By Larry LaRue
The News Tribune
PEORIA, Ariz. – After spending most of eight years in one minor league city or another, Ryan Franklin had a dream rookie season going last August – which was why he was so angry to be back in the minor leagues.
It had nothing to do with Franklin’s ability and everything to do with the fact that he had options left, meaning he could still be recalled from the minors without having to clear waivers. The Mariners needed to make room on their 25-man roster for Edgar Martinez.
“Pat Gillick and Lou Piniella and Bryan Price all called me in to explain it,” Franklin said. “I understood what they were saying, but I was still mad at first.
“They told me I was doing a great job and wouldn’t be gone long.”
Five days later, Franklin was back in the majors. He plans on staying.
A 28-year-old right-hander who had started most of his minor league career, Franklin talked last spring about asking the Mariners to let him play in Japan if he didn’t make the opening night roster.
“It was about time to think of my family, time to make a little money, Franklin said. “Eight years in the minors doesn’t give you security.”
Franklin made the team as a long reliever and went 5-1 with a 3.56 earned run average in that role.
“He earned the job in spring, but truthfully, he was better than I thought he’d be,” Piniella said. “I’d love to have him back in that same role, give him a little more responsibility – but Ryan earned the right to fight for that fifth starting spot in our rotation.”
An Ichiro-thin Oklahoman, Franklin doesn’t quite fit the major league mold. He’s not overpowering, but struck out 60 batters last year while walking only 24.
At the All-Star break, when most players had vacations lined up, Franklin flew home to Oklahoma – and cleaned out his garage.
“This winter was the first time since ‘96 that I didn’t have to play winter ball to make money,” Franklin said. “I stayed home and saw the family, took a hunting trip or two.
“I’d love to start for this team, win 10-12 games. But if I was going to guess, I’d say I might be back in the bullpen. If that’s the case, I want to win six, seven games and have an ERA of 3.50 again.”
Franklin loves starting, but found life in the bullpen to his taste.
“Unless I went three or four innings the night before, I always came to the park thinking I might pitch,” he said, “and that keeps you thinking all the time. What would I throw this hitter, how would I approach this situation?”
Last April 7, Franklin earned his first major league win.
“It was at home against Texas, and I came into a situation with a couple men on and like one out,” he said. “I got out of it and we scored a few runs to come back on them.”
He remembers one moment from that game.
“I faced Alex Rodriguez and struck him out and Safeco Field went crazy,” he said. “It’s fun when that many people make that much noise and you feel you’re part of it.”
Heaverlo has MRI: The tightness in his right shoulder that has sidelined Jeff Heaverlo this spring is a serious enough concern that the team sent him for a magnetic resonance imaging exam Tuesday. The Mariners are understandably nervous – MRI exams last year found injuries that cost Ryan Anderson and Gil Meche a full season.
Temporary beard: Edgar Martinez will use any excuse to grow a beard or moustache, but since marrying wife Holli, they’ve never lasted long. A few weeks ago, Martinez got a blister just above his upper lip – and conveniently couldn’t shave, so he grew a goatee. How long will it last? “Not long,” Edgar said. “Holli doesn’t like facial hair.”
Change in routine: Pitching coach Bryan Price is always thinking, and because of it pitchers are now working out a bit earlier than previous springs. The regular workout begins at 10 a.m. here, and after throwing and going through fielding and agility drills, Seattle pitchers shag balls in the outfield during batting practice. Then, just before the three-hour schedule ends, they run.
Price has changed that – pitchers are now running at 9 a.m. Why? “Most of what they do during batting practice is stand around the outfield and stiffen up,” Price said. “That’s not the best way to get them ready to run. This way, we loosen them up, they get their running in, have time to cool down a bit and then have their regular workout. And after batting practice, they’re done.”
Norm sighting: Norm Charlton will miss his first full season in nearly 17 years, but en route from one home in Texas to another in Seattle, he stopped by camp Tuesday. Charlton is intent on coming back from shoulder surgery next season, and will be back in Arizona late next month to begin serious rehab work.
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