• Saturday: Mariners 7, Padres 4 | Spring training scoreboard
PEORIA, Ariz. – Mike Sweeney is a man who treasures his days, and Saturday was one he won’t forget soon.
It was his son Michael’s sixth birthday, and the two played catch on one of the Mariners’ practice fields – then Sweeney played in Seattle’s 7-4 win over San Diego, going 4-for-4 with a home run.
“Michael, did you see what I did for you, I hit a home run,” Sweeney said afterward.
“I got a $20 bill,” Michael said.
Oh, that. Ken Griffey coughed up that cash. If Michael wasn’t overwhelmed by Dad’s big day – and neither was dad – the Mariners couldn’t help but notice.
“He was a big part of our club last year, and he can hit his way on this team again,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “He’s in great shape, his knees and back are solid, and he’s special in the clubhouse.”
After batting .281 last year at age 35, Sweeney told his agent his priority was re-signing with Seattle.
And then he waited. There were a couple of minor-league offers and invites to camp, but none he pursued until the Mariners offered to bring him to camp with little chance to make the team.
“The odds are against me, but I came in with a passion to open eyes and turn heads,” Sweeney said. “I’m going to have fun, do my best and hopefully help this team, whether it’s for the next four weeks or the next couple of years.
“You don’t make a team on March 6th.”
No, but after four games, the Mariners are 2-2 and Sweeney is batting .857 with a double, home run and three RBI. He has hit to the opposite field, homered to left-center field and doubled into the left-field corner.
“I’m 36 years old and playing with Ken Griffey Jr. and Ichiro,” Sweeney said. “I’m a lucky man.”
His problem in making the opening day roster is flexibility – not his but the team’s. With Griffey a designated hitter only, the Mariners don’t think they can carry two players who cannot play in the field.
Sweeney wants to make that decision difficult, and perhaps prove himself worthy to another team – American League – on the West Coast.
Aces on schedule
The Mariners were pleased enough with Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee in that simulated game Friday that they laid out their work schedule for the next week.
Both men will throw bullpen sessions today, and Felix will pitch another simulated game on Tuesday – working two innings.
Lee will pitch two or three innings Wednesday in the Mariners’ Cactus League game against the Texas Rangers.
Too much stretching?
The hamstring scare for shortstop Jack Wilson didn’t faze him, and he not only declared himself healthy, he went through the team workout Saturday. Oddly, his tight right hamstring may have come from overstretching.
“The whole point of this whole offseason working with a massage therapist was getting the hamstrings loose,” Wilson said. “They’re at a point now where they’re really stretching out and getting loose. They’re kind of irritated, we’ve been stretching so much. I’ve been stretching two to three times a day.”
After the hamstring tightened Friday, Wilson stayed in the game for one final at-bat and singled.
“I told (coach) Lee Tinsley that I wanted to go 80 percent and not do anything stupid. Of course, Ichiro hits a triple,” Wilson said. “I didn’t feel it at all running around the bases. I was careful and mindful about it. It’s all good.”
Wilson wants to play today. Whether he does depends upon how certain the team is that he’s not at risk by playing so soon.
Bradley bunts
Seattle outfielders went through bunting drills early Saturday, and one of the best at getting the ball down softly was Milton Bradley.
“I used to be a leadoff hitter, remember,” he said. “When I bunt, it’s usually a hit. Guys play in, I hit away. If I see somebody playing me deep, leading off an inning? I drop a bunt.”
Short hops
Griffey, using vague sources, came up with a photograph of Rob Johnson being flattened at the plate in a minor-league collision, and immediately seized upon that as something he had to put on T-shirts. “Catchers got to be wearing this,” Junior said. … Ian Snell’s first spring with the Mariners has charmed him, and the crowd Saturday embraced him. “Afterward, you hear fans say you did a good job even though you gave up two runs or whatever,” Snell said. Different than Pirates camp? “You’d need earmuffs. Your own fans. It’s pretty crazy,” Snell said. “It’s a real good atmosphere here and I’m enjoying it a lot.” … Wakamatsu was delighted that his six pitchers Saturday walked only two batters. That – like controlling the running game from the mound – is a fundamental the Mariners discuss daily.
On tap
The Mariners play the Padres – again today! – in a 12:05 p.m. (PST) game that will be broadcast on 710 ESPN radio. Probable starters: Seattle’s Ryan Rowland-Smith vs. Clayton Richard.
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.