Davis hopes to get back in the hunt for M's

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Friday, April 5, 2002

SEATTLE -- Ben Davis spent about 20 minutes one day this week attaching a set of deer antlers to the cabinet door above his locker at Safeco Field.

Part hat rack and part trophy from a successful bow hunt over the winter, the mount reveals the personality of the Seattle Mariners' newest catcher.

"Got him back home last winter from a tree stand," Davis said. "They call it a five-point buck out here, but back East we count all the points, so I like to say it's a nine."

Whatever, says relief pitcher Jeff Nelson, whose locker is next to Davis'.

"I think you had a salt lick and a box of apples right below that tree," Nelson said, chiding his new teammate. "That, or you got him at the zoo."

Davis is a 25-year-old Pennsylvanian who loves to hunt, either for bucks in the woods or fastballs at the ballyards, and shows his combined interests with a camouflaged cap that contains the Mariners' logo.

This year, Davis is hanging his hats in Seattle after an offseason trade with the San Diego Padres. And he's thrilled about it.

Who wouldn't be, going from an also-ran team to a championship contender?

That thrill has been tempered the past three weeks by an injury that has limited Davis to little more than batting practice. On March 13, the guy who wears No. 13 on his Mariners uniform took a swing at spring training and pulled the oblique muscle on his right side.

It has been an especially tough injury because Davis is a switch hitter who will be used most often against right-handed pitching when No. 1 catcher Dan Wilson gets time off.

Davis hasn't been able to bat left-handed and, as a consequence, has remained anchored to the bench for all but one inning of the Mariners' first three games.

"I've been hitting left-handed (in batting practice) since we got up here," Davis said. "As long as I stay loose and constantly stretch, it hasn't impeded me at all. It was nice to catch an inning the other day and hopefully I'll get a game this weekend."

That probably will happen when the Mariners play a three-game series at home against Oakland, starting tonight. Manager Lou Piniella said Davis will start one of the games.

"He'll play this weekend. We'll get everyone a (start) except (Luis) Ugueto," Piniella said.

Davis sat on the bench the first three games of the season listening to the roar of the Safeco Field crowd, and he can't wait to feel the energy as a starter.

He's been through it before, from the other side.

Davis played in the first game ever at Safeco Field when the Padres faced the Mariners on July 15, 1999.

Now he is ready to give fans in Seattle something for which to cheer.

"This is a great atmosphere, and it's nice to be on their side now," Davis said.

Considering that division-rival Oakland is coming to town tonight, Davis hasn't heard anything yet.

M's vs. Athletics

- Record: 2-1.

- Today: Oakland (Hiljus 0-0) at Seattle (Baldwin 0-0), 7 p.m. (Ch. 7).

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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