M's Notebook | Big leagues haven't been kind to pitcher Morrow

ANAHEIM, Calif. — This wasn't how Brandon Morrow's introduction to big-league baseball was supposed to go.

Coming out of spring training, the 2006 first-round pick with the 98 mph heat was seen as another late-inning weapon. He was a needed early addition, his starting career put on hold because a Mariners team with question marks in the bullpen couldn't pass up the chance to add all those strikeouts.

But nearly three weeks into the season, the 22-year-old is a mop-up man. His velocity is down — not by much, but closer to the mid-90s — and all those strikeouts have turned into base runners. Morrow is trying hard to stay sharp, hoping to hone his skills despite prolonged inactivity and game situations that simply don't matter.

"You've got to," he said after his latest, two-inning stint on Friday, in which he yielded three straight hits and a pair of runs before settling down. "Coming in, in situations like that, you know you've got to go all out with all you've got anyway."

Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said Saturday that Morrow is gaining experience facing major-league hitters. Hargrove added that he doesn't feel urgency to get Morrow back to starting again in the minors so he can be ready for that role next year.

"I don't think there's a problem there," Hargrove said, adding that even sporadic big-league experience can be as valuable as regular work in the minors.

"There are different lessons to be learned along the way, and one of those is how to play and compete at the big-league level," he said. "I think he could do this all year long."

Morrow's outing Friday was just his second appearance in 10 days and fourth this season. The Mariners have yet to have a save opportunity in the eighth or ninth innings, leaving many relievers antsy for quality work.

"I've been getting my throwing in on the side," Morrow said. "I threw a bullpen on Tuesday, I threw a little bit [Thursday] before we left. I felt OK. I just didn't have it, really, in that first inning. I came back out and my velocity was up a little bit more and I threw my pitches to better locations."

Morrow has allowed more than two runners per inning to reach base. That, and the time it can take him to find a groove, are reasons the team hasn't used him in the rare pressure situations it's had in later innings so far.

"He has to earn it," Hargrove said.

No surprises

Mariners cleanup hitter Raul Ibanez has watched in awe as ex-teammate Alex Rodriguez hit 12 home runs in 16 games. But Ibanez isn't is surprised.

"The moment I saw him grab a bat, when he was 17, I went, 'Oh, my!' " Ibanez said. "He was that good. He has the most talent of anyone on the planet."

Ibanez and Rodriguez, who both live in Miami, ran into each other in the parking lot of a local gym just before spring training.

"We talked for a bit," Ibanez said, adding that the conversation didn't touch on A-Rod's problems in New York last season.

"What people don't know about him is that the guy works so hard," he said. "He's got a burning desire to improve. He's constantly competing against himself, and that's what makes him so good."

Ibanez has put up a higher batting average (.359) in Anaheim over the years than in any other ballpark. He also has six homers and 34 runs batted in here, though he can't explain why other than liking the weather.

"It's just like Miami without the humidity," he said.

Notes

• The Mariners received a pregame clubhouse visit from recently retired Angels closer Troy Percival, who walked in with ex-teammate Jarrod Washburn. Percival, who retired on opening day, spent several minutes talking with Mariners GM Bill Bavasi. Bavasi was Angels GM in 1996 when Percival broke into the majors.

• A couple of Mariners amused themselves in the clubhouse by piloting a miniature remote-control helicopter. The device had been brought there by a company that sells toys and arcade games to visiting players, and Richie Sexson and Willie Bloomquist each took turns at the controls.

Sexson, who later bought two of the helicopters, spooked pitcher Jeff Weaver by landing the craft on the side of his head as the pitcher sat on a couch watching television. Bloomquist later caused part of the helicopter to break as he crash-landed it on the floor.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.

Read his daily blog at www.seattletimes.com/Mariners

For the record

Streak: L5

Home: 4-5

Road: 1-3

vs. AL West: 4-4

vs. Anaheim: 0-2

vs. Oakland: 2-1

vs. Texas: 2-1

vs. AL East: 1-1

vs. AL Central: 0-3

vs. NL: 0-0

vs. LHP: 0-2

vs. RHP: 5-6

Day: 3-2

Night: 2-6

One-run: 0-3

Extra innings: 0-0