Paxton relishes chance to start Mariners’ home opener

Published 1:30 am Sunday, April 9, 2017

ANAHEIM, Calif. — It’s a confident James Paxton who will take the mound at 2:10 p.m. Monday when Mariners open their home schedule against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field.

A rough season-opening road trip is in the rear-view mirror and, personally, Paxton is looking to build off his six shutout innings against these same Astros in a no-decision last Wednesday in Houston.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said. “I know we’re all looking forward to getting in front of our fans in Seattle playing some baseball at Safeco.”

Paxton has been here before — starting the home opener — and it didn’t go particularly well. He gave up three first-inning runs to the Angels on April 8, 2014.

The Mariners rallied for a 5-3 victory, which went to Paxton, but he left the game after five innings because of a strained back muscle. He later encountered shoulder inflammation while on a May rehab assignment.

Bottom line: Paxton didn’t pitch again in a big-league game until August.

All ancient history.

“Personally for me,” he said, “I feel this is my season to take off. I was able to get to a place last year that I felt I’ve been trying to find for a long time. Now, I feel I’ve got that.

“I’m ready to be who I want to be and who everyone thinks I can be.”

That readiness includes the maturity to embrace the hoopla that surrounds any opening day while still keeping it in perspective.

“As soon as they set the rotation at the end of spring training,” Paxton said, “I was aware that I was going to be starting the first game at home. It’s exciting. I’ve done it once before. It’s a lot of fun.

“The energy in the building and being in front of our own fans for the first time, it’s a special thing. There’s lots going on. Last time, I tried to stuff it down and not react to all of the energy in the building.

“But I’ve kind of learned that I’ve got to use the energy in the building and have it take me to the next level. Just let the fans energize me and use it. I think these fans are ready for this team to win, and we are, too.

“I feel really good about our team. I know we’ve had a little bit of a rough start, but things are going to turn around. This team is going to be right where we need to be.”

Paxton didn’t argue when told that he sounded more confident than at any previous point since reaching the big leagues late in the 2013 season.

“Some of it is experience,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot over the past few years. … You can’t let any situation, or what’s going on around the league, affect how you’re going to play that game. It’s just one pitch at a time and give it everything you’ve got.”

The heightened confidence, Paxton said, is partly due to his time spent with a sports psychologist: “Baseball is such a mental game. Being in the right place mentally can change the way you look at everything.”

On Monday, that view will be as the center of attention for an anticipated sellout crowd that will include friends and family from Seattle and his childhood home near Vancouver, British Columbia.

His expectation?

“It’ll be a fun time,” he said.