OAKLAND – Mike Carp arrived in spring training last February delighted to be with a new organization, then realized the Seattle Mariners had cornered the market on first basemen.
“We had Russell (Branyan) who was guaranteed a job, and lot of other guys in camp,” Carp said. “I treated it as an audition, the chance to show them what I could do.”
When he reported to Tacoma, the glut of first basemen followed him. On the Rainiers roster with Carp were Bryan LaHair and Chris Shelton. And then the Mariners asked Jeff Clement to try first base on for size.
“We made it work in Tacoma. I played DH, first base, left field. Half our roster was first basemen,” Carp said.
Two weeks before his 23rd birthday, Carp made his major league debut as a pinch hitter, and walked. A day later, he singled in his second at-bat.
“I knew I was only up for a short time, so I tried to make the most of it,” Carp said. “I didn’t play much, but I tried to do the job and I hit pretty well in like eight at-bats.”
Back to the Rainiers for most of the summer and then, after Branyan was diagnosed with a herniated disk, Carp returned to the Mariners. He’s gone 3-for-7 with a double since, including a perfectly executed hit-and-run single.
“I was happy they thought a rookie could be trusted to get that job done,” Carp said. “I’d studied the scouting report on the pitcher, and knew he liked throwing his slider more than his fastball. When I got the sign, I looked slider and got it.”
He’s batting .316 in limited time with Seattle, where he’s struck out twice and walked four times. Sabermetric types have already decided that, based on his minor league track record, the problem long-term is his lack of power.
“I’m 23 and I’ve got 19 at-bats,” Carp said. “I can hit the ball a long way, and I’ve done it. It’s a matter of what you want, 15 home runs and a .300 average, or a .230 hitter with 25 home runs. I’m still finding myself.”
With Branyan down, the Mariners are trying Carp at first base against right-handed pitchers, Jose Lopez there against lefties and – when they’re ahead – subbing Jack Hannahan in for defense late in the game.
“I’m still auditioning, hoping to show what I can do for the team by doing it for them this month,” Carp said. “This team still has things it wants to do, and I’m hoping to help them do them.”
Short hops
Reliever Mark Lowe, who’s had two holds and a save in the last three games, was declared off limits by manager Don Wakamatsu on Saturday. “It’s not just three games in a row, we’ve got guys who have pitched in six of eight games, and that’s just too much to ask,” Wakamatsu said. … Ken Griffey Jr. took batting practice and felt better than a day earlier. His inflamed left knee was doing well until he hyper-extended it running to first base on Thursday.
On tap
Seattle completes its series in Oakland with a 1:07 p.m. game today that will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Doug Fister (2-1, 2.94 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzales (0-1, 4.91).
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com
blogs.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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