Opponent: Texas Rangers
When: 1:40 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: FSN
Radio: ESPN 710 AM
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard (2-1, 2.61 earned run average) vs. right-hander Vicente Padilla (1-1, 8.27).
Beltre tempering wild swings
That was no mirage on Sunday. Third baseman Adrian Beltre did shorten his swing and slap two singles up the middle during the Mariners’ victory over Oakland.
Beltre often looks like he’s trying to leap out of his shoes when he swings, but he has been a different hitter lately, especially with two strikes. It’s an approach the Mariners have wanted to see.
“I think it’s getting to a point where he knows he’s got to do it whenever he can,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “Those are the kinds of adjustments you like to see out of him.”
Something else was different about Beltre in Monday night’s game against the Rangers. Wakamatsu dropped him down to fifth in the batting order after he’d batted fourth in all of the previous 25 games he’d played.
The lineup change this time had less to do with Beltre’s .216 average and was more because Wakamatsu wanted to split up the right-handed hitters against Kevin Millwood by moving left-handed-hitting Russell Branyan up a spot.
Despite his low average, Beltre entered Monday’s game batting .321 in his previous five games. That included his four-hit game Wednesday in Chicago and two hits on Sunday.
“AB is starting to come around. He’s been hitting into more hard outs than about anybody on this club,” hitting coach Alan Cockrell said, who doesn’t want Beltre getting too slap-happy at the plate even with two strikes.
“You’ve got to shorten up a little bit because it doesn’t do any good to swing wild,” Cockrell said. “But you don’t want to shorten up so much that you don’t put a strong swing on the ball if the pitcher makes a mistake.”
There have been times, however, when Beltre would lose his balance after a mighty swing. Wakamatsu hasn’t seen much of that this season.
“It’s a sign that he’s making a concerted effort to produce,” Wakamatsu said. “The more body you see in a swing, the less bat speed and less consistency you have. We told him he’s trying to generate power but he doesn’t need to because he’s strong enough.
“It’s a process. I’ve seen him change his swing since he’s been here — he’s been more open, more closed, more on the front side, more on the back side. With these adjustments, we’re hoping we’re headed in the right direction.”
Pain in the gut stops Junior
Ken Griffey Jr. has dealt with the effects of diverticulitis — an inflammation of the colon — for a few years, and it hit him again Monday.
How painful is it?
“It feels like someone kicked you in the damn side,” he said. “I would be more than happy to demonstrate it on you. Just sign the waiver that I already have printed up.”
Griffey missed nearly a week of games because of it nearly two years ago when he played for the Reds. He wasn’t in the lineup Monday but expected to be OK soon.
“Eventually it goes away, usually in one day,” Griffey said. “It can range from things you eat, to mood swings, loss of a little puppy. It’s just sore.”
Griffey didn’t play Saturday or Sunday because Wakamatsu chose to use Mike Sweeney as the DH against left-handed pitching. Wakamatsu said Griffey would have played Monday even though he had a .188 career average against Kevin Millwood vs. Sweeney’s .400 average.
Griffey said he started feeling badly Monday morning.
“It will be all right,” he said. “It just comes on when it wants to.”
Of note
Wakamatsu said he wouldn’t hesitate to use Jason Vargas, the newly called-up left-hander who pitched 21/3 impressive innings Sunday, in a starting role if the need arose. That’s worth remembering because the manager said over the weekend that Carlos Silva could be in jeopardy of losing his place in the rotation if he struggles again Wednesday at Kansas City. … The Mariners entered Monday with three starters among the American League’s top 10 in ERA — Felix Hernandez at 2.38, Erik Bedard at 2.61 and Jarrod Washburn at 2.97. … Injured closer Brandon Morrow (biceps tendinitis) threw in the bullpen Monday afternoon and probably will do it again Wednesday, then take two days off before he comes off the disabled list Saturday. … Ryan Rowland-Smith (triceps tendinitis) will throw in the bullpen today and, if that goes well, may throw a simulated game later this week before going on a minor league rehab assignment.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
