pmeares17
06-29-2002, 06:43 PM
Sasaki continues to stay on the fast track
June 23, 2002
It took Kazuhiro Sasaki less than 2 1/2 seasons to set the Mariners career saves record (99) -- and it won't take him much longer than that to become the fastest closer ever to 100 saves.
Coming to the majors after saving 229 games in Japan, Sasaki's 99th save came in his 112th save opportunity, and in his 158th game.
Oakland's Billy Koch owns the major league record for 100 saves in the fewest games (192), and it doesn't figure to take Sasaki that long to add one more.
This has been the best start of Sasaki's brief career in Seattle -- in his first 26 games he won twice, saved 17 and posted an earned run average of 0.35. He has become fearless with the forkball and precise with his fastball. . . .
Jeff Cirillo had struggled the first two months of the season, a .311 career batter hitting in the .220s.
In June, he seemed more like the Cirillo of old, batting .305 in the Mariners first 19 games, and the difference may have been no more complicated than relaxing at the plate.
Cirillo has changed his footwork at the plate, trying to stride into the pitch, and calmed his bat movement above his head. . . .
Paul Abbott is lost for the season to shoulder surgery, assuring rookie Rafael Soriano of a little more job security in the rotation.
A converted outfielder, the 22-year-old Soriano started his major league career 0-3 despite a 3.67 ERA -- the victim of consistent non-support by his offense.
In Soriano's first six starts, the Mariners scored 12 runs.
He's learning on the job, never having pitched above Class AA, and both his slider and changeup are project pitches. A 92-94 mph fastball with movement has kept big league hitters in check, thus far. . . .
Manager Lou Piniella has watched three key hitters -- Cirillo, Bret Boone and Mike Cameron -- struggle through most of the first 2 1/2 months.
Last week he talked to each of them one-on-one, less about mechanics than about the more than three months remaining this year -- and enjoying it. His approach was a bit different with each player, and he continued to try one lineup after another.
Over the first 72 games, the Mariners had used 58 different batting orders. . . .
Norm Charlton, sidelined since February by major shoulder surgery, is throwing again and could return to the bullpen in September.
A veteran who had a 3.02 ERA in 44 games last season, Charlton has been missed as the bullpen's second lefty behind Arthur Rhodes.
John Halama has worked almost exclusively in relief this year, but he's not a situational lefty -- Charlton is, and the team would love him back for the run toward a playoff berth.
June 23, 2002
It took Kazuhiro Sasaki less than 2 1/2 seasons to set the Mariners career saves record (99) -- and it won't take him much longer than that to become the fastest closer ever to 100 saves.
Coming to the majors after saving 229 games in Japan, Sasaki's 99th save came in his 112th save opportunity, and in his 158th game.
Oakland's Billy Koch owns the major league record for 100 saves in the fewest games (192), and it doesn't figure to take Sasaki that long to add one more.
This has been the best start of Sasaki's brief career in Seattle -- in his first 26 games he won twice, saved 17 and posted an earned run average of 0.35. He has become fearless with the forkball and precise with his fastball. . . .
Jeff Cirillo had struggled the first two months of the season, a .311 career batter hitting in the .220s.
In June, he seemed more like the Cirillo of old, batting .305 in the Mariners first 19 games, and the difference may have been no more complicated than relaxing at the plate.
Cirillo has changed his footwork at the plate, trying to stride into the pitch, and calmed his bat movement above his head. . . .
Paul Abbott is lost for the season to shoulder surgery, assuring rookie Rafael Soriano of a little more job security in the rotation.
A converted outfielder, the 22-year-old Soriano started his major league career 0-3 despite a 3.67 ERA -- the victim of consistent non-support by his offense.
In Soriano's first six starts, the Mariners scored 12 runs.
He's learning on the job, never having pitched above Class AA, and both his slider and changeup are project pitches. A 92-94 mph fastball with movement has kept big league hitters in check, thus far. . . .
Manager Lou Piniella has watched three key hitters -- Cirillo, Bret Boone and Mike Cameron -- struggle through most of the first 2 1/2 months.
Last week he talked to each of them one-on-one, less about mechanics than about the more than three months remaining this year -- and enjoying it. His approach was a bit different with each player, and he continued to try one lineup after another.
Over the first 72 games, the Mariners had used 58 different batting orders. . . .
Norm Charlton, sidelined since February by major shoulder surgery, is throwing again and could return to the bullpen in September.
A veteran who had a 3.02 ERA in 44 games last season, Charlton has been missed as the bullpen's second lefty behind Arthur Rhodes.
John Halama has worked almost exclusively in relief this year, but he's not a situational lefty -- Charlton is, and the team would love him back for the run toward a playoff berth.