PEORIA, Ariz. – A month of spring training has revealed a glimpse of what the Seattle Mariners may have this season.
The starting pitching is clearly improved from the top of the rotation to the bottom. The key is for those five to remain healthy.
The bullpen has a more veteran look and could become the Mariners’ best relief corps since 2001, provided nobody gets hurt.
The offense went through an offseason upgrade, and that should translate into more runs. However, the Mariners are depending on two new players, Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen, whose recent injuries have negated their impact at the plate.
Any guess what manager Mike Hargrove sees as his primary goal in the final two weeks of spring training?
“We need to stay healthy,” he said.
That’s the key to any team’s chance for success but perhaps no more than the Mariners, who need a good start to the regular season and aren’t deep enough to withstand too many injuries.
With two weeks to go before the season opener, here’s the state of the Mariners:
* Starting pitching: It’s been everything the Mariners bragged all winter that it would be, maybe even more so. Except for Jeff Weaver’s first outing, no starter has thrown a real stinker this month.
The important thing now is for opening-day starter Felix Hernandez to maintain his confidence, plus his weight; Jarrod Washburn his health; Horacio Ramirez his crafty ability to miss the fat part of the bat; Miguel Batista his veteran feel for pitching; and Weaver his mechanics.
* Relief pitching: The Mariners may have avoided a huge problem with a positive medical report on closer J.J. Putz’s sore right elbow. He has a mild muscle strain and expects to be ready for the opener, although nothing will be certain until he gets back on the mound. Putz will play catch Tuesday.
Losing Putz, even for a short amount of time, could upset the balance of a bullpen that has a chance to be the Mariners’ best since Jeff Nelson, Arthur Rhodes and Kazuhiro Sasaki were finishing games in 2001.
Even with Putz healthy, the Mariners need Chris Reitsma (nerve surgery last season) to remain sound and Rhodes to regain the touch that made him so good with the Mariners in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
The Mariners still must settle on a long reliever. That’s a competition among Sean Green, Sean White and Jon Huber and it may not be decided until the final few days before the opener. White has the advantage of being a Rule 5 draft pick who must be offered back to the Atlanta Braves if he doesn’t make the 25-man roster.
* Defense: No team may be stronger on the left side of the infield than the Mariners, who have potential Gold Glove players in third baseman Adrian Beltre and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt. Ichiro Suzuki should flourish in center field, where his speed and strong arm are a perfect fit for Safeco Field.
There are issues on defense, however.
Catcher Kenji Johjima’s pitch selection was a season-long concern last season and, while he has a year of experience in the American League, he also has three new Mariners starters to learn. Opposing teams have run at will on Johjima, whose low arm angle when he throws often causes the ball to tail. The Brewers swiped two bases on Sunday, leaving Johjima 0-for-9 against base stealers this spring.
The Mariners have been cautious throughout spring training with right fielder Jose Guillen, who had Tommy John elbow surgery last July. He has played only a few innings in the outfield and hasn’t had a play that tested the elbow.
* Hitting: New designated hitter Jose Vidro is hitting .353 this month, bringing a sweet swing and the ability to spray the ball to all fields, and that should play well at Safeco Field. Guillen (.304 this month) has 25-home-run potential as long as his elbow has healed enough to allow him to swing uninhibited. That still must be determined.
The offense still depends upon the two highest-paid Mariners, Beltre and Richie Sexson, who’ve performed with mixed results this month. Beltre has hit well out of the No. 2 spot in the order, batting .310, but Sexson has struggled throughout the spring. He went 0-for-3 again Sunday and has two hits all spring and a .067 average.
Most of the Mariners’ front-line players have performed well this month, even though the record doesn’t show it. Sunday’s victory over the Brewers gave the Mariners a 6-13 record, worst among American League teams.
They say it means nothing, which is true. Still, as the Mariners play their final exhibitions before the season begins, it would help to win games and build momentum going into a difficult schedule to start the season.
“We need to keep doing what we’re doing,” Hargrove said. “The attitude is good, the atmosphere around this clubhouse is good, he work habits are good. It’s been a good camp.”
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