The off-season for Major League Baseball players is a time to recover physically from the anguish of a 162game season.
For Victoria's Michael Saunders it was, more importantly, a time to heal after losing his mother Jane to breast cancer in August, after a 13-year battle with the disease.
"Obviously, it was extremely tough," the 25-year-old said over the phone from Arizona on Thursday before the Mariners headed to Oakland for their game against the A's today. "It obviously wasn't easy being away while she was going through it. Luckily, the Mariners were extremely understanding and they allowed me to take a couple of leaves of absence to be with her before it happened."
The 2011 MLB campaign was hard on the former Victoria Mariner, who played through a difficult period for him and his entire family.
"I did my best, but I really wasn't at the field, even though I was there. My mind was elsewhere. It's hard to explain," he said. "I did get to spend time with her and I did my best when I was at the [ball] yard."
But he readily admits he wasn't 100 per cent into the game, mentally. How could he be?
"My mind would wander elsewhere and it certainly wasn't easy, but I did my best to put a smile on and go out and try to give it 100 per cent," said Saunders, who hit just .149 in 58 games with Seattle. "On the field, I struggled and seemed to dig myself in a hole, deeper and deeper."
So, this off-season was a time to heal for the sixfootfour, 220-pound centrefielder who is starting for the Mariners, with 2010 Gold Glover Franklin Gutierrez out with a partial tear of his pectoral muscle.
"It finally felt like I officially got to grieve or go through the grieving process properly this off-season to get away from baseball," said Saunders. "I came into spring training with a clear conscience and a clear mind.
"Having my mom finally pass, it felt like she was at peace and finally free. She was no longer suffering and that was helping me grieve as well. I needed to get away from baseball to go through that process properly."
Saunders took his spot in centre field as the Mariners opened the regular season with a split of two games in Tokyo against the A's last week. They then returned to Cactus League play in Arizona and resume the regular season today in Oakland.
The Seattle home-opener is slated for April 13, and his father Derek will be there at Safeco Field.
"I know he's really excited about it and I'm excited to see him as well," said Saunders. "My dad is doing a lot better and my family is doing a lot better and that makes it easier on me because not being there is certainly tough.
"But this is what I do, this is my job. Knowing that my dad is doing well and my sister [Johanna] is doing well makes things a lot easier on me."
On the field, Saunders went to work on his hitting this off-season, having moved to Colorado with his wife Jessica, and hired Mike Bard as his private batting instructor. It paid off as he hit .356 in spring training and opened the year with a single on his first plate appearance.
"Mechanically, my swing, as well as my mental approach to the game, has improved. Albeit it's early and limited, but nonetheless the success is really encouraging," he said. "I needed to figure out what I needed to do and what changes I need to make to be successful and consistent in the big leagues, so that's what we were working on."
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