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Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

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March 1, 2008 8:10 AM

McLaren not so cheery

Posted by Jose Romero

For the first time since I arrived, I got to see a full clubhouse. All the players were in there seated awaiting a meeting that started at 9 a.m.

Apparently manager John McLaren wasn't happy about some of the things said about Erik Bedard in the media after his two-inning outing Friday. Here's the link to my story on it in today's Times.

Thanks for allowing me to plug my own article. Shameless, I know. Anyway, I asked McLaren a question about wanting to see his new pitchers throw all their pitches, as he saw with Bedard. Here's how he started his response:

"I just want...all these pitchers to get their feet wet. First time on the mound. It would look great in the box score if it's three scoreless innings. That's not the bottom line for us. The bottom line, No. 1, they're healthy. No. 2, they're out on the mound for the first time and they're still getting in shape. We're not looking for box scores, so to speak. We're looking at what we see on the mound. Are they improving each time out? How's their stuff? Building their arm up. And I think sometimes, the fans and even the media are looking for just three scoreless innings and this is why we got this guy, and I'm not looking for that. If it happens, it does, and that's fine. But there's some other things that we're looking for. As an example, yesterday I was very happy with Erik. Very happy. He had good stuff...."

...and then, McLaren's mood changed.

"Some of the questions you guys asked me yesterday, it actually p----- me off. And it's carrying over into today."

Next came a couple of more expletives as he described the expectation level and how he just wants Bedard to get in shape. Then the morning briefing was over.

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