Chone Figgins has become a force for the Seattle Mariners this spring, a thoroughly professional player who is disciplined, flexible and unafraid to share what he knows.
Signed to a lucrative free agent contract to replace Adrian Beltre at third, Figgins has made the move to second base – where he has far less experience – without complaint.
Each morning as camp slowly wakes, Figgins is in the batting cage at 7 a.m., working on a series of drills and practicing the art of not swinging at any pitch he can’t handle.
What’s that mean? Two years ago, Figgins spent the off-season reviewing every at-bat and paying special attention to the outs he made. What he discovered was 50-60 at-bats he felt he’d given away, swinging at pitches he didn’t handle well.
Now, he simply won’t do that. And, in a batting practice group that includes Ichiro, Ken Griffey Jr. and Milton Bradley, he will remind them ‘We don’t swing at that pitch’ if they chase a bad one.
Whatever else he does this spring, if Figgins is healthy come April, he’s going to be a factor in the lineup, on the bench and in the clubhouse. Hard to ask for more.
Sounds like the beginnings of a future hitting coach once he is done playing. Wak should pair him with the younger players…especially Lopez, to improve their on-base percentage.
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bubba – chone’s approach, and bradley’s, are drawing attention from a lot of hitters around the cages.
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Ha I wonder how the conversation goes when Ichiro swings at a ball that bounces before it hits the plate, Figgins tells him not to swing at it, and Ichiro responds that he just hit a triple
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