PEORIA, Ariz. — The first pitch made Arthur Rhodes feel like a little kid again. The standing ovation after the third out brought him back to the best days of his career with the Seattle Mariners from 2000-2003.
Rhodes pitched in a game Wednesday for the first time since spring training last year.
It was an emotional moment for both he and the crowd, considering the “Tommy John” elbow surgery he had last May and the concerns over whether he could return to pitch meaningful innings at age 38.
He retired the Brewers 1-2-3 in a 10-pitch inning that featured three ground-ball outs and a fastball that topped 90 mph.
“The adrenaline was going through me pretty good,” he said. “I just wanted to stay calm and make sure I just got 1-2-3 and threw the ball like I can. I was having fun out there, like I was a little kid.”
When he walked off the field after getting the third out in the seventh inning, not only were the Mariners on the top step of the dugout to welcome Rhodes back, most in the crowd behind the dugout were on their feet applauding.
Such a reception was a sign of how much the fans remembered what Rhodes meant to the Mariners from 2000-2003.
“It was a family,” he said. “We had a great team, the fans were great. This year we’re going to do the same thing and put the fans behind our back.
“Everybody wants to see me come back and pitch this year. I was disappointed and I know everybody else was disappointed that I couldn’t come back and pitch last year. I’m just going to prove myself this year and help the team win a lot of games.”
To do that, Rhodes must get through the rest of this month. He’s well ahead of the usual 12-month time frame to return from such a surgery, but he’s also being patient in his recovery.
“I just take it day by day and do what they tell me to do,” he said. “Once they put me in the games, I go out there and do my job. I’ve just got to keep my head up and keep throwing like I’ve been throwing.”
Morse stars again: Mike Morse’s hot start is turning into a hot spring. He went 3-for-4 Wednesday and drove in the tying run with a double in the eighth inning of the Mariners’ 5-1 victory over the Brewers.
It gave Morse a .536 average and an apparent edge in the competition for the final roster spot. Of course, more than half the exhibition season remains and McLaren is saying only that he enjoys watching Morse, Wladimir Balentien, Jeremy Reed and Charlton Jimerson compete for the backup outfield role.
“There are several guys going for that slot, and it might be two slots depending how we go with the roster,” McLaren said. “They all bring a little something different to the table. They are all bringing it every day. I have really enjoyed watching them compete.”
Balentien and Reed still have minor league options available but Morse and Jimerson are out of options and the M’s would risk losing them of they don’t keep them on the 25-man roster.
Getting ‘em together: McLaren said he would start playing his regulars in back-to-back games after Tuesday’s off day, keeping the lineup together at least five innings each game.
After Tuesday, there will be 12 exhibitions remaining before the March 31 season opener.
“I don’t want to burn anybody out in spring training and I certainly don’t want for us to hit a peak in the middle of March,” McLaren said. “My concern is, the last week of spring training we want to really tighten things up and be ready on March 31 for the championship season and come out of the gates flying. That’s what we’re gearing for and we’re on course.”
The final week and a half also will give McLaren a chance to finalize his lineup, particularly deciding who will bat second and ninth. Designated hitter Jose Vidro is the likely No. 2 hitter, although McLaren has used Yuniesky Betancourt there in several games this month. He may choose to bat Betancourt ninth to take advantage of his speed.
“Until you get them all together, you don’t see the whole picture,” McLaren said.
Of note: Besides Rhodes, the Mariners two other rehab relievers — Chris Reitsma and Mark Lowe — also threw well Wednesday. Reitsma gave up two hits and a run in the seventh inning and Lowe pitched a perfect eighth. “Our rehabs were extremely impressive,” McLaren said. “You couldn’t tell they were coming off injury, that’s how good they were.” … The Mariners’ popular TV commercials will debut today with a showing in the clubhouse in Peoria and also for the media in Seattle at Safeco Field. They will be available for viewing today on MLB.com and will begin airing during the Fox Sports Net telecast of Sunday’s game. … The Mariners have hit at least one double in 13 of 14 exhibitions, including 14 in the past four games. They hit four Wednesday.
Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com
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