Mariners Update
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, May 6, 2001
Opponent: Boston Red Sox
When: 4:05 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
TV: KIRO (Ch. 7) Tuesday and Thursday, FSN (cable) Wednesday.
Radio: KIRO (710 AM) all three games
Pitchers: Tuesday – Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (5-0, 3.86) vs. right-hander Hideo Nomo (3-2, 3.00). Wednesday – Right-hander Aaron Sele (5-0, 2.37) vs. right-hander Frank Castillo (3-2. 4.50). Thursday – Left-hander John Halama (2-32, 3.38) vs. right-hander Tomo Ohka (2-1, 2.67).
A matter of matchups: The Mariners are juggling their rotation of starting pitchers again, and this time they may give up a little in Boston in order to gain a lot – they hope – against Toronto, Chicago and New York.
The Mariners will pitch two left-handers in the three-game series at Boston, an eyebrow-raising move when you consider the short right-field fence at Fenway Park that usually requires more right-handed pitching.
Manager Lou Piniella, who asked pitching coach Bryan Price last week to develop a pitching plan for the next two weeks, says the current alignment helps the Mariners match up better on the road trip against Boston and Toronto, plus the next homestand against the White Sox and Yankees.
“Toronto has lost only one game all year against a left-handed starter, and at the same time Boston has been better against right-handers,” Piniella said.
Left-hander Jamie Moyer, right-hander Aaron Sele and lefty John Halama will pitch Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, in Boston, and right-hander Paul Abbott will have to wait until Friday at Toronto to pitch again. Right-hander Freddy Garcia and Moyer will pitch the other two games in Toronto. Sele, Abbott and Garcia will give the M’s right-handed strength against the White Sox, and Halama, Moyer and Sele will give the M’s two lefties against the Yankees.
“Lou likes to mix and match the best he can and take advantage of off days,” Price said.
When Halama pitches again, it’ll be on three days of rest. By the time Abbott pitches Friday and Garcia on Saturday in Toronto, they’ll each be throwing on six days of rest.
“Our guys feel they’re going to be successful against whoever they pitch against,” Price said. “But they also know this gives them the best chance to win.”
Curiously, Abbott has a 0.00 career earned run average in Fenway Park, and his career ERA against the Blue Jays is 7.24.
Finally caught: When Ichiro Suzuki was thrown out trying to steal second base in the first inning Sunday, it ended a streak of 14 straight steals by the Mariners.
No Jose: The Blue Jays scratched center fielder Jose Cruz Jr. from the starting lineup Sunday after he experienced mild soreness in his lower back. Brian Simmons replaced him in center field and Raul Mondesi moved from fifth to third in the Jays batting order.
Good time to get out: Piniella, while sorry to see his friend Johnny Oates leave as manager of the Texas Rangers, said there’s a positive side to the situation.
“If you’re going to get fired in this business, it might as well be early,” Piniella said. “Then you can enjoy your summer.”
Kirby Arnold
