Opponent: Anaheim Angels
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Edison Field, Anaheim, Calif.
TV: KIRO (Ch. 7)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Probable pitchers: Seattle right-hander Aaron Sele (13-5, 3.71 earned run average) vs. left-hander Scott Schoeneweis (10-9, 5.10).
Timing yet to come: Since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 1, Jay Buhner has as many strikeouts (4) as hits – and he has an advisory for anyone who’s concerned about that.
“I haven’t played in 10 months, I took batting practice against coaches, I batted in the minors against minor league pitchers,” Buhner said Monday. “I don’t have my timing yet. I’m not ready for real good off-speed stuff.
“I can promise you this. I’ll strike out some more this month. If you can’t stand the sight of it, turn the channel when I come up.”
The Seattle Mariners outfielder isn’t being rude, just realistic. A power hitter with a history of strikeouts when he’s at his best, Buhner has been a singles hitter since his return – three singles and a double.
Batting coach Gerald Perry is fine with that.
“Jay’s like most power hitters, his home runs come in streaks,” Perry said. “I wouldn’t mind if he waited a few more weeks before going on one of those streaks.”
Under the circumstances the Mariners find themselves in, they’re not concerned about what Buhner does this week. What they’d like is to see him get his belated spring training in September and be a factor in the postseason.
“Adrenaline carried me the first day or two I played, then reality hit,” Buhner said, laughing. “I mean, I worked the count to 3-2 a couple of times and got a slow breaking pitch. That was that.
“That’s what you can’t get in batting practice or in the minors. You just need at-bats up here to get that timing back.”
The best news in Buhner’s comeback is that, so far, his left foot has held up well. It grounded him in March, required surgery in June and remains tender – stiffening up during the game.
“About four days ago, I felt like I’d been in a car wreck after playing,” Buhner said.
As for results, Buhner isn’t delighted but Perry is.
“He’s probably ahead of where I thought he’d be,” Perry said. “You miss 10 months and then face major league pitching, you remember in a hurry why these guys are major league pitchers. He’s recognizing pitches. He’s worked for a couple of walks, had a few hits, given us some good at-bats. He’ll get better the more he plays.”
Would a home run do him good, Perry was asked.
“A home run would do anybody good,” Perry said. “A home run in October would be even better.”
In the meantime, Buhner is making no promises.
“When I’ve doing well, I can look pretty good,” Buhner said. “But even when I’ve been playing a while, I can look pretty ugly up there from time to time.”
Guillen update: Shortstop Carlos Guillen was given clearance to play Monday but didn’t start. Manager Lou Piniella’s usual style is to give a player one day more than they need – and against Angels starter Ismael Valdes, Guillen was 0-for-5 in his career.
Mr. September: You have to be a longtime Mariners fan to remember dismal Septembers, because in the Piniella Era there haven’t been many.
Since he joined the team after the ‘92 season, Piniella and the Mariners have a .593 winning percentage in September, their best in any month of the season.
Larry LaRue
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