Mariners
Notebook: Boone will have eye surgery

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

Bret Boone says surgery is no excuse.

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Bret Boone is scheduled to have laser surgery on his eyes Oct. 18 in Newport Beach, Calif.

Before talking about the procedure, which Boone expects to correct both a stigmatism and an overall vision problem, the Mariners' second baseman had one basic demand.

"This is not to be taken as any kind of excuse for me having a crappy year," Boone said. "It has been a bad year, but it's also been a tough year seeing-wise because it was so unpredictable, which prescription lenses I should use, for the stigmatism or for my general sight."

For several years, Boone has used two sets of contact lenses to correct his vision issues.

However, in the second half of the 2003 season he noticed changes in his sight at times.

"It was day to day, and I never knew how it was going to be," he said. "Some days I come to the park and it would be fine; other days it would be blurry."

On the bad days, the problem translated to difficulty picking up the spin on breaking balls.

Asked how bad it could get, "Whoa ... how it looks to Edgar," Boone said, referring to the vision troubles Edgar Martinez has dealt with his entire career.

"Hitting is tough enough without this," Boone said. "I'm sick of the mental drain of not having an idea what pitch is coming."

On many days, Boone is unsure whether that pitch coming in on him is a fastball he should back away from or — too late to do anything about it — a breaking ball that will bend into the strike zone.
 
He has spoken with a number of fellow players about having the surgery, "and (they) rave about it. They tell me I will see a world of difference."

Teammate Randy Winn said the difference would be "awesome," and Houston's Jeff Bagwell told him, "It'll be the best gift you can give yourself."

Yet it was a talk with Anaheim's Troy Glaus that convinced Boone.

"He told me the doctor he went to refused to operate on him two years ago, because the technology wasn't there yet," Boone said. "Then the doctor called him back last winter and said the technology had been improved and that was the time. And Troy said it's great."

Boone and trainer Rick Griffin visited the doctor's office in Newport Beach last week when the team was in Anaheim.

"I took a test to see how suitable a candidate I would be for this, with grading from 1 down to 15," he said. "I graded a 1, the best candidate. That was the final thing for me. If there had been any reason to back off, I'd have backed off.

"I need this, but I'm not going to mess with my vision unless I feel totally confident that this will work out well. I do now."

Villone replaces Baek tonight

Cha Seung Baek is joining George Sherrill and Clint Nageotte as young Seattle pitchers who have been shut down for the rest of the season.

Baek was scheduled to start tonight against Texas, but he has been replaced by left-hander Ron Villone.

"We did this for several reasons," manager Bob Melvin said. "First we had backed him up two days before his last start in Texas when he had a little soreness in his biceps, then he had the great game. He could go out and have another great start, but I think it's best for him to go home on that great outing."

Martinez will stay off field

Edgar Martinez will not play in the field over the weekend.

"I wouldn't want to embarrass myself, and it's been a long time since I've been out there," he said. "I could take a ball in the forehead, and they could help me off the field one last time."

The Mariners were planning to hold a champagne toast for the venerable designated hitter last night, on his last team flight.

Madritsch, mother will reunite

Bobby Madritsch is hopeful of meeting up with his mother at last when he is in Oklahoma later this month.

"I'll be there doing some charity work with the Chickasaw Nation," said the pitcher, who is half Sioux. "My mom is there, so it will be a good time finally to see her. I won't have to be concerned with trying to focus on pitching and deal with this emotional load. We'll have lots of time to sit and really get to know one another."

Madritsch's mother, Glenda, left Bobby when he was 2 months old but made contact with his older brother, Ken Madritsch, earlier this year.

M's open at home vs. Twins

The Mariners' tentative 2005 schedule begins Monday, April 4, at Safeco Field against the Minnesota Twins.

The Mariners' interleague road schedule is expected to include a trip to play the Expos in their first season in Washington, D.C. The Mariners also have road series against Florida and San Diego.

After the opening series against the Twins, the April home schedule includes a weekend series against Texas (April 8-10), two games against Oakland (April 20-21) and a weekend series against Cleveland (April 22-24).

The New York Yankees will make two appearances in Seattle — May 16-18 and Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

All dates are subject to change. The official schedule and start times will be announced in mid-December.