John Jaso is not about to summon up any Sampson comparisons, but the fact that he’s able to keep a beard this season has contributed to his happiness in Seattle, he said.
“A year ago, I couldn’t grow one; that’s just how it was,” he said of his time in Tampa Bay. “It’s probably that way with a lot of teams and managers. They treat everyone as if we’re all alike.
“I didn’t like taking early hitting in the cages – I though it hurt me more than helped me, but that’s what we were told to do.”
With the Seattle Mariners, Jaso and his teammates have carte blanche with facial hair. Manager Eric Wedge has never had hair policies, and a year ago he grew a mustache that is still the talk of the team.
On this team, there are any number of varieties of facial hair. Dustin Ackley, Casper Wells, Tom Wilhelmsen, Brendan Ryan and Charlie Furbush have had some form of whiskers during the 2012 season.
Jaso, however, has the most fully-grown beard.
“My fiancée likes it,” he deadpanned. “She knows on the road no woman would be interested in a guy with a beard like this.”
GUTIERREZ UPDATE
Franklin Gutierrez, hit in the head by an errant pickoff throw back on June 28, began a 20-game rehabilitation assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers on Saturday.
Best-case scenario, it appears, is Gutierrez could be ready to rejoin the Mariners when rosters expand on Sept. 1. He is, at last, apparently over the last of his lingering concussion symptoms.
“We don’t have a timetable for Franklin,” Wedge said. “A change in medication got rid of his headaches, and he’s ready to play baseball again. It’s been a long time, so we don’t know what to expect.”
HAMMERING CATCHERS
The Mariners finished Saturday with 102 home runs, or 27 more than the team had a year ago through 121 games. Much of that improvement has come from behind the plate.
Catchers Jesus Montero (eight), Miguel Olivo (eight) and John Jaso (five) have combined for 21 home runs at the position.
That’s one short of the team single-season record (22) set in 2000, with Joe Oliver (10), Tom Lampkin (six), Dan Wilson (five) and Robert Machado (one).
Toss in their starts at designated hitter, and Montero, Olivo and Jaso have combined for 29 home runs in 2012.
SHORT HOPS
Throwing out the first pitch Saturday was former Mariners right-hander Bob Wolcott, who made his major league debut 17 years ago Saturday. Feel old yet? … Tom Wilhelmsen, a proud father for the past 10 days, showed up a bit bleary-eyed Saturday. “For the first time, the baby didn’t sleep last night,” he said. … Former Mariners reliever Jeff Gray, who appeared in 24 games with Seattle in 2011, has thus far been in 45 games with the Twins in 2012. He’s been something of a good luck charm/vulture out of the bullpen – going 6-1 with a 5.13 earned-run average.
ON TAP
Seattle plays host to Minnesota in a 1:10 p.m. game today that will be televised on Root Sports. Probable starting pitchers: Samuel Deduno (4-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Blake Beavan (7-7, 5.17).
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners @LarryLarue
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