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If CF Austin Jackson can simply maintain his career averages, he represents a massive upgrade over anything the Mariners trotted out in the leadoff spot last season.
That includes Jackson himself, who struggled mightily after Seattle acquired him at the July 31 trade deadline as part of a three-team deal that sent INF Nick Franklin to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Over the final two months, Jackson batted .229 with a .267 on-base percentage in 54 games as Seattle’s leadoff man. He struck out 59 times and drew 12 walks. In manager Lloyd McClendon’s view, he was not the same hitter McClendon saw succeed when he helped tutor Jackson as Detroit’s hitting coach. His swing had holes.
After spending much of 2014 with the Tigers hitting sixth or seventh in the order, his approach was muddled.
Jackson, 28, has a career .274/.336/.402 slash line in five big-league seasons. That’s all McClendon wants out of the Denton, TX., native in 2015.
Last season, Mariners’ leadoff batters, including Jackson, combined to hit .244 with a .287 on-base percentage.
No one held down the spot.
Abraham Almonte, now a member of the San Diego Padres, couldn’t produce in 23 games as leadoff man (.214 batting average) after being awarded the job out of spring training. Eventual replacement James Jones got off to a hot start before fading (.200 batting average in 30 starts). Endy Chavez represented the only stability, batting .285 in 31 games, but at 37, he’ll have a difficult time breaking camp with the Mariners in 2015.
McClendon needs Jackson to return to his “old” ways.
“I told him I don’t need a career year out of Austin,” McClendon said. “I just need him to be the good player that he is. If Austin Jackson hits .270 to .275 with an on-base percentage of .340, then we’ll be OK. I don’t need him to be that guy that hits 25 homers in the leadoff spot. I just need him to get on base.”
McClendon felt that Jackson wore down last year as the Mariners pushed for the second AL wild card spot. The club asked him to add muscle over the off-season to his six-foot-one, 185-pound frame. It appears he has, based on initial reaction out of Peoria.
“He looks extremely fit and you can tell his upper body is a lot stronger,” McClendon said. “It’s our job to maintain that and make sure he doesn’t wear down.”
McClendon said he’ll rest Jackson more in 2015. Already, he’s pegged OF Justin Ruggiano as Jackson’s primary backup after the club traded minor league pitcher Matt Brazis to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Ruggiano in December. When he’s not backing up Jackson, Ruggiano is set to platoon in right field with Seth Smith.
“He played 157 games last season and that’s too many for a center fielder with his frame,” McClendon said in the Times story. “It just wears you down. We’ll do our best to knock that number down.”
Linkage:
- RHP Taijuan Walker will start the’ Cactus League opener Wednesday against the Padres in the clubs’ annual charity game. Walker is competing agianst LHP Roenis Elias and RHP Erasmo Ramirez for the No. 5 spot in Seattle’s rotation.
- The Mariners were supposed to play an intrasquad game Monday before it was rained out. McClendon indicated they probably won’t make it up.
1 Comment
As much as Nelson Cruz will be a key player this season I think a lot of the team success hinges on Jackson’s performance as well. After years of Ichiro, Joey Cora, Harold Reynolds and a smattering of Vince Coleman the M’s haven’t had a consistent presence at the leadoff spot. If Jackson can maintain a respectable OBP this team can go a long way. Hope Jones continues to progress as that his potential looks promising. If he continues I think eventually him and Jackson will make a great 1-2 punch at the top of the order with maybe Jackson sliding down to the #2 slot.