NEXT SERIES
Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
When: 4:05 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday.
Where: Skydome in Toronto.
TV: Fox Sports Net today and Wednesday, KSTW (channel 11) Thursday.
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM) all three games.
Pitchers: Today – Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (6-9, 4.78 earned run average) vs. right-hander Josh Towers (9-5, 4.61). Wednesday – Right-hander Gil Meche (4-5, 5.53) vs. right-hander Dave Bush (2-3, 3.79). Thursday – Left-hander Bobby Madritsch (3-1, 2.93) vs. right-hander Justin Miller (2-3, 5.26).
Ichiro’s road show
The Mariners play their next three games on the fast artificial turf at Toronto, where baseball logic would suggest that Ichiro Suzuki has a greater chance to pad his hit total.
After all, a fast track should play right into his game, right? M’s manager Bob Melvin buys that theory.
“Playing on turf, he can bounce balls all over the place,” Melvin said. “You run a little faster on it and the ball gets through the infield quicker.”
Then how to explain Suzuki’s lower career numbers on artificial turf? He’s a .340 hitter on natural grass but his average is 30 points lower on turf.
“I don’t have an answer for that,” Melvin said.
One theory is that the faster surface actually hurts Suzuki. Infielders can afford to play deeper because the ball gets to them faster and, as a result, reduce Suzuki’s opportunity for infield hits.
“But,” Melvin adds, “if they’re playing deeper it should give him an opportunity to bunt more.”
Also working against Suzuki tonight is Blue Jays starter Josh Towers. He’s just 2-for-11 in his career against Towers.
Suzuki, with 209 hits this season, is chasing the major league single-season record of 257 set in 1920 by George Sisler. Suzuki has 53 hits in August, his third straight 50-hit month.
He needs one today, in the final game of the month, to tie the record for most hits in a month. Rod Carew had 54 hits in 1977, and Alex Rodriguez equaled Carew in 1996.
Secret to Ichiro’s success: Like most hitters, Raul Ibanez has studied Ichiro Suzuki’s approach to hitting, and he knows what makes Suzuki so good.
Asked to name the single most important element of Suzuki’s game, Ibanez had an immediate answer. It’s not Suzuki’s hands, his eyesight or his bat control.
“It’s his mind,” Ibanez said. “His mindset and his focus are as good or better than anybody I’ve ever seen. No matter what’s going on around him, he always prepares the same. He doesn’t let his surroundings affect his game.
“He amazed me when I was his opponent, and now that I’m his teammate he’s absolutely awesome to watch.”
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
