Opponent: Minnesota Twins
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: FSN (cable)
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Joel Pineiro (4-7, 5.89 earned run average) vs. right-hander Brad Radke (7-10, 3.71).
Everyday backup
Willie Bloomquist has started 28 of the Mariners’ past 30 games and raised his batting average from .197 to .278 entering Tuesday.
Still, manager Mike Hargrove considers Bloomquist a utility player.
“He’s opened a lot of people’s eyes and he has impressed me,” Hargrove said. “Has he changed my mind about him being a utility player? Not necessarily yet. But he’s gone down that road quite a ways.”
Bloomquist’s speed and versatility have made him a valuable late-inning replacement, although he assumed a regular role in the starting lineup after the Mariners cut second baseman Bret Boone on July 2.
Bloomquist has started 12 games at second base, 21 at shortstop and 13 at third base this season, and he can play every position but pitcher. Hargrove likes him best at second base.
So, what about that “utility player” label? After hitting .319 in July and .345 so far this month, what more can Bloomquist do to be considered a regular?
“In baseball, it takes about two days to get a reputation and about eight years to break it,” Hargrove said. “Melvin Mora came to Baltimore as a utility player and it probably him three to four years before they really saw him as an everyday player. He’s done a really good job since they inserted him in the lineup.
“It takes some time and it takes a very unique individual to be able to be patient with that time. But if it’s going to get changed, Willie can do it.”
Long line of shortstops: The Mariners are more than fully stocked with quality shortstops in their system, with three on the major league roster capable of playing there – Bloomquist, Mike Morse and Yuniesky Betancourt – and several others in the minor leagues. The brightest of the minor leaguers are Adam Jones at Class AA San Antonio and Matt Tuiasosopo at Class A Wisconsin.
With so many shortstops, someone’s got to give. Hargrove said Tuesday that it could be Morse, who the team has talked about trying in the outfield.
“He hasn’t played there up to now, but we’ve started real tentatively working with him in the outfield,” Hargrove said. “We’ll see where that goes.”
The slick-fielding Betancourt is the hands-down favorite to become the Mariners’ regular shortstop.
“He’s got great hands, good feet, and he does things with the glove that a lot of us wish we could be able to do,” Hargrove said. “He’s still a young kid and makes young kid mistakes, but he has a chance to be something really special. All of us think he’s going to be our shortstop someday.”
Of note: Pitcher Rafael Soriano will throw a simulated game today and, if he comes out of it without pain, may be cleared for another minor league rehab assignment. Soriano, who had major elbow surgery last August, came down with a sore shoulder last month during a rehab stint. … Pitcher Gil Meche had a red welt on his right forearm but said he felt fine Tuesday after being hit by a line drive in Monday’s game. … Michael Garciaparra of the Mariners’ Class A Inland Empire team was named the California League player of the week after he batted .471 with three home runs, four doubles and 10 RBI last week. … Bucky Jacobsen, on the second leg of his minor league rehab from knee surgery, went 2-for-4 and hit a home run Monday for Inland Empire. He played four games last week at rookie-level Peoria.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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