PEORIA, Ariz. — Like a struggling golfer trying to remember the one good swing that made the ball go straight, Mike Morse hopes to recapture everything that went so well at spring training last year.
The Seattle Mariners’ position players hold their first official workout of 2009 today, and Morse has a simple approach as he competes for a backup job.
“I’m going to put my head down and go for it,” he said. “Just keep quiet and play my heart out.”
Keeping quiet may be a challenge. This is the guy who called former manager Mike Hargrove “big dog” the first day he met him a few years ago.
As for playing his heart out, Morse pulled that off with spectacular results last year at spring training.
Motivated by former Mariner Raul Ibanez’s advice to relax and let his ability lead him, Morse batted .429, the best spring training average in baseball and a Mariners exhibition record.
“I learned that the more I have fun playing this game, the more it takes the stress away,” he said. “That’s my biggest thing — come out here and have fun, stay focused and play hard.”
It earned Morse a place on the Mariners’ opening-day roster for the first time, and he doubled in his first at-bat April 4 at Baltimore.
Nine days later, while playing right field against the Angels at Safeco Field, Morse made a headlong dive that ended his season. He dislocated his left shoulder, tore the labrum and needed major surgery to repair all the damage.
He spent all summer rehabbing, then went to winter ball in Venezuela where he began stating his case all over again. Rotating between third base and first, he batted .310 with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 155 at-bats over 41 games.
“If I’m not completely back, then I’m better than I was before,” Morse said. “This arm is stronger than my other arm now. I feel fine and it’s the last thing I worry about.”
Morse enters this camp not only competing for a job on the bench, but needing to impress a new manager and coaching staff.
“As long as I’m on the field and I show them who I am, what else can I do?” he asked. “As long as I play my heart out and I show them how Mike Morse plays, anything can happen.”
First day for Fields
One day after he turned pro, first-round draft pick Josh Fields worked out Tuesday, calling his first day awesome and nerve-wracking.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I didn’t know what today was going to entail.”
Fields, who said he has been throwing bullpens since mid-January, may get on the mound Thursday, manager Don Wakamatsu said. The Mariners hope to get him into at least one exhibition game before sending him to the minor-league camp.
Of note
Pitcher Jarrod Washburn reported Tuesday as expected after being excused from the first three days of workouts because of an undisclosed commitment. Washburn didn’t say what the commitment was, joking that “I had visa problems.” He lives in Wisconsin. … Pitchers will throw to hitters today, although everyone is on orders not to swing — and that includes Yuniesky Betancourt. Last year during the first live batting practice session, when hitters were urged to track the ball, Betancourt swung at the first pitch. “We may have to tape the bat down, but you can quote me that on the first day he looked more patient,” Wakamatsu said. … Left-handed relievers Tyler Johnson (shoulder inflammation) and Cesar Jimenez (biceps tendinitis) are scheduled to throw bullpens for the first time Thursday.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
