JIM MOORE

Mariners’ Marco Gonzales saw some strange things in Boston

Jul 9, 2018, 10:31 AM | Updated: 10:43 am

Almost a year to the date later, the Mariners' trade for Marco Gonzales has worked out well. (AP)...

Almost a year to the date later, the Mariners' trade for Marco Gonzales has worked out well. (AP)

(AP)

Marco Gonzales joined us at Edgar’s Cantina last Friday on “Danny, Dave and Moore” before the Mariners started their three-game series against the Rockies.

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I wasn’t that fired up about Gonzales last year and early this season, thinking that GM Jerry Dipoto got the short end of the deal that sent top position prospect Tyler O’Neill to the Cardinals. The list of things I’ve been wrong about just got longer – Gonzales has turned into a solid starter while O’Neill has just a .227 average and three home runs as a part-time player in St. Louis. Certainly O’Neill will improve, but the thing is, Gonzales probably will too, perhaps to the point of even pushing James Paxton as the ace of the staff.

He’s a great interview, too, candid with his comments, even taking the opportunity to accuse the Red Sox of cheating during his start at Fenway Park two week sago. It surprised me. I thought he’d dial down his charges against the Red Sox after having some time to think about it and get farther away from the heat of the moment.

But Gonzales saw some strange things in Boston. He wondered how Wade LeBlanc could be so effective against the Red Sox in Seattle and have those same hitters knock him around a week later in Boston. Gonzales wondered how he could strike out the side in the fourth inning and have the Red Sox take swings in the fifth like he hadn’t seen before on video.

“We’ve been pretty positive they’re using some things to get an advantage,” Gonzales said. “There’s some thought they might be stealing signs. You see it from the dugout, from the first-base coaches. We’re hoping it’s just from the catcher relaying signs and hoping it’s not using video.

“When you feel like it’s not an even playing field… it’s a tough feeling when you feel like something is being taken away from you.”

Gonzales said the signs from Mike Zunino were changed multiple times, “but they were still on us.”

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Other Marco thoughts from the interview:

• On a possible innings limit after Dipoto mentioned as much in an interview last week: “I’m going to focus on competing. It’s negative to think about a limit (while) having a counting-down thought in your head. I want to pitch the whole year.”

• On whether he thinks a batter should be out on a third strike even if the catcher drops the ball, Gonzales agrees with Dave Wyman that that rule is stupid.

• On whether coaches in other sports should wear uniforms like managers in baseball: “Yes! You need to see a commitment from the sidelines.”

• Gonzales said he’s in awe of Ichiro. “He’s such a special routine-oriented, committed, devoted person. He’s a huge factor in helping us rally together as a team.”

• On being a pitcher who can hit, Gonzales hopes he gets up when there are two outs or no one on base so he can swing instead of bunt. He’s disappointed he won’t get a start in Colorado this weekend.

• On living in Spokane while attending Gonzaga: “Spokane is pretty great. Living there and getting the sense of the community, Spokane is a special place for sure.”

Download the full interview with Gonzales here.

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Mariners’ Marco Gonzales saw some strange things in Boston