News
Washburn puts behind him rough '08 season
Seattle (26-29) vs. Minnesota (28-28), 1:10 p.m. PT
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
06/06/09 3:47 AM ET
SEATTLE -- Jarrod Washburn hunts a lot in the offseason in the wilds of his northwestern Wisconsin home, and this past winter he was hunting for a way to feel good about how he'd pitch in 2009.How did he do it after his worst statistical year as a big league pitcher, a 5-14 campaign with a 4.69 ERA for a team that lost 101 games?
"I forgot about it," says Washburn, who's starting for the Mariners against the Twins today in a nationally televised game that will be seen on FOX and called by Kenny Albert and Mark Grace.
"Record-wise and all that, it didn't look very good, but it wasn't as bad as the record indicated. I had stretches where I pitched real well last year and coming into this year, the No. 1 thing was forgetting about last year. I knew I was healthy, and was looking forward to turning it around and having a better year."
That helped, as did a new coaching staff that Washburn said picked up some mechanical flaws and worked them out in Spring Training. The result, so far, has been dramatically different.
Even though Washburn has a losing early-season record at 3-4, his 3.22 ERA is tied for ninth in the American League and he has only given up 59 hits in 64 1/3 innings while striking out 44 and walking 17.
"I am a different pitcher," Washburn says. "I'm getting out on the ball farther, so now I have a sinker. So add the sinker that's going away from a righty to the four-seamer that's cutting into the righty, which I've had in the past and I still have, now I have it going both ways.
"Getting out on the ball makes my changeup a little bit better, and I think it's making my slider a little better. So yeah, my stuff is better."
He isn't the only one who's noticed.
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon watched Washburn perplex his team earlier in the year and said Washburn had "reinvented himself."
Washburn chuckles when he hears that, but can't disagree.
"I guess you could say that to a point," Washburn says. "I'm still using the stuff that's gotten me to where I am now as far as busting righties in and jamming them. I still use that, but I don't have to rely on just that now.
"I'm getting some ground balls and I think I'm striking more guys out now than I ever have in the past."
And is he having more fun?
"More fun than last year, that's for sure," he says. "But no, I always have fun. This is the best job in the world. Of course I'm going to have fun doing it."
Pitching matchupSEA: LHP Jarrod Washburn (3-4, 3.22 ERA)
The left-hander held the Orioles to one run over seven innings in his last start, the seventh time in 10 starts this season he has surrendered two or fewer runs. But for the third time in those outings, Washburn did not win as the Mariners scored no runs. He is holding left-handed batters to a .157 average this season, nearly 90 points below his career average against them. MIN: RHP Nick Blackburn (5-2, 3.50 ERA)
Blackburn has become one of the Twins' more reliable starters. He delivered his third straight quality start, and his fourth in the last five outings, against the Rays last Sunday. Blackburn held the Rays to just two runs on seven hits over six innings, both runs coming on solo homers. The right-hander has been using his sinker effectively and working the corners with his four-seam fastball. He'll try to continue that trend when he faces the Mariners. Blackburn is 1-0 with a 3.50 ERA in three career starts vs. Seattle. Tidbits
Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said catcher Rob Johnson is day-to-day after taking a ball off the foot during Friday night's 2-1 loss to Minnesota. ... Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith, on the disabled list since April 11 with left triceps tendinitis, made a rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma and gave up 12 runs on 14 hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 21-5 loss to Reno. Rowland-Smith threw 98 pitches and is scheduled to rejoin the Mariners rotation for a June 11 start in Baltimore. ... The Mariners will pay tribute to the contributions Latin American players have made to baseball Saturday by wearing home white jerseys with the name "Marineros" across the front. Marineros jerseys will be available for sale in Mariners team stores, and game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off on www.mariners.com. Seattle Spanish language radio personality Mario Rodriguez, also known as "Zuper Mario," will serve as public address announcer for the game. Fans will be greeted at the gates by the band Mariachi Fiesta of Seattle, and the local Latin America dance troupe Bailadores Bronce will entertain fans during a special pre-game ceremony and during inning breaks during the game. Former Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Tickets
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• 710 ESPN Up next
• Sunday: Mariners (Erik Bedard, 4-2, 2.37) vs. Twins (Kevin Slowey, 8-1, 3.97), 1:10 p.m. PT
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 5-3, 3.41) at Orioles (TBD), 4:05 p.m. PT
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
