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From his call for accountability to his tweaking of the batting order, the forecast is calling for several hundred days of thunder.
While Wedge wasn’t anybody’s pushover in 2011, neither did he conjure comparisons to his big-screen idol, John Wayne. Wedge’s passiveness, even during a 17-game losing streak, was understandable: He came to Seattle without a clue on which guys needed a pat on the back, and which guys needed a kick in the butt.
But as Wedge made clear during the Mariners’ annual preseason media luncheon, he’s taking charge in ways he didn’t – or couldn’t – last year.
“I sat back and bit my tongue off more than once,” Wedge recalled of his disinclination for profane rants. “My wife was proud of me, let’s put it that way, but it was the right thing to do. This year’s going to be a little different.”
The difference could begin with a retooled lineup that removes Ichiro Suzuki from his signature spot at the top. Wedge provided few specifics, but don’t be surprised if Ichiro – who since his 2001 arrival from Japan has predominately batted leadoff – is moved.
“We’ve talked about the three-hole,” Wedge said. “I’ve contemplated batting him second, and there’s still a chance he might hit leadoff.
“Ultimately, it’s not just about Ichiro, it’s about our club, and it’s about his 24 other teammates. Ichiro understands that, and I damn sure understand it. What we’re going to do is make sure we put out the best possible lineup to score some runs.”
The possibilities of batting-order reconstruction are fun for fans to imagine on uneventful winter days, but with rare exceptions, a lineup is only as potent as the hitters who occupy it. Still, the revelation that Wedge is “leaning toward” change is, if nothing else, symbolic of his determination to wield more hands-on authority.
“It’s unacceptable the amount of runs we’ve scored the last couple of years,” Wedge said in a tone not often heard in 2011. Between the manager’s tired-of-watching-feeble-swings vent and the plea for patience issued by general manager Jack Zduriencik, the contrast was vivid.
Zduriencik, in so many words, admitted that contention was improbable for the Mariners this season.
“When you look at what happened in our division, considering what Anaheim did and what Texas did, it’s an uphill battle,” said Zduriencik, referring to the Angels’ acquisition of slugger Albert Pujols and left-handed starter C.J. Wilson, and the Rangers’ signing of Japanese free-agent pitcher Yu Darvish. “Two of the best clubs in baseball are in our division.
“I don’t have a magic wand,” he continued. “It’s not like I can say, ‘Hey, Andrew Luck is my quarterback, so we’re on our way.’ This sport’s not like that.”
Wedge, on the other hand, wasn’t in a mood to rue the growing pains of a young team attempting to compete in a top-heavy division.
“It’s the big leagues,” he stressed. “It’s supposed to be hard. It’s not supposed to be fair.”
How eager is Wedge to impart his gung-ho mood on the Mariners? This eager: He couldn’t even wait until the first day of spring training to light his fire.
A few weeks ago, the manager arranged a three-day meeting in Seattle with nine position players. Camp Wedge began at Safeco Field, where trainer Rick Griffin appraised the progress of the players’ offseason workout regimens, and concluded around the hot stove at Wedge’s house.
“To a man, I told them that I need more,” Wedge said. “We got together professionally, casually, and personally.”
Said Zduriencik: “It was Eric’s idea. I didn’t get invited to the house, but that’s OK. I wanted this to be between Eric and the players.”
Wedge’s optimism toward 2012 is steeped in the fact that first baseman Justin Smoak, looking to rebound from a star-crossed season that included an assortment of injuries and the death of his father, stepped on the scale at 220 pounds – 13 pounds lighter than he was in September.
“He’s cut down his body fat 4 percent,” said Griffin.
While the onus on Smoak was to lose some weight, center fielder Franklin Gutierrez needed to gain weight. Recurring stomach problems sapped Gutierrez of his strength, his stamina and – let’s be frank about this – his talent.
Gutierrez has added 15 pounds of muscle over the winter, and still got a lecture from the manager.
“You know what? You’re not allowed to do that anymore,” Wedge told Gutierrez. “You have to get back on the path. I don’t care about being sick or this or that. You need to get back on the path. Go home, do what you’re supposed to do, and come back and be the player you can be.”
For somebody facing serious medical issues last season, perhaps those harsh words were hard and unfair.
Then again, it’s the big leagues, and in the big leagues, Wedge has come to know, they’re supposed to be hard and not supposed to be fair.
The battle is uphill, but at least the manager has found his uphill-battle voice.
It sounds a lot like John Wayne’s.
