Hargrove wants more aggressiveness

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, February 23, 2006

PEORIA, Ariz. – To all those Mariners fans yearning for a return to crisp, flawless baseball, Mike Hargrove has a spring-training warning.

“This spring, we’re going to run into outs that will look real ugly,” the Mariners manager said Thursday.

Hargrove said he hopes that what may look ugly during the exhibition season will turn into a thing of beauty when the regular season begins.

Hargrove is emphasizing aggression in every phase of the Mariners’ game this year, especially in their baserunning. He wants the M’s to take better leads off bases, steal more and risk taking the extra base.

When the exhibition season begins next week, Hargrove will insist that the Mariners run, even if they run into outs.

“You’ve got to find how far you can go before you can ever pull back from that and understand what’s worth the risk and what’s not worth the risk,” he said.

Hargrove particularly wants Ichiro Suzuki, Jeremy Reed, Willie Bloomquist and Yuniesky Betancourt to run, plus Raul Ibanez and Adrian Beltre “in the right spots.”

“There’s room for improvement in all the guys as far as being more aggressive on the bases,” Hargrove said. “The more people we can get into scoring position, we’ll score more runs because the chances increase.”

The players have heard that message loudly.

“We’ve talked about it from Day One,” Reed said. “We’ve been doing a lot of baserunning stuff so far. Situations tell you when to run, but we have to put ourselves in situations and be ready to run. It’s not for a lack of effort, but we need to work on it and get better at it.”

Sheer speed isn’t the most important factor, Hargrove said.

“A certain amount of it is speed, a certain amount is technique,” he said. “But a large part of it is the willingness to risk. You watch Willie Bloomquist, he’s not the fastest guy in the world but he gets really great leads, he gets good jumps and when he commits to stealing a base, he really commits to stealing a base. He goes out there with no fear and he’s willing to accept the outcome.”

Bloomquist stole 14 bases in 15 attempts last season. Suzuki had 33 steals and was caught eight times.

The Mariners ranked fourth in the American League with 102 steals last year, but were thrown out 47 times, fourth most in the league.

“I thought we were way too defensive on the bases last year as a whole,” Hargrove said. “We certainly don’t want to be foolish in what we try to do, but we want to be aggressive. We talk to them everyday about pushing the envelope with the lead and taking advantage of any small situation there is.”

It’s not just about stealing bases, either. Hargrove wants to put the game in motion with bunts and hit-and-run plays. The Mariners devoted a big portion of Thursday’s workout to those elements.

There will be one big exception to the hit-and-run plan. Nobody will be running when Richie Sexson, who hit 39 home runs last year, is at the plate.

“If we hit-and-run with Richie,” Hargrove said, “you have my permission to put me away and throw away the key.”

Man of many gloves: Bloomquist, so valuable to the Mariners for his ability to play several positions that it may hurt his chances to win the second base job, learned a lot about versatility from Mark McLemore.

McLemore played for the M’s from 2000-2003 and turned the utility role into a near everyday position. He played the infield and outfield, was a switch-hitter and, in the Mariners’ 116-victory season in 2001, played 125 games and got 409 at-bats as manager Lou Piniella gave his starters regular rest.

Bloomquist considers himself fortunate to have spent 2003, his first full season in the majors, on the same team with McLemore and veteran bench players John Mabry and Greg Colbrunn.

“I learned quite a bit from them, too,” Bloomquist said. “But as far as where to get my work in, Mac was a tremendous help. I watched how he went about his business and how he prepared, where to get repetitions (in pregame workouts) and where not to get repetitions.

“Mac had a very good career, and if I could match that, I would be happy.”

Of note: Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt incited the first big cheer of spring training from the hundred or so spectators who watched Thursday’s workout. He made a headlong dive to his left to glove a grounder during fielding practice, then made a perfect throw to Richie Sexson at first base while still on the seat of his pants. … Relief pitcher J.J. Putz skipped Thursday’s practice for the second straight day as he dealt with back spasms, but said he felt much better. “A ton better,” he said. “I couldn’t even move yesterday.” The Mariners say his status is day-to-day. … Hargrove said the Mariners will play intrasquad games Tuesday and Wednesday as they prepare for the exhibition schedule, which begins Thursday against the Padres. … Joel Pineiro, getting ready for a March 8 start for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, will throw 25-30 pitches in a simulated game with the Mariners on March 3. … Hargrove on the muscle aches that seem to be prevalent in camp: “If you’re not sore right now, you probably need to work a little harder. A lot of guys are stiff and sore, but it’s a normal type soreness.”