Story Published:
Apr 3, 2008 at 5:42 PM PST
Story Updated:
Apr 3, 2008 at 5:42 PM PST
Well, many of you have asked for it and now the Mariners have got it. Adam Jones his here and it appears that we have a platoon at first base for the time being. We are told that we do not have a platoon however, in left field and that Jones will not be an every day player. My guess is that he can force the issue.
The at bats and starts can and will be found. Ichiro will DH some, Vidro will play some second and Guillen will need an occasional day off. John McLaren in his pre game chat with the media said, “I’m going to play the best players every night to win the game. I don’t want to step on any toes. I don’t want to play head games with anyone out on the field.” Communication by the manager to the players involved will be crucial.
For those who didn’t think chemistry was an issue in bringing up Jones, well talk to Mr. Guillen about that. Jose was outspoken about not thinking the move was a good idea telling Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times that he didn’t understand what the organization was trying to do. I talked to Jose before tonight’s game to see if he had softened his stance at all or regretted anything he had said. He told me he didn’t. He said that when John McLaren asked him what he thought about the move he told him that he didn’t think that messing with the chemistry was a good idea.
I spoke with a couple of veterans in the clubhouse after the move was announced and they were concerned. “I know he has good numbers and he deserves to be up here, but where is he going to play?” asked one. Despite the questions I do not see that there will be any problems. When I asked Guillen now that Jones is here what do you do, he answered, “Nothing. He is here and he is family now.”
Jose won’t leave it at that, and I mean that in a good sense. When I talked to Adam in spring training I asked which veterans had been helping him out. He answered Ichiro (who liked to talk about hip hop) and Jose Guillen. For his part, Jose grabbed Adam during batting practice and talked to him for about five minutes behind the cages. When they were done, they shook hands.
As for Adam, he is taking it all in stride. Don't get me wrong, he is excited to be here in the middle of a playoff push. He listened eagerly when Ken Baron who translates for Ichiro approached him and told him how Ichiro likes to handle the outfield and when to get out of the way. He was the first one out on the bench pregame.
He does seem a little more subdued now than he did when he came up last year though. Last year he had his eyes open and he knows what the story is up here. He knows that as a rookie he should be seen and not heard if he wants to get along in the clubhouse. This probably isn’t easy. I wouldn’t call Adam brash, but he does have a big personality and he does not lack in confidence. He does have the perfect mentor however in Mark McLemore who has been helping guide him in his baseball life since high school. Ironic isn’t it? In 2001 lineups were shuffled daily to get Mac in, in 2007 it looks like they will be shuffled for his young protégé.
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