Mariners
Brewers' Overbay a Mariner at heart

By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter

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MILWAUKEE — One day, if things can be worked out, Lyle Overbay could be in a Mariners uniform. Clearly, he wouldn't mind.

"You're always optimistic," said the Milwaukee Brewers first baseman. "I would love to play for the Mariners. I always watched them. I still do. They had Ken Griffey, A-Rod, Edgar (Martinez). I just loved watching (those) guys hit.

"If it happens, it happens, but I love it in this town now. This has been great for me. (But) being from the Northwest ... like John Olerud, he came back."

Overbay, 27, grew up and still lives in Centralia, about a 1-1/2 hour-drive south of Seattle. He has been a Mariners fan for life. As a kid his family would drive to Mariners games two or three times a year. He even played for the Mariners' traveling team in high school.

In the opening game of this series, Overbay said, "It's definitely a dream come true being on the same field with Seattle."

Then he hit the game-winning, two-run double in the third inning. Last night, he drove in the first run with an RBI single, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

The Mariners never had enough interest to draft him out of Centralia High or Nevada. He was taken in the 18th round by Arizona in 1999. Arizona traded him to Milwaukee this offseason in an eight-player deal involving power-hitting Richie Sexson.

"He was a Mark Grace type of guy. I don't know that he's capable of 40 home runs but he shows he can handle the bat very well," said Mariners manager Bob Melvin, who saw Overbay develop in the Arizona system. "Everywhere he went in the Diamondback system he hit .330 or above.

"I always thought he was a heck of a player."

He has made his mark this season. Entering last night's game, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Overbay led the majors with 28 doubles. He was seventh in hitting at .342, sixth in runs with 48 and third in extra-base hits with 36. He has hit .391 in June.
 
"I've been able to hit some doubles and a few home runs, a Grace and John Olerud kind of hitter," he said. "I've mimicked their swings."

With Olerud likely retiring after this season, that first-base spot would be open next season.

"I know they (friends and family) would make that trade," Overbay said.