a crack at the leadoff spot to start the season. Wedge also said that Dustin Ackley will likely be the No. 2 hitter, though that is not set in stone.
“I feel like our best opportunity to score runs is with Ichiro hitting third for us,” Wedge told reporters. “I think it helps the guy in front of him, helps the guy behind him, helps him. ... Everybody in there wants to win, Ichiro as much as anybody.”
Tuesday's announcement wasn't a big surprise. Wedge already said last month that he was leaning towards moving Suzuki out of the leadoff spot after the right fielder had his worst season since coming to the Major Leagues from Japan. Wedge also said in the past that he would consider batting Figgins leadoff, which was the spot in the batting order where he thrived while playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
“I'm going to give Chone Figgins the first shot at it,” Wedge said. “I'm confident that Figgins can get back to his old self as a leadoff hitter. That's when he was the Figgins that produced, that got on base, that scored runs. He was really a pain for opposing teams when he did leadoff for Anaheim.”
Figgins has not produced, gotten on base or scored runs like the Mariners would have liked since signing a four-year deal worth $36 million after the 2009 season. He hit .259 in 2010, and that was only after he finished the year strong. Figgins was even worse last year, batting just .188 before a hip flexor injury ended his season in August — though he already had seen his playing time decrease at that point.
Wedge is hoping that by putting Figgins back in a familiar role, he can regain his old form and allow the Mariners to get some value out of what currently looks like an awful signing.
“I feel like to give him the greatest chance to get back on track and succeed is to give him that opportunity to lead off for us,” Wedge said.
Suzuki also will be trying to bounce back from a down season after putting up career lows in several offensive categories last season, including a .272 batting average and .310 on-base percentage. The move to the No. 3 spot means Suzuki will be trying to change his game at age 38. At the top of the order, his primary goal was to get on base — and the way he approached the game, that meant getting hits — but now he will be in a run-producing role.
Suzuki knew this move could be coming and says he'll be up to the challenge.
“I came (to spring training) prepared mentally because there was a possibility I'd be hitting elsewhere,” he said through interpreter Antony Suzuki, according to MLB.com. “I was always prepared to do what is best for the team. So if this is the case, this is the best for me to do.”
These moves certainly look like a gamble. The top third of the Mariners' batting order now consists of two veterans coming off of career-worst seasons, and Suzuki has never put up the type of power numbers teams usually look for in a No. 3 hitter.
With the move, Wedge is trying to end two consecutive seasons of his team putting up the worst numbers in baseball in nearly every offensive statistical category. He is willing to shake things up in hopes of turning things around, even if that means a big change for the player who has been Seattle's leadoff hitter for more than a decade.
“Ultimately, it's not just about Ichiro, it's about our club, and it's about his 24 other teammates,” Wedge said last month when talking about the possibility the lineup change. “Ichiro understands that, and I damn sure understand it.
“What we're going to do is make sure we put out the best possible lineup to score more runs. It's not acceptable the amount of runs we've scored the last couple of years.”
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