M’s send down Soriano

  • Wednesday, April 14, 2004 9:00pm
  • Sports

General manager Bill Bavasi is invoking the hypocratic oath usually reserved for doctors – ‘First, do no harm’ – in trying to help right the Seattle Mariners poor start.

“We aren’t going to do something stupid,” Bavasi said before Wednesday’s game with the Anaheim Angels. “We will look to improve the team. That’s my job.”

In a season just over a week old, the Mariners made their first flurry of moves: recalling right-handed reliever J.J. Putz from Class AAA Tacoma to replace right-hander Rafael Soriano in the Seattle bullpen.

“We talked to Rafael before the decision because we wanted to make sure he understood – he’s done absolutely nothing wrong,” Bavasi said. “Neither he nor Eddie Guardado got enough innings this spring to be ready, but both did all they could.

“With Soriano, we have the chance to send him out, let him work himself into pitching shape. With Eddie, we don’t have that option. With Eddie, you send him out there as the veteran he is and say ‘Figure something out.’ And he will.”

Putz, the hard-throwing right-hander who had made three scoreless appearances with the Tacoma Rainiers, was in the bullpen and available Wednesday night.

By Friday, Soriano will likely be in the Rainiers bullpen.

The Mariners also watched Scott Spiezio work out for a second day in a row, then sent him on a rehabilitation assignment to Class A San Bernardino (Calif.) – because of its proximity to the club today.

How soon might he be in the Mariners lineup? Perhaps as early as Friday.

As for the first seven games and that 1-6 start, Bavasi was asked if anything he’d seen alarmed him.

“Alarmed is too strong a term,” he said. “Concerned, yes. The bullpen wasn’t ready, and it wasn’t because of lack of effort – two key guys just didn’t get a full spring training.”

Boone’s bad habit: Bret Boone doesn’t get all the e-mails sent to the media, but he hears about them and on Wednesday he was feeling the anger of a few dozen fans.

Why, they all asked, does Boone back away from the plate any time he’s at-bat and a teammate is attempting a steal – making the job of the opposing catcher that much easier?

“It’s unconcious and I’ve done it my whole career,” Boone said. “It’s like a bad reflex, and I’m going to make every effort to stop doing it. If I see someone gets a good jump, I tell myself to take the pitch – and I’ve picked up the habit of just leaning back from the plate.”

Manager Bob Melvin noticed it last year and asked Boone about it then.

“Tell anyone who asks I’m trying to change,” Boone said.

No Kendall in M’s future: The Angels ran at will in their victory over the Mariners on Tuesday, stealing three bases against veteran catcher Dan Wilson – and a few scouts from other teams took note. “Dan is like most veteran catchers, he needs help from his pitchers when teams run,” Bavasi said. “But not that many teams in this league run.” Although the Pirates would still love to move Jason Kendall to Seattle, it doesn’t look like a match – even though Pittsburgh reportedly would eat quite a bit of the $42 million left on his deal.

Why not? Mariners scouts watching Kendall haven’t liked what they’ve seen of Kendall behind the plate and report that, with Seattle, he’d more likely be a fit as a left fielder hitting second in the lineup. For the money, that’s not a deal Seattle is pursuing.

Larry LaRue, The News Tribune

Tonight: Seattle concludes its trip with a 7:05 p.m. game in Anaheim that will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Ryan Franklin (0-0, 7.20) vsw. John Lackey (0-1, 17.18).

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