No place for Joh
Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said Kenji Johjima might start today at catcher, his first start since Monday.
Johjima has been a rare sight lately as the Mariners have given most of the starts to Jeff Clement, a young left-handed hitter who’s getting every chance to prove he has the power the club needs.
“We’ve communicated to (Johjima) very clearly that Jeff Clement is here and we’re going to get a good look at him and try not to let Kenji get rusty,” Riggleman said.
Johjima, who has only seven at-bats this month, is batting .211 for the season. That, basically, is why he isn’t catching or even being considered at first base.
“We’ve got other people to play at first who are first basemen,” Riggleman said. “And quite frankly, he hasn’t hit like a first baseman.”
The Mariners need power out of their first baseman and would prefer it be a left-handed hitter. That’s why Bryan LaHair, who entered Friday batting .288 with two home runs in 52 at-bats since being called up, is getting such a serious look there.
Johjima has started five games this season at DH and, even after the club designated Jose Vidro for assignment, he stands to get few at-bats there. Riggleman has said he’ll rotate the DH spot among outfielders Jeremy Reed, Wladimir Balentien, Raul Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki.
It puts Johjima, who the Mariners re-signed for three more years in April, in a bind that he may not be able to solve until next year.
“First of all, he’s got to get the most he can out of this season,” Riggleman said. “Like a lot of guys, you go home in the offseason and you say, ‘I’ve got to make some changes, I’ve got to show the organization that I’ve regained my form.’ That can happen. It’s not like he’s at an age (32) where his career is on the downside.”
Of note: Closer J.J. Putz tied a Mariners record by recording a victory in his past three relief outings. He pitched the top of the ninth Thursday, when Raul Ibanez’s leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth beat the Rays 2-1. … Evan Longoria didn’t start for the Rays on Friday after he was hit on the right wrist by a pitch from Putz on Thursday. X-Rays were negative. … Bill Bavasi, fired June 16 as the Mariners’ general manager, has been hired by the Reds as a special assistant under general manager Walt Jocketty.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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