New Seattle Sluggers Started Slowly

After the Seattle Mariners broke form by spending $114 million last winter on free agents Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, fans expected a blast of instant offense.

Instead, they were treated to hitting as frigid as an April rainout. Both struggled early, with Beltre hitting .221 through May 4 and Sexson on the Mendoza line at .200 on April 22.

Sluggers go in cycles, though, and there’s no question both are coming around.

Through Thursday, Sexson ranked among the major league leaders with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs. Beltre, who led the majors with 48 homers last year for the Dodgers, had five homers and 24 RBIs.

Beltre signed a $64 million, five-year contract and Sexson got $50 million over four years. Both are trying to maintain perspective as they work in the shadow of those big contracts.

“It’s 162 games. No matter how bad you’re doing, how ugly things are going, you’re always trying to have some success,” Beltre said. “Every day, you think you’re going to start getting better.”

Added Sexson: “We want to please the fans. We want to play well for our team. Everybody wants to do that. When you’re struggling, it’s tough. You’ve got to be a man and realize those things happen.”

Beltre, a career .274 hitter, was at .239 after Wednesday’s games while Sexson, a career .271 hitter, was at .243.

A word of caution about those averages, though. In the big picture, batting average is largely a meaningless statistic for a slugger.

“I’m not at all concerned about batting average. Never have been,” Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said. “It’s all about how many runs they can create. That’s how you win games -- by putting numbers on the board, not with batting average.”

Before last winter, nobody ever accused Seattle’s front office of being too free-spending. The big-money signings were unprecedented, an effort to enliven a lineup that ranked last in the AL last season with 136 home runs and 698 runs.

So are the Mariners getting their money’s worth? At this stage of the season, it’s unfair to draw conclusions. It’s a difficult question, maybe impossible to answer.

“These were long-term deals. We’re not going to make any judgments on a short-term basis,” Bavasi said.

Bavasi pointed out that the players signed for what the market provided. Sure, it’s significantly more money than a meatpacker or short-order cook can earn, but that’s part of baseball.

“They’re trying to sign for as much as they can. We’re trying to sign them for as little as we can,” Bavasi said.

When these fellows have their game going, they look like they’re worth every penny.

Beltre and Sexson offered a tantalizing glimpse of their home run power when they pounded San Diego’s Brian Lawrence on consecutive pitches last week at Safeco Field.

Beltre hit an estimated 443-foot homer that bounced off the facing of the upper deck high above the left-field bullpens. Then Sexson drove a towering shot an estimated 440 feet to straightaway center.

“They’re both strong individuals. I’m not sure they can hit a ball any harder than they did,” Manager Mike Hargrove said after Seattle’s 5-3 victory.

Hargrove has said repeatedly since spring training that sluggers go through ups and downs, and Bavasi warned before the season there would be an adjustment period for each player.

Beltre switched leagues, which can be tough for anyone (reigning AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero excepted). Even more challenging, Beltre had spent his entire career with the Dodgers.

“Adrian is getting used to a new league and a new team,” Bavasi said. “You’ve got to remember he’s been part of the same organization since he was 15 or 16 years old.”

Beltre also has been stronger after the All-Star break over the years. Look at his .261 average with 60 homers and 220 RBIs in the first half, compared with his .284 average, 87 homers and 290 RBIs in the second half.

“It’s just a matter of time,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said. “We know how dangerous he is. I would be surprised if at the end of the season he didn’t have numbers close to what he had last year.”

Sexson, meanwhile, has skipped between leagues, playing in Cleveland, Milwaukee and Arizona before joining Seattle. His adjustment stems from missing most of last season with a shoulder injury.

“Last time I saw Sexson, he was with Cleveland,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “You could see he was a raw talent with great ability. Then he perfected it when he went with the other ballclubs.”