M's Notebook | Catcher Johjima gives thanks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A meeting of Mariners pitchers was almost over on Friday afternoon when catcher Kenji Johjima stood up to address the group.

Johjima has been on a tear behind the plate, throwing out seven of his last 13 would-be base-stealers after starting the year 0 for 8. And while some attribute that success to Johjima possibly throwing with a more over-the-top motion than before, he insists it's because of the pitchers and their recent efforts to hold runners on base.

That's why he used Friday's meeting to deliver a thank-you message to the pitchers around him.

"Myself and the pitchers, we have to work together to hold runners on," Johjima said Saturday through an interpreter. "It's what we have to do as a team to win. So, this is something that's good for myself and good for the team. And I appreciate what our pitchers have done."

Johjima is better known for his bat, having entered Saturday hitting .324 and collecting his first career grand slam in the fourth inning off Royals starter Brian Bannister. But the Mariners hope word about Johjima's arm — which threw out Devil Rays speedster Carl Crawford by a wide margin last week — gets around enough that opponents stop running as often.

"The pitchers are giving me a better chance because they're holding the ball more, doing more pickoff moves to first base," Johjima said. "They also use their slide step. That gives me a lot more time to get that guy out at second base."

Mariners bench coach John McLaren, who spent hours working with Johjima on his catching technique, said the recent success isn't all about the pitchers. McLaren said that while Johjima's arm angle hasn't been raised more than before, he is using an "over-the-top" grip on the ball to generate stronger throws.

"He's keeping his hand on top of the ball, which is very important," McLaren said. "No matter what arm slot you throw from, if you get underneath, the ball tends to sail on you."

Johjima spent much of spring training quietly nursing a sore arm, one reason McLaren figures so many runners stole successfully off him. The pair instead focused much of their training sessions on Johjima's footwork.

By the time Johjima was healthy enough to start building arm strength again, his legs and grip were adding to his throws. The entire package has progressed since April, as has the work done by the pitchers to ensure he has a chance to throw runners out.

"A lot of the times before," Johjima said, "I didn't have time. I just had time to catch and release. That was one of the reasons I wasn't throwing people out before. Now I am."

Turf tough on Guillen

Jose Guillen wanted to reach out and grab manager Mike Hargrove when told he was being kept out of Saturday's game — but not to throttle him into changing his mind, as the right fielder's prior reputation might suggest.

More like a hug-and-kiss kind of grab.

It turns out Guillen could barely walk after the midweek series against Tampa Bay. His hamstrings were so sore from the pounding taken in three games on the artificial turf at Tropicana Field, a trainer had to massage them so he could play on Friday night.

So when Hargrove suggested a day off, Guillen came as close as he could to leaping at the chance without actually hurting himself more. And he has hit .359 against the Royals in his career, the third-highest average of any active player.

"I can say, that was the first time I ever wanted to have a day off," Guillen said. "Both my hamstrings feel like they weigh 700 pounds."

The FieldTurf Duo surface used by the Devil Rays is supposed to feel more like natural grass. But Guillen, who played on an old Astroturf surface for Tampa Bay several years ago, as well as a similar one in Pittsburgh, said the new one isn't anything like a grass field.

"Maybe if you play there all year and are used to it," he said. "But to play on grass and go in there, when you come out of there you feel like a totally different man."

Hittin' and walkin'

Hargrove is pleased with the approach his team has taken lately at the plate. Heading into Saturday's contest, the Mariners had hit .329 over their last nine games, the highest total in the majors during that period.

The Mariners had also struck out fewer times than any club, but were the worst at drawing walks. Hargrove hopes the improved plate approach leads to more free passes.

"I think that as the season goes along, that trend will reverse itself somewhat," he said. "But I don't think it will ever be what people who really believe in walks like. I don't care how they get on base. Walks are a good way. But if they swing the bat, hit the ball in the gap, get a single, it's just as good to get on base."

Note

• Raul Ibanez notched two more doubles, in the fourth and eighth innings, while scoring once. Ibanez now has four doubles and five runs scored in two games since returning to the lineup after a back problem.

For the record

Streak: W2

Home: 12-11

Road: 11-11

vs. AL West: 8-7

vs. L.A.: 1-5

vs. Oakland: 4-1

vs. Texas: 3-1

vs. AL East: 7-6

vs. AL Central: 7-7

vs. NL: 1-2

vs. LHP: 8-3

vs. RHP: 15-19

Day: 7-8

Night: 16-14

One-run: 4-6

Extra innings: 0-0