Daniel Vogelbach wants to perform, help Mariners win in shortened 2020 season
A week into summer camp practices, the Seattle Mariners have adapted well to the new normal of baseball.
General manager Jerry Dipoto, manager Scott Servais and several players have noted to reporters in the past week about how well everyone on the field at T-Mobile Park each day has followed the COVID-19 protocols set up by Major League Baseball.
Players have held each other accountable in the clubhouse. Many even wear their masks on the field during workouts. They practice social distancing during team meetings.
With Seattle set to open this shortened 60-game season in Houston in two weeks, it’s all about getting the baseball work in while looking out for each other’s health every day, Mariners designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach says.
“Looking out for the guy next to you — I think that’s going to be huge for us as a team,” Vogelbach said during a video call with reporters Thursday after his morning workout.
But, even with all of the changes, Vogelbach doesn’t want the Mariners to lose sight of who they are. As one of Seattle’s vocal players around the clubhouse, he said not having the ability to interact and socialize with teammates as he normally would, with practices split into two groups and time together limited, has been one of the tougher challenges to adapt to.
He encourages the playful chirping players have been engaging in on the field during the past week — like the exchange between Austin Adams and Dee Gordon after Kyle Lewis belted a home run during a live batting practice session earlier this week, or when Gordon and Kyle Seager decided they wanted a piece of Taijuan Walker in live BP.
“I think that’s a huge part of us going through what we’re going through,” he said. “I think we can’t change. Obviously we have to change in the sense of being more aware of what we do with our surroundings, and making sure we’re washing our hands and wearing our masks and wearing gloves and stuff like that, but from the baseball standpoint of talking trash and being competitive, I think that that comes into play even more.
“We really have to emphasize coming to the park every day, doing our job and realizing that we do have to be ready to play in two weeks. When the lights come on, no matter if there’s fans, we’re still supposed to perform, and that’s our job, and that’s what we need to do.”
Vogelbach was Seattle’s only All-Star in 2019 following a hot first half, during which he hit .238/.375/.505 with 21 of his team-high 30 homers. His numbers dipped in the second half, and he ultimately finished hitting .208/.341/.439 through 144 games, while also appearing in 57 at first base.
He logged 35 plate appearances in Cactus League play before spring training was shut down, hitting .321/.457/.393 with a pair of doubles, 3 RBI, seven walks and nine strikeouts.
He wasn’t able to face live pitching back home in Florida during the shutdown, but said he feels comfortable at the plate through the first week of camp.
“The more ABs I get, obviously the better I’m going to feel, and we still have two weeks,” Vogelbach said. “But, I think just really making sure that the work I do is very focused and making sure that I’m doing it with a purpose more than ever and making sure every at-bat, every live BP I get I’m really locked in so come July 24 when we take the field there’s no setbacks or excuses.
“There’s going to be none of that. It’s going to be ready to go and ready to perform.”
With so few games this season, Vogelbach said his focus is on performance.
“Just perform,” he said. “Come every day prepared and be a leader, try to really lead by example and vocally, put up numbers and do whatever I can to help this team win.
“I think that’s the name of the game — no matter if it’s 60 games or 162, we want to win, and I want to win. I think that a lot of people obviously aren’t giving us a chance to win whether it’s 162 or 60. … We want to win and we think we can win and that’s starting Day 1. We’re going to go out and play hard every single day and see what we can do.”
SHORT HOPS
The Mariners played their first intrasquad game Friday with Justus Sheffield starting for the Steelheads and Justin Dunn starting for the Pilots. Other starters for the Steelheads included Gordon (second base), Evan White (first base), Seager (third base), Tom Murphy (catcher), Tim Lopes (left field), Sam Haggerty (center field), Donovan Walton (shortstop) and Braden Bishop (right field). Other starters for the Pilots included Shed Long (second base), J.P. Crawford (shortstop), Lewis (center field), Vogelbach (first base), Austin Nola (catcher), Jose Marmolejos (left field), Jake Fraley (right field) and Patrick Wisdom (third base). … Players who did not play in Friday’s game participated in morning workouts. … Top pitching prospect Logan Gilbert and No. 11 prospect Brandon Williamson are scheduled to pitch in Saturday’s game. … Mariners ace Marco Gonzales is scheduled to start Sunday’s game, and will line up to be Seattle’s Opening Day starter for the second consecutive season. … Starter Yusei Kikuchi said earlier this week he is projected to pitch in Tuesday’s game. … Mariners No. 2 prospect Julio Rodriguez, who was seen at camp for the first time Thursday, will be eased into workouts after missing the first several days. It will be a few days before he participates in games, Servais sad. “We’re excited to have him on the field,” Servais said. “We’re looking forward to that.”
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
