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710 ESPN Seattle's Shannon Drayer

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First thing is first here. For some reason there were problems posting the Felix audio yesterday, so if you are interested, here is a conversation I had with him after yesterdays game.

One additional Felix note before moving on...I mentioned in my post yesterday that getting home for the birth of his son was the number one concern Felix had about going to the WBC. Well that worry should be out of his mind as his wife gave birth this morning to 6lb 10 oz Abraham Jeremy Hernandez.

 

 

 

As for today, I had a great conversation with Mariners Minor League player of the year Greg Halman. Halman who hails from the Netherlands, comes in at number 57 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list. He is one of four M's on the list, with the other three being Michael Saunders 65, Carlos Triunfel 89, and Phillippe Aumont in at 93.

Halman grew up in Holland and while other kids played soccer and tennis, he focused on his dream of becoming a Major League baseball player. As the son of an Aruban who had played baseball all of his life he was introduced to the game at a very early age.

"When I was born, on the bed with my mother, one of my dad's friends gave me a little bat and a glove and to this day I still have them." Halman said with a smile sitting outside the M's clubhouse.

 

 

Finding games was not a problem as he told me that baseball is much bigger there than we in America would think. He was named the top junior player in the Netherlands in 2004 and signed with the Mariners that same year at age 17.

He says the transition to living in the United States has not been a problem because this has been his dream for so long. Last year he had a breakout season combining to hit .272 with 29 homeruns, 83 rbi and 31 one stolen bases in high A and AA.

Halman says the success was due to a newfound maturity.

"I think I became a better person overall, not so much in baseball but handling myself on and off the field. Learning and listening to people and believing in myself and not being to hard on myself was the biggest thing."

The year earned him a trip to big league camp. If that wasn't dream come true enough, shortly after he arrived, his childhood hero Ken Griffey Jr. took up residence in the same clubhouse.

Jr. was holding court with the media that first day in the clubhouse as the team came in from drills. A steady stream of young players walked by. Some said hi, some gave a hand shake, some tried to act like it wasn't a big deal while still sneaking sideways glances at the future Hall of Famer as they passed by.

When Halman walked by, he could not hide his excitement. I could tell he was trying to hide it, but he still had a huge smile on his face and a bounce in his step as he approached Jr. to shake his hand. When he walked past, he turned around to take another look and smiled as he shook his head.

The icing on the cake came three days later. Jr invited Halman along with Callix Crabbe and Tracy Thorpe to dinner. Halman went into full fan mode at this point, calling home despite the fact that it was 4am there and insisting that Jr. talk to his dad and brother on the cell phone.

"You better be ready to talk to Ken Griffey anytime," he said with a smile.

"It was unbelievable, it had to be one of the best experiences, if not baseball, then my entire life," he continued.

"To see that man in person, he says that he is just a regular guy, but he is not. I want to make him understand that he is not. He made this game. When I was in little league I did everything that he did. He made playing baseball for me more fun. I hated being a right hander because of him. I am never going to forget this day. Never."

Jr. shared his experiences in and out of baseball with the young players. Is it possible he could share a baseball field with Halman someday soon? While humble, there is no doubt he has confidence in his abilities and should be the M's outfielder of the future. When asked how close he thought he was to the big leagues, he paused for a few beats then quietly and carefully explained.

"Talentwise, I know I am close. I know I can play in the big leagues. Mental wise, I am not as far as thinking, like yesterday, I see Endy Chavez, and I was like, "Damn, he is so smart tagging on the fly ball to center." The way that he plays, without even thinking. I know that talentwise, mentalwise I can compete with them anytime. It is just that they are a little further. I really want to be like Endy. I know that when I have that, I am ready."

In other words, he needs more game experience. In this camp he wants to show the organization that he is serious. His eyes are open and he says that he is here to learn.

"I know I am young, but this is what I always wanted to be. I want to be there (big leagues) when I am ready."

The future may not be to far off for Greg Halman.

News and notes...Mike Morse was scratched from today's lineup with flu like symptoms...Erik Bedard is scheduled to throw 35 pitches or one inning today...This weekend is the new ETA for visa hold up Wladimir Balentien...Adrian Beltre is in the lineup today but as the DH. It was expected that he would play third today but back stiffness will limit him. He still expects to make his decision on the WBC after tomorrow's game...Griffey in the lineup? Kind of. More like Jr on the lineup card. He was trying to get someone to take a bet that he was on the card. It did not appear that he was, but then he pointed out that at the bottom of the left hand bench list, in the tiniest, almost microscopic print was this. (KG, MS). "Ken Griffey and Mike Sweeney on the card!" Jr cackled...

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