M’s can hit, but can they pitch?

  • By John Sleeper / Herald columnist
  • Saturday, April 2, 2005 9:00pm
  • Sports

SEATTLE – If the Mariners’ off-season acquisitions do one thing, it is that Seattle’s woeful offensive numbers of 2004 won’t reappear.

In losing 99 games last season, the Mariners came up last in the American League in runs scored, RBI, slugging percentage and home runs.

It cost the Mariners $114 million to bring Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson to Seattle, but they got their biggest 1-2 punch guys since Griffey and A-Rod.

It’s a move. A good one. But to contend again, they’ll either need to make more moves or wait until their young pitchers mature.

But the power is there.

Last season, Beltre hit 48 homers at Dodger Stadium, a park notorious for favoring pitchers. He should have little difficulty adjusting to Safeco Field.

Sexson can hit balls out of the county.

The signings had to make Ichiro Suzuki smile. The increased run producers in the middle of the lineup can only mean better run-scoring potential for the game’s best leadoff hitter.

Ditto for the M’s beleaguered pitchers, who seldom were able to work with a lead last year. They should get better run support.

Lose 99 games and heads fall. Manager Bob Melvin and most of his coaching staff took the fall for management’s neglect. Players who performed so gloriously for the past 10 years got old together and probably remained with the club a year too long.

So it will be Mike Hargrove’s responsibility to right the ship. Hargrove is the disciplinarian and details man that Melvin wasn’t and it has showed in spring training. Hargrove led the Cleveland Indians to five straight American league Central titles and AL pennants in 1995 and 1997. He had less success in his four years in Baltimore, where it was reported that he’d lost control of the clubhouse at the end of his tenure.

Just as important to the Mariners was the hiring of hitting coach Don Baylor, whose task it is to turn around an offense that became almost laughingly stagnant a year ago.

Seattle has great hopes that second baseman Bret Boone can bounce back from a dismal 2004. Laser eye surgery in the off-season, he said, has allowed him to see the ball better.

The infield in general takes a step up. Third baseman Beltre and newly acquired shortstop Pokey Reese are excellent glovemen, although Reese has had injury problems. He has played in just 133 games in the last two seasons. Should he be unavailable, 21-year-old Jose Lopez probably will step in.

Boone is solid at second and the 6-foot-8 Sexson is a big target for infield throws at first base.

Miguel Olivo will get a full shot at catcher. Should he falter, Dan Wilson is an experienced backup.

The state of the outfield largely depends on the fortunes of Jeremy Reed, acquired, with Olivo, in the Freddy Garcia trade with the White Sox. Center field is his job to lose. If he pans out, Randy Winn probably will platoon in left with Raul Ibanez, who could hit 20 home runs. Then again, Winn is the object of trade rumors as well.

For all of the offensive power the Mariners bought, pitching is a concern. Jamie Moyer, 42, has had a good spring, but is coming off a year in which his ERA ballooned to 5.21. Joel Pineiro missed the last two months of the 2004 season with a sore elbow and has had shoulder problems in the spring. Aaron Sele signed a minor league contract and fought hard all spring for a roster spot. He may be a surprise starter.

Gil Meche, Ryan Franklin and Bobby Madritsch all have enjoyed solid springs in the late going.

The trouble with Seattle’s starting pitching is the lack of an “ace” in the true sense of the word. The Mariners have a lot of what would be third, fourth and fifth starters on other teams, but the days of Randy Johnson are long gone.

The relief pitchers have similar questions. Closer Eddie Guardado had knee and arm problems last season and struggled this spring. Shigetosi Hasagawa is coming off a forgettable season. Jeff Nelson returns, with his wicked slider, but Rafael Soriano will miss much of the season with elbow surgery.

The Mariners still have questions to answer. They threw a ton of money to improve offensive production, but little attention was paid to pitching.

A repeat of last season isn’t likely, but neither is a pennant. The Mariners have, however, cut into the rebuilding process significantly.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje follows through on a pitch during Everett's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 5, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox blanked by Vancouver as losing skid continues

Everett generates just three hits in 3-0 loss to the Canadians on Saturday.

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

Everett AquaSox shortstop Colt Emerson catches the ball at second base for the first out in a double play during the Opening Day game against the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emerson’s preparation finally paying off in Everett

The AquaSox shortstop is coming off his best month in High-A. Here’s how it came together:

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Julius Miettinen listens to a coach during Kraken Development Camp on-ice session for forwards on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pair of Silvertips check status at Kraken Development Camp

Julius Miettinen hopes to take strides back in Everett, while Kaden Hammell turns pro.

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team trident after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners overcome Perez to beat Royals

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another close encounter against the… Continue reading

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.