SEATTLE — Minutes after Chone Figgins was introduced to the media Tuesday as the newest Seattle Mariner, he in turn introduced the people who got him there.
Sitting in the front row of the interview room at Safeco Field were his father, Charles Figgins, and his mother, Eva Callins, and beside them were his agent since he was 16 years old, Jamie Appel.
As Figgins stood for photos wearing his No. 9 Mariners jersey and cap, the symbols of the four-year, $36 million contract he signed last week, he waved to his parents as they held their cameras high.
Before he took questions from reporters, he asked his parents to stand.
“A lot of times you don’t get to see what’s behind the scenes,” Figgins said. “Those guys have always been there for me.”
Then he paused.
“Excuse me for the tears,” he said.
Reporters who’ve covered the Mariners more than 20 years couldn’t remember a newly acquired veteran player bringing his parents to his news conference, much less introducing them.
“It’s because they’ve been there through everything,” said the 31-year-old Figgins, who grew up in Florida. “They’ve always had my best interest. They’ve gone through the hardest times you could possibly go through. For them to be able to see their son take the next step of his life, they deserve to be here. And people deserve to see what’s behind me.”
Figgins also thanked the Angels, the organization where his career blossomed in seven big-league seasons, and nearly every coach who helped him become one of baseball’s most dangerous speed threats.
Among them were four now with the Mariners — manager Don Wakamatsu, hitting coach Alan Cockrell, first-base coach Lee Tinsley and new third-base coach Mike Brumley.
Cockrell was a hitting coach in the Rockies’ system, where Figgins began his pro career, and Wakamatsu, Tinsley and Brumley all managed or coached Figgins in the Angels organization.
“When you make a big decision in your life to move your family to a place that you don’t know, (people) like that become a factor,” Figgins said. “It made the choice a lot easier for me to sign here in Seattle.”
Figgins, primarily a third baseman who also can play second base, doesn’t know what position he’ll play in 2010. Zduriencik hinted last week that he is talking with free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre about returning.
“We know Chone will be on our infield,” Zduriencik said. “The one thing Chone has asked and we’ve assured him of, is that before we go to spring training he’ll know where he’s playing.”
Griffey’s knee much improved
Ken Griffey Jr. has lost 6-8 pounds this offseason and the range of motion in his left knee is better now than at any point during the season, trainer Rick Griffin said. Griffin visited Griffey last week at his home in Florida.
“I think this is going to make a difference in how he feels overall,” Griffin said. “He won’t have as much inflammation in his legs.”
Griffey had surgery in October to remove a bone spur from the knee. He told Griffin that he hoped to lose 15 pounds by spring training, which would put him at about 220.
Branyan’s back still a concern
Amid recent reports that first baseman Russell Branyan’s bad back hasn’t improved significantly this offseason, Zduriencik didn’t say a lot Tuesday to refute them.
Branyan missed the final month because of a herniated disc and he has been undergoing therapy at home near Nashville this offseason. The Mariners offered him a one-year contract early this offseason, but Branyan rejected it and is looking for a longer-term deal.
“I don’t know where all this is going to end up or how this club is going to look when we open spring training,” Zduriencik said. “Russell is working hard to get himself healthy, if you will. Any time a player ends the season injured, there’s always rehab and question marks. I know he’s working hard.”
M’s to be careful with Johnson
Griffin said catcher Rob Johnson is recovering well from operations to both hips, but the team will remain cautious throughout spring training because of all the bending/squatting required to play the position.
“The doctor thinks he’s going to be fine by spring training, but because he had two surgeries and he is a catcher, we’re going to go cautiously with him,” Griffin said. “As spring training and the season goes on, he’ll be able to do more accelerated activities. But he’s gong to be fine. He’s a tough kid.”
As insurance, the Mariners signed catcher Eliezer Alfonzo to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Despite having three catchers with big-league experience in Johnson, Alfonzo and Adam Moore, Zduriencik would not say his catching is set for 2010.
Langerhans close to re-signing
Zduriencik said outfielder Ryan Langerhans, who wasn’t tendered a contract, may re-sign with the Mariners soon.
“We have a strong desire to bring Ryan back, and I would hope that would get done in the next couple of days,” Zduriencik said.
Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com\marinersblog
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