SEATTLE — There’s a bit of swag these days about the Seattle Mariners, who have won four straight series as they prepare to open a three-game weekend set Friday against the Kansas City Royals at Safeco Field.
It isn’t just that shortstop Ketel Marte is on a 13-for-30 surge over the past seven games. Or that he’s raised his average more than 100 points in that span to .288. It’s what comes along with a productive Marte.
“When he gets on the bases,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said, “and the energy gets flowing, you can just see that it picks up our club. The confidence is coming, defensively as well as at the plate. He’s kind of our guy with the swag on the bases. I want him to create havoc and let the other team know he’s out there. He certainly has done that recently.”
Marte, 22, struggled through the season’s first two weeks. It appeared the sophomore jinx was already taking hold after two encouraging months last season that prompted the Mariners to view him as a lineup fixture.
“I’ve made some adjustments to see the ball better,” he said. “And when I get my pitch, that’s what I do. I hit in the cage every day. I work with Robby (Cano) and (hitting coach) Edgar Martinez. They’ve helped me a lot.
“And I’ve watched the video from last year, which I think helped. That made me better. I’m just trying to be the same from last year. I watched the video to see what I did last year, and I think that’s why I’ve been better.”
Cano might be Marte’s biggest booster.
“That’s a guy I know (is going to be good),” Cano said. “I’ve been telling guys all the time that the more you play, the more you learn. He’s one of those guys, the more he plays, the better he gets.”
And the swag — think of it as speed with an attitude — becomes more prominent.
Marte’s dash from first to home on a Cano single on April 16 in a 3-2 victory at New York was a highlight moment.
Similarly, Marte scored what proved to be the winning run in Monday’s victory over Houston, also 3-2, by breaking from third base and forcing an errant throw after the Astros had Cano trapped in a rundown.
“I think we’ve seen, as a few hits have dropped in, (Marte’s) confidence has grown,” Servais said. “He looks much more sure of himself. Not just in the batter’s box, but defensively as well. Which is pretty normal for all young players.
“I think he feels like he belongs. He’s part of the team. And a big part of our team in the middle of the field. It’s nice to see. It’s going to be streaky. I get it. But we’re riding a good streak right now.”
And the swag is showing.
“It’s part of the game,” Marte said. “I’m just trying to see what I can do. And then try to do it. I started out with a little struggle. But you can see now, I’m good, I feel comfortable.”
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