SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Adam Moore became the first catcher to start on consecutive days for the Seattle Mariners, and there’s a reason.
The Mariners love how he is playing so far and want him catching as many of the starting pitchers as possible in the event Rob Johnson isn’t ready to start the season.
Johnson had surgery on both hips early in the offseason and, while the Mariners still believe he will be ready for opening day, they’re being cautious with his workload.
Moore will catch Felix Hernandez on Sunday and Johnson will catch Cliff Lee on Monday, even though Johnson has all but become Hernandez’s personal catcher.
“We think Rob will be ready, but if he’s not we need to be prepared,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “Rob and Felix worked extremely well together last year and the plan is to keep that going as much as we can during the season. But you never know about injuries, and the more we can cross-catch different guys I think it will be beneficial.”
Wakamatsu said Johnson ran hard in Thursday morning’s practice and his legs responded well.
“Our target is next Monday (to start Johnson),” Wakamatsu said. “Then we have an off day and we will work him in slow. Sometimes it’s a blessing to have a chance to catch Adam a lot right now.”
Thursday, Moore did nothing to show he’s not ready for the major league workload.
Wakamatsu called him the star of the Mariners’ 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Moore threw out a base stealer, fielded two bunts and threw out the runners with strong throws, and went 1-for-2 with two walks to push his exhibition batting average to .571.
That’s a pretty complete catcher, and because of it Moore is fast growing on Wakamatsu.
“I really like what’s going on behind the plate,” Wakamatsu said. “He threw a runner out and made a couple of nice bunt plays. Just the way he’s moving back there.”
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