SEATTLE - Seattle manager Eric Wedge says he's leaning
toward moving Ichiro Suzuki out of the leadoff spot as a way to
improve the Mariners' anemic offense.
During the Mariners' pre-spring training luncheon on Thursday,
Wedge said he's not completely set on moving Suzuki from the spot
he's held since he arrived from Japan in 2001. Wedge said he's
considered the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the Mariners batting order
for Suzuki, while thinking about Dustin Ackley, Chone Figgins and
Franklin Gutierrez as options for the leadoff role.
Suzuki is coming off the worst season of his career and is
entering the final year of his contract with the Mariners. Suzuki
hit .272 and failed to reach 200 hits for the first time in his
career last season.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
