Story Photos
 Photo by Greg Ebersole Mariners slugger Bucky Jacobsen signs a bat for a fan during a Seattle Mariners Caravan stop at Lower Columbia College in Longview on Friday. |
Bucky Jacobsen's eager to step up for Mariners
Sunday, January 16, 2005 12:55 AM PST
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleHis family knows him as Larry William Jacobsen.
Seattle Mariners fans know him as Bucky.
Before his season-ending knee injury, designated hitter Bucky Jacobsen was one of the few bright spots in the Mariners' season that included 99 losses. In 42 games, the Hermiston, Ore., native hit .275 with nine home runs and 28 runs batted in as the team's heir-apparent to replace Edgar Martinez as designated hitter.
"I think I'll be the designated hitter and play some first base this season," said Jacobsen, who was in Longview Friday as part of the Seattle Mariners Winter Caravan promotion. "I don't see them moving me anywhere in the near future. I'm still rehabbing my knee and I hope to begin the season with the team, provided I have a good Spring Training."
Jacobsen works out 6-7 hours a day at Safeco Field and says his knee is "about 80 percent of last season."
"I could be a while before I get to 100 percent better," he said. "I'm 100 percent better than I felt last season prior to the surgery. I'm tired of the therapy, and the rehab people told me I'm ahead of schedule. It feels better than when I was playing on it last season."
Playing on the same team as Martinez, a future Hall of Famer, was a dream come true for the 29-year-old Jacobsen.
"When I was a kid I had an Edgar Martinez card in my baseball hat because he knew how to hit and not just for power," he said. "I was star-struck the first time I saw him in Spring Training. I didn't want to act like a star-struck rookie around him, but I also didn't want to appear cocky and over-confident."
Jacobsen remembered the first game he started as designated hitter in place of Martinez.
"He came up to me with some advice about the pitcher I was facing," Jacobsen said. "I was in awe of the fact he would share this information with me, and I remember looking at him and seeing his mouth moving but I couldn't hear the words."
Despite falling into his star-struck mode, Jacobsen does recall some kind words from Martinez.
"Edgar told me I had a great career ahead of me and it was time for him to step aside," he said. "Edgar is the consummate professional, and I would like to follow him by staying with one team for my entire career. I would like to have some good years so I can sign a good contract and live comfortable without having to move from team to team."
Story Field andCoach Cheff
It's hard to believe the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jacobsen was once a scrawny high school kid.
"I was 4-foot-11 and weighed 94 pounds when I was a freshman," he recalled. "I was never the best at any one sport in high school and I was never a starter on the high school baseball team."
After graduation from Hermiston High, Jacobsen walked on to play baseball at Blue Mountain College in Pendleton. In his second season with the Timberwolves, Jacobsen was selected to play in the Sophomore Showcase games that were held on David Story Field at Lower Columbia College.
"I think I was selected to play in the Sophomore Showcase because every team had to be represented," Jacobsen recalled. "I remember stepping onto the field and thinking I hadn't played on an artificial surface before."
Other memories stickout in his mind from the experience.
"I also remember throwing out two guys from the outfield, and that was 70 pounds ago. I unfortunately also remember striking out looking twice. The entire thing was a real stepping stone for me."
Jacobsen later played for two seasons under former LCC coach Ed Cheff at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho, where he helped the Warriors to an NAIA national title as a junior in 1996, and was named an NAIA All-American as a senior in 1997.
"During my junior year Coach Cheff made me realize I would be good but I had to figure out how to think and work on some things" he said. "I had to work harder and change my mindset on how I approach the game. His advice was invaluable."
During his senior year, Jacobsen led L-C State in home runs (22) and strikeouts (43), and was second in slugging percentage (.797) as the team Most Valuable Player.
"Playing for Coach Cheff was intense and he wasn't an easy guy to play for," Jacobsen said. "You gave 110 percent or he let you know that wouldn't cut it. At the time I didn't like it, but in hindsight I wouldn't be where I am at without Coach Cheff, no doubt about it."
Jacobsen was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, but he was released from the organization five years later. Jacobsen later played two minor league seasons with St. Louis before inking a minor league deal with Seattle in November 2003.
Jacobsen tore up the Mariners' minor league system and won the Class AAA mid-season Home Run Derby with 19 round-trippers in two rounds of competition. At Tacoma he hit .312 with 22 doubles, 26 home runs and 86 runs batted in before he was summoned to Seattle in July.
Roster moves
After suffering through its first 90-loss campaign since 1992, the Mariners front-office dipped into the Free Agent market during the winter and bolstered its offense by signing first baseman Richie Sexson, third sacker Adrian Beltre and shortstop Pokey Reese.
"I was concerned when the team said it was interested in acquiring Richie and Carlos Delgado," he said. "I wasn't going to be happy if they got both players, because one would play first base, the other would be a designated hitter and I wouldn't have a position. Since they quit pursuing Delgado, I can still DH and I'm working hard to get ready."
Jacobsen said he has heard rumors the team is pursuing another starting pitcher to complement current starters Jamie Moyer, Joel Pineiro, Ryan Franklin, Gil Meche and Bobby Madritsch.
"It would be nice if we get a good guy, but at the same time I don't think we need one," he said. "We have a good rotation. Last season should be flushed down the drain because it was a bad season for everyone.
Jacobsen said the Mariners' offense and defense was rarely on the same page.
"When the pitcher threw a good game we didn't score any runs," he said. "When we scored seven or eight runs they would give up eight or nine, and it was a matter of bad timing. All of them have a potential of winning 15 games and it's a matter of who will step up and have a career year."
Despite how he or his Mariner teammates perform when the regular-season begins in March, Jacobsen keeps his new-found fame in perspective.
"I remember where I came from and I think the fans understand that I'm just a kid from a small town in Eastern Oregon," he said. "I know as a fan I would cheer for a big, fat bald guy named Bucky."
Rick McCorkle is a sportswriter for The Daily News. He can be reached at 577-2529 or rickmc@tdn.com
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