Sports

POSTED: Saturday, Sep. 06, 2008

MLB: Mariners notebook

SEATTLE – Luis Valbuena figured he’d get the chance to pinch run this month when the Seattle Mariners called him up from Tacoma.

He called his parents and family at home in Venezuela and told them this was a cup of coffee appearance and not to expect much.

“They went crazy happy,” Valbuena said.

Last week in Texas, he started at second base – and made sure his family knew about it beforehand.

“They wanted to see me play,” he said.

And Saturday, in the small town of Zulia, they were going to gather again in the Valbuena house, because their 22-year-old pride and joy is starting at second base again.

No, they don’t have cable television, nor can they afford a satellite dish.

“They watch it on computer,” Valbuena said. “My parents, aunts and uncles – about 15 people, all sitting by the computer screaming for me.”

That is what September can mean in baseball, no matter what the win-loss record.

In the town of Zulia, there is a new hero. And in Seattle, a youngster is trying to prove himself.

Morrow’s day after

Brandon Morrow’s day after flirting with a no-hitter in his first big league start was about what he’d expected – a sore back and a tired right arm.

“Nothing that would keep me from making my next start,” he said happily. “And with the off day (Monday), I get an extra day, anyway.”

How disappointed was he about losing the no-hitter in the eighth inning?

“It was a very satisfying game, and of course I’d have liked to get it, but I was on fumes in the seventh and eighth innings,” he said. “I was taking a deep breath between every pitch, which probably wasn’t a bad thing. It kept me from hurrying.”

When the press had left the clubhouse, Morrow said he got around to checking his cell phone.

“I had 30 text messages,” he said. “A lot of people saw or heard the game.”

Notes Jarrod Washburn, on sitting on the bench with young pitchers called up in September: “The younger they get, the older I feel. In the last month, I’ve gotten a little more grizzled.” … When the game began, Ichiro Suzuki had 184 hits – eight behind American League leader Justin Pedroia. The surprise is the man who is third in the AL in hits: Raul Ibañez, with 167. … Manager Jim Riggleman after being asked about his “young” starting pitchers: “You look at Brandon Morrow and Ryan Rowland-Smith, and then you remember Felix (Hernandez) is younger than either of them. You start to see the pieces fit for next year and beyond.” … Adrian Beltre has raised his batting average from .246 to .264 in his past 10 games. … Jeff Clement can hit, but still can’t catch. He’s getting daily treatment for a tender left knee, and there are three other catchers on the roster.