PEORIA, Ariz. – The second hitter George Sherrill faced in the eighth inning Monday hit a solo home run. Later in the same inning, Sherrill gave up a game-tying three-run homer. To left-handed-hitting Erubiel Durazo, no less.
Sherrill gave up four hits and four runs in his one inning of work, which could mean only one thing: He’s right on track.
Sherrill has an 18.00 earned run average in three exhibition innings this month, numbers he and manager Mike Hargrove believe speak only to the fact that it’s early.
“Veterans have a track record and if you allow them the chance to get ready, then they’ll be OK,” Hargrove said. “The worst thing you can do is lose your patience at spring training.”
Sherrill is a notoriously slow starter who rarely pitches well at spring training. Last year, he had a 16.50 ERA and allowed four home runs at spring training, then became the only pitcher in the major leagues to work at least 40 innings without allowing a homer in the regular season.
“It’s kind of a feel thing with each guy,” Sherrill said. “Everyone knows his own body. It’s just a matter of getting your work in, letting things fall into place and coming out of spring training healthy.
“This year, I like the way I feel. Every other spring training, it feels like somebody else is throwing and I spend a lot of time looking at videos to see what I’m doing wrong. So far, I’ve been able to stay out of the video room.”
Sexson makes contact: Richie Sexson had gone 0-for-18 entering Monday’s game, trying too hard in many of his at-bats to pull the ball. Against the A’s, he went the opposite way and played his best game, going 2-for-3 with a home run to right-center field.
“Early in spring I was pulling everything, so I’ve been trying to go to right field,” Sexson said. “A couple hits that way was a good sign. I wasn’t upset about my start, but the guys were giving it to me pretty good. When I got that first hit, I asked for the ball but they wouldn’t give it to me.”
Statement game? Depending on who you asked, Monday’s game against the A’s was either meaningless or a little more important than the average exhibition. Oakland beat the Mariners 17 of 19 games last season.
“That’s who we’re playing today?” Sherrill asked early Monday morning. “I don’t pay any attention to who we’re playing down here.”
Hargrove certainly knew.
“It is spring training, but after the record we had against Oakland last year, any time that you can beat them, you want to do that,” Hargrove said. “If you can get your bluff in early, that’s good.”
The Mariners open the regular season at home April 2, against Oakland.
Putz feeling good: Often when a pitcher works his way back from an arm problem, it’s the day after he begins throwing again that’s the best indicator of progress.
That’s why closer J.J. Putz, who’s had stiffness in his right elbow much of spring training, was feeling so good on Monday. He’d thrown Sunday for the first time in five days, and he followed it with another successful flat-ground session Monday morning.
He plans to play long-toss today and throw 15-20 pitches off flat ground, then throw off the bullpen mound Thursday.
“After that, I don’t know if we’ll take a day off and throw another bullpen or go right back into a game,” Putz said.
He said his elbow began hurting the second week of spring training, when pitchers began throwing live batting practice. He tried to work through it but decided to be cautious.
“I looked at the video and my mechanics were a little off. My arm was dragging a little bit,” he said. “If it was June or July, I’d probably just throw through it.”
Putz has no doubt he’ll be ready for opening day. Hargrove admitted he worried about that initially.
“But as time went on I wasn’t as concerned,” Hargrove said.
Of note: Felix Hernandez was happy with his four scoreless innings against the A’s, although Hargrove said he has pitched better. “That’s the beauty of having the kind of stuff Felix has, that you can get away with not commanding your pitches real well and still pitch real effectively,” Hargrove said. “He was better his last time out.” … Chris Reitsma pitched a perfect ninth inning Monday, his first clean inning in his three appearances. “He threw two really good curveballs for strikes to get ahead of a guy and it set up a pop fly to get him out,” Hargrove said. “It’s part of the work you put in, and it’s not fun to go through it. But at the end of it all, the guys will be ready.” … Right fielder Jose Guillen got just two at-bats Monday before he was replaced by Mike Morse. “He’s fine,” Hargrove said. “He’d played nine innings the day before and he was going to get only two at-bats anyway.” … Ryan Feierabend pitched three scoreless innings of relief and hasn’t allowed a run in the seven innings he’s pitched this spring. Hargrove has been impressed but didn’t give the left-hander a ringing endorsement to make the team. “His chances are real slim,” Hargrove said. “But he’s (21 years old) and has the maturity of a guy who’s been in the big leagues 10 or 15 years. He has good composure, good mound presence and has command of all of his pitches. His pitch selection at times is a little shaky, but that comes with experience.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
