Opponent: Oakland Athletics
Where: Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, Calif.
When: 7:05 p.m.
Television: Fox Sports Net (cable)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Starting pitchers: Seattle right-hander Freddy Garcia (7-1, 3.82) vs. left-hander Mark Mulder (8-4, 3.82).
Angry: There were two lines of questioning put to manager Lou Piniella on Tuesday, and it was hard to determine which one irritated him more.
The first came from visiting writers and columnists who asked whether he planned to address the team after it had lost two consecutive games. Piniella turned the tables on the media.
“OK, how many of you picked us to win our division?” Piniella asked.
Of the eight writers present, all admitted they had picked Oakland – not
Seattle – to win the American League West.
“So 2 1/2 months ago, you picked us to finish second, and now you think we can’t lose two games in a row?” Piniella asked. “I’m a realist. I’m proud of our start, proud of the way we’ve played. But to think we’re going to play at a .765 winning percentage all season is crazy.
“We’ve won games we probably shouldn’t have won, occasionally we’re going to lose some we shouldn’t. If we lose a game to Oakland – and all of you picked them to beat us this season – why would that surprise you? They’re a good team, too.”
The second line of questioning was nearly as bothersome to Piniella: Was he going to rest his team at the expense of victories?
“A few weeks ago, Jeff Nelson and Arthur Rhodes were on pace to pitch in about 90 games, and that would have killed them,” Piniella said. “We’re looking more at the 70-game range, and we’re back to that pace now.
“We’re going to try to win games, but I’m not going to risk wearing anyone out. Jamie Moyer last night pitched a wonderful six innings. Could he have gone deeper on three days rest? Sure – but if he gives us eight innings and throws 125 pitches and it hurts him in his next two starts, what have we gained?”
Piniella was asked, specifically, if he was going to sit Ichiro Suzuki more, given that the Japanese outfielder has never played more than 135 games in a season.
“We’re going to get him time off,” Piniella said. “I remember after playing six years in the minors, where you’re done on Labor Day, that my first season in the majors my body wasn’t ready for September,” Piniella said. “But last week we had an off-day and a rainout. Ichiro played one game of a doubleheader. How much time do I give him when we’re already playing without Edgar Martinez in the lineup?
“We’re not chasing the 1912 Giants and we’re not the ‘27 Yankees. I’m going to manage to win games, but I’m going to manage to keep my team fresh in September and hopefully deep into October, too.”
Things calmed down for a moment, then an Oakland radio host asked Piniella how it felt to have won the division by June.
“Don’t even start,” Piniella said. “Don’t even go there.”
Around the horn: Relievers Jeff Nelson and Norm Charlton lost back-to-back games Sunday and Monday, and despite that the Mariners bullpen leads the major leagues in win (17), fewest losses (6) and saves (32). … Mark McLemore, who is starting games against right-handed pitching, has stolen 21 consecutive bases to open the season. That’s the second longest streak in club history, trailing only the 28 consecutive stolen bases recorded in 1980-81 by Julio Cruz.
Larry LaRue
The News Tribune
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