Alumni News

Again from the Times

Putz earns AL Pitcher of Month

A somewhat startled J.J. Putz doesn't know quite what to make of all the accolades flowing his way.

One day after being named to the American League All-Star team, the Mariners closer was honored as the AL Pitcher of the Month for June.

It's only the second time in franchise history a Seattle relief pitcher has taken home the honor, joining Norm Charlton in 1995. Putz said the latest honor was "very humbling" but made him feel uneasy.

"We play a team game," Putz said. "It isn't really a one-person thing. I wouldn't really be having an opportunity if it wasn't for Brandon [Morrow] and George [Sherrill] and [Sean] Green and others out there getting their jobs done."

But Putz has put up the kind of numbers that exceed those posted by all other pitchers on the team's staff. He converted all 11 save opportunities in June, posted a 0.59 earned-run average for the month, struck out 19 batters and walked only three.

Later in the article there is this about the first Timber Rattler manager:

McLaren names Goff as bench coach

New manager John McLaren wasted no time ending speculation over his bench coach, tagging first-base coach Mike Goff for the job. There had been speculation McLaren might reach out to Lee Elia, Sam Perlozzo or other former Mariners coaches for the role.

But McLaren said he liked Goff.

"I'm real comfortable with Mike," McLaren said. "He's a friend of mine, he's done a great job for this organization, done a good job coaching here. I'm glad Mike agreed to be the bench coach."

If you head over to Geoff Baker's blog entry about this move there is more news about another ex-Rattler manager:

As we told you last night, Mike Goff is the new bench coach serving under manager John McLaren. That left Goff's first base job open and it's to be filled internally, we've just learned, with Gary Thurman, the organization's current outfield and baserunning co-ordinator. Thurman was a member of that 1995 playoff team in Seattle (only played 13 games) and also spent time with the Royals, Tigers and Mets during nine major league seasons.

He managed at Class A Inland Empire last season, his ninth as a coach within Seattle's system. Thurman was at Class AA San Antonio the previous year and knows many of the current Mariners.