Mariners’ White throws ‘grenades’

PEORIA, Ariz. — Sean White quietly is becoming one of the feel-good stories of spring training for the Seattle Mariners because, well, he feels good.

The sore right shoulder that plagued him during the second half of last season feels strong now after an offseason regimen to build it back up, and he’s throwing the baseball now like he did before.

“He has been outstanding,” manager Don Wakamatsu said Saturday after White pitched a perfect inning in the Mariners’ 8-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. “To me, he was probably as valuable as anybody in our bullpen last year and I see the same thing right now. He feels good and that’s good enough for me.”

Nobody could say that about White in the second half of last season, when a heavy first-half workload and tendinitis in the shoulder limited his effectiveness in the Mariners’ bullpen.

White, a sinker specialist, became the Mariners’ go-to reliever last year when they needed a ground ball in a dicey situation. When the shoulder started barking, however, they couldn’t use him. White pitched in 34 games in the first half of the season but only 18 in the second half, when he finally was shut down over the final five weeks.

“I spent a lot of time in the offseason strengthening my shoulder and getting it strong,” White said. “Right now, I’m taking it day-to-day and I’m feeling really good. I feel like where I left off.”

The Mariners would love to have the same Sean White in 2010 as they did in the first half of 2009, when he held opposing hitters to a .208 average. He held left-handers to a .191 average, important on a team that went through last season without a left-handed specialist and appears to be headed into this season the same way.

What the Mariners must be careful with is his workload.

Including spring training last year, White pitched 77 innings (641/3 in the regular season).

“I’ll be real happy if we can get 60 out of him,” Wakamatsu said. “I think we’ll go in and try to stay away from too many back-to-back days, that type of thing. But not so much that he limits us. Obviously, you look at where you’re at in the standings and what’s going on there because you can’t save guys. But I really like how far he’s come since last year because of the injury.”

White said nobody has talked with him about lessening the workload, and it doesn’t concern him.

“I want the ball when the opportunity is there,” he said.

So far this month, White has retired six of the seven hitters he has faced (he hit one) and most important his shoulder feels strong.

“I guess the caveat is making sure we control his innings a little more because of the history,” Wakamatsu said. “But right now his ball is moving, especially out here. To see it move the way it’s moving, he’s throwing grenades up there. I like what I see. He says he feels good and he looks great.”

Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com/marinersblog

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 11

Tulalip Heritage finishes second in district tournament.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (left) and head coach Mike Macdonald (right) spoke to the media at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
New Seahawks OC excited to coach Geno Smith

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has “a lot of respect” for Seahawks QB.

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs with after a catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Tyler Lockett’s future with Seahawks remains unclear

Seattle coach Mike Macdonald noncommittal 1 month before a possible decision point.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
O’Neil: The Seahawks will keep Geno Smith

The reasons for the Seahawks quarterback sticking around are simple and obvious.

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.