Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific
Mariners
Notebook: Davis' ability to catch on pleases M's
By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter
ANAHEIM, Calif. ? Mariners coaches are very pleased with the work of Ben Davis behind the plate in his two starts, both wins, both well-pitched games by starters James Baldwin and John Halama.
"He called a couple of good games," Manager Lou Piniella said.
Added pitching coach Bryan Price, "The guys who have thrown to him like working with him. We've got to match him with all of them as soon as we can. He's hit well, too, but he seems to be the type of guy who doesn't take his offense onto the field with him, and that's important for a catcher."
Davis said, "I want to be a guy the pitchers know they can rely on behind the plate. Let's be honest, and give credit where it's due. The guys I've worked with have pitched great games. If I've helped them, then great. But the work was theirs."
Three-star movies
Bret Boone home movies were the afternoon entertainment on the Seattle clubhouse video yesterday.
"My mom taped everything," the second baseman said. "High school, Little League. You should see me pitching in Little League, throwing as hard as I can. Then I spread my arms, and ask the umpire, 'Where was that pitch?' You can hear my mom on the audio, saying, 'Bret, stay focused.' "
Boone brought two tapes. One of him on the "Mike Douglas Show," a feature on the art of blowing bubbles with gum. There was little moptop Bret chewing and producing triple bubbles. Piniella said, "You were a good-looking child. What happened?"
The main feature, however, was of Boone and Dan Wilson playing a game in Spokane for Team USA in the 1989 World Cup, facing Japanese pitcher Kazu Sasaki.
Boone said that last year Sasaki had mentioned to Wilson he had pitched against him and Boone in that series. Sasaki had been reminded by a Japanese reporter that Wilson hit a home run off him in a game in Portland.
"Danny told me, so I remembered when I was back home this trip to look up the tape from that series and I found it," Boone said. "This is the game where Kaz struck Danny out twice."
When asked who won that series 13 years ago, neither could remember.
Low degree of difficulty
Mike Cameron said as good as his run-saving play was on Garret Anderson in the third inning Tuesday, a dash to his left to rob Anderson of an extra-base hit, it was not that difficult.
"The ball was hooking a bit on me, but I was able to catch it in stride," Cameron said. "If I needed to take it down lower, I could have gone another 2-3 steps and still reached it, I think. It was a big play, though, they might have broken that game open if that ball got through."
Notes
? According to Piniella, Desi Relaford was at shortstop last night for two reasons: to get some playing time and to give Carlos Guillen a rest.
? Ichiro will not start in tonight's game and will be replaced in right field by Charles Gipson. First baseman John Olerud also will sit out, with Dan Wilson his scheduled fill-in.
Copyright ? 2002 The Seattle Times Company
.......................................................................................................
Garcia should bounce back well against a team he always dominates, and he's on the road--his favorite place.
Schoen has improved since last season, it seems.
I'm liking the under best. any thoughts?
Mariners
Notebook: Davis' ability to catch on pleases M's
By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter
ANAHEIM, Calif. ? Mariners coaches are very pleased with the work of Ben Davis behind the plate in his two starts, both wins, both well-pitched games by starters James Baldwin and John Halama.
"He called a couple of good games," Manager Lou Piniella said.
Added pitching coach Bryan Price, "The guys who have thrown to him like working with him. We've got to match him with all of them as soon as we can. He's hit well, too, but he seems to be the type of guy who doesn't take his offense onto the field with him, and that's important for a catcher."
Davis said, "I want to be a guy the pitchers know they can rely on behind the plate. Let's be honest, and give credit where it's due. The guys I've worked with have pitched great games. If I've helped them, then great. But the work was theirs."
Three-star movies
Bret Boone home movies were the afternoon entertainment on the Seattle clubhouse video yesterday.
"My mom taped everything," the second baseman said. "High school, Little League. You should see me pitching in Little League, throwing as hard as I can. Then I spread my arms, and ask the umpire, 'Where was that pitch?' You can hear my mom on the audio, saying, 'Bret, stay focused.' "
Boone brought two tapes. One of him on the "Mike Douglas Show," a feature on the art of blowing bubbles with gum. There was little moptop Bret chewing and producing triple bubbles. Piniella said, "You were a good-looking child. What happened?"
The main feature, however, was of Boone and Dan Wilson playing a game in Spokane for Team USA in the 1989 World Cup, facing Japanese pitcher Kazu Sasaki.
Boone said that last year Sasaki had mentioned to Wilson he had pitched against him and Boone in that series. Sasaki had been reminded by a Japanese reporter that Wilson hit a home run off him in a game in Portland.
"Danny told me, so I remembered when I was back home this trip to look up the tape from that series and I found it," Boone said. "This is the game where Kaz struck Danny out twice."
When asked who won that series 13 years ago, neither could remember.
Low degree of difficulty
Mike Cameron said as good as his run-saving play was on Garret Anderson in the third inning Tuesday, a dash to his left to rob Anderson of an extra-base hit, it was not that difficult.
"The ball was hooking a bit on me, but I was able to catch it in stride," Cameron said. "If I needed to take it down lower, I could have gone another 2-3 steps and still reached it, I think. It was a big play, though, they might have broken that game open if that ball got through."
Notes
? According to Piniella, Desi Relaford was at shortstop last night for two reasons: to get some playing time and to give Carlos Guillen a rest.
? Ichiro will not start in tonight's game and will be replaced in right field by Charles Gipson. First baseman John Olerud also will sit out, with Dan Wilson his scheduled fill-in.
Copyright ? 2002 The Seattle Times Company
.......................................................................................................
Garcia should bounce back well against a team he always dominates, and he's on the road--his favorite place.
Schoen has improved since last season, it seems.
I'm liking the under best. any thoughts?
