CHICAGO – Greg Halman did everything he could in his two consecutive starts to earn a third, but not even his .857 batting average could overcome manager Eric Wedge’s platoon system in left field.
With right-hander Philip Humber on the mound Tuesday, Wedge went with left-handed-hitting Carlos Peguero in left field and Halman was on the bench.
“How about that?” Wedge said. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. No, I wanted to get Peguero back in there, but Greg did a nice job the last couple of days.”
Halman had six hits in seven at-bats in his starts Sunday and Monday, including a triple, two RBI and two runs scored.
“I’m not going to hit .850 for the rest of the year, that’s for sure,” Halman said. “But I’m feeling good. I’m playing hard and just trying to have good at-bats, play good defense, run the bases hard and help the team.”
In two games, he has more hits this season than he did in nine games last September. Halman looks like a different player in terms of confidence and comfort level.
“I feel a lot more relaxed,” he said. “Last year was more like, you are finally there – a lifelong dream, a little kid coming from Holland in the big leagues.”
There’s never been a question about Halman’s talent. He is a mixture of athleticism and power packed into a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame that looks like it was made to play baseball or wide receiver in the NFL.
“The total package,” Wedge said. “He’s very athletic. He has the ability to play center field and also play left and right. He can run a little bit. He also has some power.”
Halman has power potential, but hasn’t displayed it yet for the Mariners. He hit 33 home runs last season for Triple-A Tacoma, but Cheney Stadium is friendlier to right-handers than Safeco Field and it’s homer-sucking vortex in left and left-center.
“I’ve been impressed with Greg’s batting practice,” Wedge said. “I had a good discussion with him when he first got up here. I enjoyed watching him this spring a little bit. He’s further along now than he was then.”
Most of that is maturity because Halman suffered a broken hand four games into the season with the Rainiers and missed the next 40-plus games. He was activated from the disabled list and played in six games before being called up by the Mariners.
“I feel like I have a lot of energy when I go out there every day,” Halman said. “I’ve been sitting down for so long, I’m going double as hard as I can.”
Halman’s family still lives in Holland. And even with the nine-hour time difference, they watch all of his games on the computer.
“My mom gets up in the middle of the night to watch,” he said.
RYAN GETS A DAY OFF
Brendan Ryan was out of the lineup for the first time since May 19. Wedge decided to give the hard-playing shortstop a day off after 17 consecutive games.
“Ryan needs a day off,” Wedge said. “He’s been pushing pretty hard lately.”
During those 17 games, Ryan is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with eight runs scored, 10 RBI and a .406 on-base percentage.
Luis Rodriguez started in his place.
SLUMPS BUSTED?
Ichiro Suzuki and Chone Figgins are showing hints of coming out of their hitting slumps.
Neither has quite broken out. But Ichiro, who had three hits in his two games prior to Tuesday, does appear closer to Wedge.
“When it comes to Ichiro, I’ve seen a little bit more aggressiveness. I’ve seen him barrel up the ball better,” Wedge said. “It seems like his timing is better.”
Since May 19, Ichiro is hitting .173 (13-for-75) and his season average has dipped to .264 (66-for-250).
And Figgins?
“I think with Figgins it’s been an at-bat here and an at-bat there,” Wedge said. “Nothing real consistent right now, but there’s been signs.”
Figgins started the game Tuesday hitting .184 with just two hits in his last 37 at-bats.
“You … don’t ever just get back to getting hits,” Wedge said. “Baseball gods aren’t fair like that. You’ve got (to) fight through some tough at-bats, got to get to having better at-bats, make some hard outs and then it will come to you.”
ON TAP
The Mariners finish the three-game series with the White Sox a 5:10 p.m. game today, sending left-hander Jason Vargas (4-3, 3.96 ERA) against right-hander Gavin Floyd (6-5, 3.84). The game will be broadcast on Root Sports and 710-AM.
Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483
ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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