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Is second - or Seattle - Lopez's home?

Uncertain Future: Jose Lopez continues to improve at the plate, but where will unsteady glove leave him as Mariners continue to rebuild?

LARRY LARUE; The News Tribune | • Published September 29, 2009

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A man needs goals, and when Jose Lopez and the Seattle Mariners play the first of their final six games of the 2009 season tonight, both he and the team will still have the chance to reach a few.

The team wants a winning season, which means at least two more victories.

Lopez would love to finish with 100 RBI, which would require picking up eight more in those six games.

Those ambitions are hardly exclusive. On a team where runs are at a premium, only four Mariners have driven in as many as 50 runs this season – and one of those, Russell Branyan, has been on the disabled list since Aug. 28.

“The fair question to ask is where this team would be without Jose and his offensive production this season?” manager Don Wakamatsu said.

“We’re last in the American League in runs scored – about 225 behind the Angels in our own division and 270 behind the Yankees. Jose made adjustments this year, really shored up our hitting in the middle of the lineup.”

At 25, Lopez was coming off the best season of his career – he batted .297 with 41 doubles, 17 home runs and 89 RBI last year.

With those six games left in the 2009 season, Lopez is batting .272 with 39 doubles, 25 home runs and 92 RBI.

“Jose has a good approach at the plate,” batting coach Alan Cockrell said. “He can give you as good an at-bat as anyone we have.

“Can he hit for a higher average? Sure, but that’s not always in your control. Jose has a lot of hard-hit outs this season. What did he hit last year, .297? Some years hits drop for you. All you can control is your approach, not the results.”

Lopez has not had an easy time of it this season.

A second baseman who played most of the previous four years with one shortstop – Yunieskey Betancourt – Lopez has played with five in 2009. Lopez has formed a double-play tandem this season with Betancourt, Ronny Cedeno, Jack Wilson, Josh Wilson and Chris Woodward.

“That’s been hard, because it’s all about communication out there,” Lopez said. “You have to know where your shortstop likes the ball when he’s turning two, where he’s going to throw it when you’re at the bag.”

In June, Lopez left the team for six games to be with his family in Venezuela after the death of his sister. Still, he and Franklin Gutierrez lead the team in games played (147).

“I like to play …” Lopez said, shrugging. “I played 159 games last season, I’ll play 153 this year.

“I came into this season thinking 20 home runs, and the year isn’t over yet. Every season is different, you don’t know what you can or will do. Next year, I’ll probably start by thinking 30 home runs, 100 RBI.

“I want this to be a good year in my career, not my best year. I want better seasons,” Lopez said.

Lopez first came to the big leagues in 2004 – as a shortstop. A year later, he was Seattle’s starting second baseman. He’s played a little at third base, a bit more at first base.

If there’s an aspect of Lopez’s game that critics like least, it’s his defense.

At 6-foot, 210 pounds, Lopez doesn’t have great range. Though he has improved, he’s not always the smoothest in the pivot trying to turn two.

It has not escaped his attention that five other Mainers have played second base this season, or that three of those men – Matt Tuiasosopo, Bill Hall and Josh Wilson – are still with the team.

“If they came to me and asked about moving from second base, I’d say no,” Lopez said. “I don’t want to move. If it’s my choice at all, then no. Leave me at second base.”

Lopez grins. “I’d like to bat third again, too,” he said.

Among the offseason questions for the Mariners is how to get better, how to add talent to a team without a lot tradeable talent. Lopez is one player who would draw interest – and bring a return.

“If the 2010 season opened tomorrow, he’d be our second baseman – period,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “Could that change? Over the next few months, anything could change. We’re trying to get better. What you’d like to do is build around a solid core of players from your own system.

“I’m proud of what Jose has done his season.”

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com

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