Opponent: Detroit Tigers
When: 6:10 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: FSN
Radio: ESPN 710 AM
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard (1-0, 2.03 earned run average) vs. right-hander Edwin Jackson (0-0, 3.38).
Among the lessons being learned by a relatively young Mariners team this season is the need to stay calm and collected when the adrenaline of a tense moment can push a player beyond his capabilities.
Twice Thursday night, manager Don Wakamatsu saw examples of over-aggressiveness playing against the Mariners. Wladimir Balentien swung at three pitches out of the strike zone with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth inning, and pitcher Roy Corcoran left a two-strike pitch up in the zone that the Angels’ Mike Napoli hit for a two-run single in the decisive sixth inning.
“Some of the things we’ve addressed since spring training is to not get overly emotional in situations,” Wakamatsu said.
First, it was Balentien’s at-bat. He lunged at two pitches off the plate from Angels left-hander Joe Saunders, neither over the plate. Then, after laying off three straight, Balentien swung through what would have been ball four.
“The biggest issue for us as we go forward is the patience at the plate,” Wakamatsu said. “It’s a process when our strength is our aggressiveness, but it also hurts us when guys are pitching around us and we’re making outs.”
Wakamatsu believed Corcoran over-threw after he got two strikes on Napoli and simply left the pitch up. It happens, especially with a young bullpen, and Wakamatsu actually has been pleased with how the young relievers have performed overall.
“With the bullpen, we talked about walks being a concern and getting away with some stuff (early in the season), but we’ve also had some outstanding outings by some of these guys,” Wakamatsu said. “We must keep getting them out there working on the command issues. I think the hardest thing is knowing whether it’s emotional or whether it’s physical. But in general, these guys are making improvements.”
Recovering relievers
Left-handed reliever Cesar Jimenez, on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, threw a 30-pitch simulated game Friday afternoon and is close to coming off the DL. He’ll probably throw another simulated game on Tuesday, then begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday.
Left-hander Tyler Johnson and right-hander Chad Cordero, two relievers still in Arizona coming back from shoulder operations, are making progress. Johnson threw a 38-pitch simulated game Thursday and will face hitters in an extended spring training game Monday. Cordero, who isn’t expected to be ready until mid-May at the earliest, is scheduled for a simulated game on Monday.
It’s in the rulebook
Many fans questioned the boxscore from Thursday night’s game that showed M’s starter Chris Jakubauskas was charged with two runs allowed, both scoring on hits given up by Corcoran in the sixth inning.
Corcoran took over with runners on first and third with one out when Torii Hunter hit a grounder to third base. Adrian Beltre fielded the grounder and threw out Chone Figgins at the plate for the second out. Corcoran then gave up a walk and three hits that allowed three runs to score.
Why was Jakubauskas charged with two of those runs and not Corcoran?
Because, according baseball rules, a pitcher who has left the game remains responsible for the number of runners he left on base, not the actual runners. In other words, the grounder to Beltre was a fielder’s choice and while Hunter reached first on the play, Corcoran did record the out and the baserunner (Hunter) remained the responsibility of Jakubauskas.
Of note
If fans at the first four home games have noticed that the National Anthem hasn’t dragged on and on, as it has in the past by some performers, that’s because it hasn’t. The Mariners have put a two-minute time limit on Anthem performers this year. … Left-hander Jarrod Washburn, sick with the flu when he pitched so well Wednesday, was back in the clubhouse this afternoon after staying home Thursday. … Even Wakamatsu felt the impact of the Ichiro Suzuki bobblehead giveaway Friday. “My grandparents called me and said I’ve got to get them one, so I’ve got to get on that,” he said. … University of Washington basketball star Jon Brockman, from Snohomish High School, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
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