The Associated Press
Veteran pitcher James Baldwin will replace Aaron Sele in the Mariners' starting rotation this year.

Baldwin to play key role

Pitcher fills hole in Mariners' staff

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, March 30, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Lou Piniella doesn't want to put any pressure on James Baldwin, but ...

"I think he's really the key to our team," the Seattle manager said.

Welcome to Seattle, James. Now go out and carry this team.

Baldwin fills a vast hole in the Mariners' starting rotation, charged with replacing most of the 215 innings Aaron Sele pitched last year. Problem is, Baldwin has pitched 200 innings just once in his career.

Too much to expect? Bring it on, says the 30-year-old Baldwin.

He's a six-year veteran known as much for his mental strength as his physical presence at 6 feet 3 inches and 235 pounds.

"I'm very aggressive," Baldwin said. "Power pitcher. I'm going to give you everything I've got."

Just call him Tenacious B.

So far, Baldwin has lived up to everything he has promised. He has allowed 22 hits in 15 innings this month with a 5.40 earned-run average. They're numbers that don't seem impressive unless you buy the argument that Arizona is a horrible place to pitch with its dry air and rock-hard infields.

What's important is that Baldwin feels great for the first time in more than a year.

He pitched in pain against the Mariners in the 2000 playoffs while with the White Sox, had shoulder surgery and labored through a 2001 season of recovery -- plus a trade from Chicago to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mariners needed to strengthen a starting staff that lost Sele, and made a $24 million, three-year offer to free agent Jason Schmidt.

Schmidt accepted a similar deal to stay with San Francisco Giants, so the M's turned to their backup plan, landing Baldwin and all the questions about his health for the bargain price of $1.25 million this year.

Schmidt has suffered injury problems this month and has pitched only twice.

Baldwin, who the Mariners were confident would be strong in his second year after surgery, has proven them right.

"He could end up being the steal of the free agent signing period," pitching coach Bryan Price said. "He's very capable of being a big winner and a big-innings guy. He's a good guy, a hard worker, he loves to play and loves to compete."

Playing for a championship is Baldwin's biggest dream, but he says true motivation comes from the simple joy of standing on the mound.

"I love pitching," he said. "I don't care if I'm getting lit, I'm going to be out there. There's going to be days when you're getting lit, but those are the days you've got to go out and save your bullpen."

Baldwin's tenacity made him a star high school football player in North Carolina, where several Division I colleges recruited him.

"Tailback, running back, middle linebacker, punter, I never came off the field," he said. "I miss that sport. I was very physical; I didn't like to run around people. I was a very, very, very aggressive player."

Baldwin believes his football background plays an important part in his mindset as a pitcher.

"You're like quarterback on top of the hill," he said. "You've got to be very aggressive out there. You can't give in to anybody, I don't care who it is. When you're trying to accomplish something in life, you've still got to go out there and be aggressive."

Besides victories, what the M's need most from Baldwin is good health.

Piniella believes anything less than 200 innings from Baldwin could put a strain on the bullpen, especially with a starting staff that includes the unknown of 23-year-old Joel Pineiro.

"I don't want to put any undue pressure on the kid, but he's a key," Piniella said. "I'm not saying Baldwin has to pitch 215 innings, but he needs to get around 200. He's an experienced pitcher and we need him to pick up the slack of Sele."

There's no question in Baldwin's mind that the shoulder problems are over and that he'll pitch 200 innings, at least.

"When you're on that hill, you're out there to throw nine innings," he said. "You don't hope that you're going to throw nine innings. You've got to believe it."

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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