Mariners doing whatever it takes
After falling just short with an 86-76 season, manager says ‘expectations are great’
PEORIA, Ariz. — The words are displayed prominently inside the Seattle Mariners’ spring training clubhouse in two languages.
Whatever It Takes. Lo Que Sea Necesario.
It’s a sign of raised expectations for the Mariners after coming close to a wild card spot and finishing 86-76 last season.
“We’ve got to stay on the process. It’s controlling the zone. It’s how we play. If you stay with that, the results kind of take care of themselves,” manager Scott Servais said before meeting with the team Sunday, when the first full-squad workout of spring training was held. “Chasing the numbers of wins, chasing your ERA, chasing how many homers, that stuff, it takes care of itself.
“Pressure’s a privilege,” Servais added. “Expectations are great. They should be. That’s what we’re shooting for. That’s what (general manager) Jerry (Dipoto) spent all off-season working on, was to get our team a little bit better. It’s a good thing.”
Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz are two of the team’s leaders, and both figure to miss considerable bonding time with their many new teammates at camp while playing in the World Baseball Classic. They’ll join the Dominican Republic team the first week of March and could be gone a couple of weeks if the team makes another deep run in the WBC.
“For all the guys that go there and represent their countries, we take a lot of pride in that,” Cruz said. “The whole country is excited. Wherever you go, kids to adults, everybody’s looking forward to the moment.”
Another main presence in the clubhouse, ace Felix Hernandez, will head off to join Venezuela’s team.
“It’s not great, but important for them — they’re not going to be on those teams sitting on the bench,” Servais said of the three. “They’re going to be playing and getting their at-bats. They’ll be in very competitive situations. It should help them once the season starts.
“As far as the chemistry in the clubhouse, those guys are a big part of what we’re doing, so that’s a little bit challenging.”
Servais worked on developing that chemistry in the off-season when he made a surprise visit to Cruz in the Dominican Republic, where he had dinner with Cruz, Cano and new shortstop Jean Segura.
Cruz, Seattle’s designated hitter, is coming off a 43-home run, 105RBI season.
For Cruz, the Whatever It Takes slogan means that even when a player doesn’t want to think about the higher expectations, they are there for the Mariners. He recalled how much fun he and his teammates had the last few days of last season, when every pitch and every at-bat was meaningful as the Mariners chased the post-season.
“But we came up short, so we’ll make sure this year we can be on top and clinch early,” Cruz said.
“Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone. If that means I have to hit a ground ball to second base, whatever it takes. If you have to take one for the team, you take it. You have to go out there every day and compete and just find a way to get it done.”