Mariner Spring Training -- Darwin Comes Back, And It's Not A Dream

PEORIA, Ariz. - Most young players say that being in a major-league training camp is a dream come true.

But for Jeff Darwin, coming to his second Seattle camp literally felt that way for a while.

Darwin is the right-handed relief prospect who was traded to the Florida Marlins last June for third baseman Dave Magadan, a deal the Mariners came to regret. Magadan showed little power and run production, while Darwin had the potential to develop into the Mariner closer.

Then Nov. 7, the two clubs reversed the trade.

"I was pitching in Mexico and got a call at 7 a.m. from the Marlins saying I had been sent back to Seattle," said Darwin, a two-time Seattle draft pick and brother of Boston veteran Danny Darwin. "I went back to sleep.

"I woke up a couple of hours later and thought I had been dreaming. I called my agent (Alan Hendricks) and he hadn't heard anything. I figured it had been a dream."

But Hendricks called Woody Woodward, the Seattle general manager, who confirmed the reverse deal. Darwin was back, as he put it, "where it feels like home. In my years with the Mariners, I had dreamed of helping them win a division and now maybe I can again."

Darwin has picked up virtually where he left off, in the high regard of M's officials, although he had gone to Class AAA Vancouver, Florida's PCL farm team, and taken a body slam of an 8.51 earned-run average in 25 appearances. He should have stayed in Class AA after four previous years in Class A. Before he was traded away, Seattle had him at Jacksonville, where he had a 2.97 ERA and seven saves in 27 games.

"The Marlins had tried to get me make my fastball sink more," Darwin said. "I couldn't adjust to it. Plus, the league was a little fast for me."

He was as happy to get out of Mexico as he was out of Florida, although he was 3-1 with eight saves and a 2.13 ERA in Hermosillo. The Marlins had sent five players to that club, and four went down with injuries before Darwin's trade.

"I'm happy to be back on all accounts," he said. "What I'd like now is to make the club at some point and beat my brother in a game. We've talked about it. Someone's got to take bragging rights for the family."

Notes

-- Right-hander Brad Holman will miss seven to 10 days after laser surgery on his right eye yesterday. The reliever suffered a detached retina when hit in the head last August by a line drive by Texas' Mario Diaz.

The problem was discovered by Dr. Doug Nikaitani, optometrist for the Seattle club, during a routine eye exam. The surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Flindall of Phoenix and lasted just 30 minutes.

"My eyesight was not affected so I didn't even realize I had a problem," Holman said. "They explained to me that when your head snaps back at the impact, so do your eyes and the retina can be detached."

Holman may be able to ride a stationary bike soon. He cannot jog or perform any work that may jar his eye for a few days.

-- After missing five days of throwing with a sore shoulder, veteran reliever Ted Power is expected to resume workouts tomorrow.

So is right-hander Jeff Williams, who was hampered by back spasms.

Speaking of back spasms, staff ace Randy Johnson has not had any of his usual back problems this spring. "Randy was working out almost all winter," trainer Rick Griffin explained. "He usually starts Feb. 1 and is not completely in shape for all the work. This year was different and so are the results so far."

Manager Lou Piniella missed the workout to undergo root-canal surgery.

-- During bunt-defense drills, coach Lee Elia smacked a grounder through a vacated second-base spot. Rookie Anthony Manahan broke too soon to cover first. "He cheated a bit, which all players do," Elia explained. "You can't break too soon or a hitter might pull the bat back from a bunt and slap a ball through the hole. You've got to wait until the pitch is on the way and the batter commits."