Notes: Outing has Appier encouraged

03/06/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- After Kevin Appier's first spring outing, an intrasquad game in which he gave up four runs on five hits in one-third of an inning, the veteran starter cracked that if his arm speed didn't return soon, he could be found on his yacht.
In Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, the 38-year-old proved there might still be some nautical miles left on that right arm.
Appier entered the game in the third and hit the first batter he faced, Geoff Jenkins, but cruised through the Brewers for three innings, facing the minimum nine batters after the hit batsman.
He struck out two batters, fielded a bunt and threw out Gabe Gross to lead off the fourth, and recovered from an error by third baseman Mike Morse by inducing a double play off the bat of Jenkins in the fifth.
Appier, signed in the offseason after enduring almost two years of elbow problems and "retiring" last spring after he didn't land a spot with the Kansas City Royals, said he felt a lot better about things Monday.
"I had good movement today and really good command on some of my pitches," Appier said. "I had good results and I'm definitely encouraged by that."
Appier wasn't the only one.
"He threw the ball well," manager Mike Hargrove said. "I thought for the most part he did a good job."
Appier said he wasn't 100 percent satisfied with the outing because he had four straight full counts and felt somewhat out of sorts with his mechanics at times, but he said he still felt like he was progressing.
"I got a way with some really bad timing, but almost all the pitches I screwed up on were not in the damage zone," Appier said.
"I feel like I can pitch in the big leagues."
Johjima impressing skipper: Kenji Johjima, who signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal to solidify the Mariners' catching position and become the first Japanese-born backstop in Major League history, has left a very good impression on Hargrove so far.
"I've been very, very pleased with how he receives the ball and how he calls a game, the pitches he's called," Hargrove said. "It's difficult to learn the pitchers, but he's worked hard at it."
Hargrove loves Johjima's work ethic, which was exemplified Sunday afternoon, when the catcher was scheduled for a day off but requested to be behind the plate for the spring debut of new Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn.
"I couldn't be more happy with Kenji than I am right now," Hargrove said. "He's doing everything the right way."
Johjima has started off slowly at the plate, with one single in seven at-bats, but Hargrove said it's not a concern.
"That'll come around," Hargrove said. "Right now, the pitchers are way ahead of the hitters. I'm not worried about him. He's got a good swing."
Southpaws showcased: Hargrove said there was a strategy involved when he decided to have three of the top left-handed relievers on the Mariners depth chart -- Matt Thornton, Jake Woods and George Sherrill -- pitch in the same game.
Thornton started Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers and pitched two innings, with Woods pitching three and Sherrill pitching one.
"It's good to have them throw together," Hargrove said. "I think they can learn from each other a little bit."
Ichiro update: The Japanese team for the World Baseball Classic, which includes Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, arrived in the Phoenix area Monday and will have work out from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Japan will play the Mariners in an exhibition game Wednesday at Peoria Stadium. Clint Nageotte will start for the Mariners and will be followed by Luis Gonzalez, Dave Burba and Emiliano Fruto.
Team Japan will play Texas on Thursday in Surprise and the Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix on Friday.
Mariners log: Former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson will join the Mariners on Tuesday and work with the catchers for three days. ... Reliever J.J. Putz (lower back spasms) is set for a one-inning stint in Wednesday afternoon's game against the San Francisco Giants. ... Catcher Rob Johnson (lower back spasms) returned to action Monday, catching the ninth inning. ... Second baseman Fernando Vina (strained hip flexor) is still a few days away from playing. ... Left-hander Cesar Jimenez (mild strain of left hamstring) threw a bullpen Monday. ... Left-hander Bobby Livingston missed his scheduled Monday start because of a stiff neck and is day-to-day. ... Outfielder Wladimir Balentien has a strained right hamstring but will continue to participate in workouts, although he's still not available for games. ... Former Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki will be in Peoria this week as a TV broadcaster for Team Japan in the Classic.
Coming up: The Mariners take their first spring road trip Tuesday to take on the Brewers in Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time, or 12:05 p.m. PT. Felix Hernandez makes his second spring start and will be followed by right-handers Rafael Soriano, Julio Mateo and Marcos Carvajal. Regulars in the lineup include Jeremy Reed, Raul Ibanez, Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/