Mariners Notebook: Lopez, Figgins stay put

The Mariners have all but abandoned the idea of trying Jose Lopez at second base and Chone Figgins at third for a game at spring training.

Wakamatsu had said Friday that those two would work out at those positions Saturday and probably play a game that way this week.

However, when the starting infielders took ground balls in the morning workout, Lopez was at third base and Figgins at second as they’ve been since spring training began.

Change of heart?

“Those guys are pretty happy where they are,” Wakamatsu said.

While Wakamatsu said he won’t make an announcement for a couple of days, it seems certain now that Lopez will start the season at third base and Figgins at second.

Felix gets the message

Wakamatsu had been lenient — to a degree — as the Mariners played through the past week without winning a game. He looked more at individual performances than games that often were determined by the play of minor leaguers.

However, after Friday night’s loss to the Reds handed the Mariners their sixth straight defeat, Wakamatsu gathered his team in the outfield before Saturday morning’s workout and delivered a strong message.

“He told us to get serious, get more focused, because opening day is close,” pitcher Felix Hernandez said.

A few hours later, Hernandez did his part by producing the best start of any Mariner this month, allowing two hits in five innings as he dominated the Diamondbacks.

“I tried to throw good today, to set the tone,” Hernandez said. “I tried to be Felix, think strikes and keep my mechanics together. When you’ve lost six in a row, you want to step up and win a game. This is my team — we needed it.”

Hernandez will get two more exhibition starts before opening day April 5 at Oakland.

He threw 61 pitches Saturday, then 15 more in the bullpen to build his endurance, all of them out of the stretch at the insistence of pitching coach Rick Adair.

“Rick told me to work out of the stretch because I hadn’t had to all game,” Hernandez said.

The Mariners also were a much sharper club behind Hernandez.

Left fielder Eric Byrnes, who has played well in recent games and brought energy to the team, made a full-layout dive to catch Stephen Drew’s line drive toward the left-field corner on the first play of the game. On the next play, third baseman Josh Wilson back-handed Conner Jackson’s hard smash down the line.

Those plays, and the energy the Mariners showed, were what Wakamatsu asked of the team in his morning meeting.

“Six losses — you stand in front of a club when you have different lineups and minor league guys playing, and it’s not about that,” Wakamatsu said. “But there are mistakes you see on the field that are inexcusable and there were things we saw that were good. That was the gist of the meeting. If we’re going to win, we’ve got to start buckling it down even more.”

League joins pitchers in pain

After all that happened Friday — news of Cliff Lee’s abdominal strain and the line drive off Doug Fister’s pitching arm — Wakamatsu seemed thankful Saturday that the sun came up.

“What do they say? This too shall pass?” Wakamatsu said.

Not completely.

During a fielding drill Saturday morning, reliever Brandon League tried to dive for a ball and planted his face into the turf, suffering a cut on the bridge of his nose that took two stitches to close.

The Mariners were encouraged that X-rays on Fister’s right forearm were negative. Fister was hit on the fleshy part of the forearm and, while there’s a fair amount of swelling, Wakamatsu said he may not miss a start.

Lee returned to the spring training complex Saturday after being in Seattle on Friday to have a platelet injection that the team hopes will speed his recovery. He will spend this week undergoing ice and stimulation treatments, plus time in the pool, before being examined again on Friday.

Of note

Ken Griffey Jr. went hitless in two at-bats — he also walked once — to drop his average to .188, but he drove two balls hard to right field for the first time this month. In his first at-bat, he hit one near the top of the right-field fence but just inches foul, and in the sixth he flied out to Justin Upton, who made a running catch at the warning track in right-center field. … With starting pitchers working deeper into games, there are fewer opportunities for multiple innings and back-to-back outings that the relievers need at this time of spring training. Because of that, Wakamatsu said pitchers like Kelley and Kanekoa Texeira, who are being groomed for middle relief, probably will pitch in minor league games to get their extra work. … Closer David Aardsma may pitch an inning in a minor league game today in his first back-to-back outings of spring training. … Utility player Jack Hannahan ran Saturday for the first time since he suffered a strained right groin on March 4. Hannahan said he feels better and hopes to play in exhibition games before the end of spring training. … Saturday’s game was the quickest of the exhibition season for the Mariners — 1 hour and 58 minutes. … Weekend games against the Diamondbacks always draw huge crowds, and Saturday’s attendance of 13,444 set a Mariners record at Peoria Stadium.

Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com/marinersblog

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Palmer Mutcheson chips onto the green during the Men’s Club Championship at Snohomish Golf Course. Mutcheson won the tournament and carded a nine-under-par 63 on Aug. 4, 2024, which set a new course record. (Photo courtesy Kiana Richards, Snohomish Golf Course)
Tee off in style: The top three golf courses in the Snohomish County

From scenic fairways to championship-level greens, these courses are a golfer’s dream!

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.