The Associated Press
Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki is mobbed by fans as he signs autographs prior to the team's exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday in Peoria, Az.

M's plant 21 trees at Safeco in effort to help batters see

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Thursday, March 14, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners planted 21 trees in front of the "batter's eye" at Safeco Field on Wednesday in yet another attempt at reducing the glare in the eyes of hitters.

Seattle Mariners second baseman Bret Boone has a better idea: close the roof.

"We can see fine. The only time we can't see is during those 4 o'clock starts on a sunny day when they refuse to close the roof," Boone said. "Nothing is going to help (at that time), except to close the roof."

Batters have complained about the glare off the hitting background since the stadium opened in 1999. It's particularly bright during afternoon games in sunny weather, and the Mariners have painted, textured and even tilted the wall in their efforts to give batters a better background.

A row of 17-foot-tall trees that are members of the cypress family known as Thuja occidentalis were planted on Wednesday.

Boone doubts they will make an impact.

"In 95 percent of the games, it's no problem," he said. "I don't think trees are going to help."

Boone said the glare at Safeco is no different than any other park during games that start late in the afternoon.

"Any 4 o'clock start on a sunny day is going to be like that," he said. "I understand that the fans who have been under the dome all those years like to have the roof open on a sunny day."

The solution is to close the roof for those games, Boone said, doubting that will ever happen.

"We've just got to accept it," he said. "We have no say as players. The other team can't see either, so maybe it's an advantage for us.

"Otherwise, maybe we should just hope it rains."

- EDGAR AILING: Designated hitter Edgar Martinez, in need of at-bats at spring training to sharpen his swing, won't be getting anymore soon.

He is suffering from a sore quad muscle in his left leg and probably won't play until Friday.

"He needs a couple of days," trainer Rick Griffin said. "It's just sore, nothing serious. We just want to make sure it doesn't get serious."

"I can't run too hard with it now," Martinez said.

The ailment adds a slight complication to Martinez's already-difficult mission to get a suitable number of spring training plate appearances. He doesn't play in games at National League opponents because the DH isn't used.

"Usually I like to get Edgar 50-60 at-bats in the spring, but here we are halfway through and he's got only 21," manager Lou Piniella said.

With a schedule the next two weeks that should give Martinez plenty of opportunities to hit, he isn't concerned.

Beginning Friday, the Mariners will play seven consecutive days with the designated hitter and will lose the DH only three times between now and the end of exhibition play.

With a schedule like that, Martinez doubts he'll need to play much, if any, in the minor league camp, where in past years he has jumped from field to field and gotten well over a dozen at-bats in an afternoon.

- ANOTHER MASTERPIECE: After Paul Abbott overcame a wicked start and pitched four strong innings, Ryan Franklin took the mound and performed Wednesday like he has all month: with hardly a flaw.

The Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 11-4 on a day when the pitching was solid.

Abbott gave up six straight hits to start the game, then allowed just three hits the rest of his time on the mound.

"It's all about getting your work in," Abbott said. "I probably could have told them what was coming and they would have had a hard time getting six hits in a row."

Franklin followed with two scoreless innings, allowing only his second baserunner of spring training when he hit a batter. He has allowed only one hit and no runs in seven innings.

"I don't think he can throw the ball any better than he has in this spring training," pitching coach Bryan Price said.

Fans in Peoria also saw a first by the Mariners: a home run. Boone's two-run homer in the first inning was the first in a home game by the Mariners.

Ryan Minor also homered in the eighth inning.

- CAMERON SCRATCHED: You know Mike Cameron is hurting if he doesn't feel good enough to play against his former team, the White Sox.

Cameron's name was pulled off the lineup card before Wednesday's game against his former team after he complained of back spasms during batting practice. He is listed as day-to-day.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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