SEATTLE -- Hours before the umpire yelled "Play ball" on Saturday, manager Jack McKeon was sitting alone in some seats at Safeco Field, smoking a cigar and surveying a few of his pitchers throwing to each other on the outfield grass.
McKeon wasn't just killing time. He was studying, taking mental notes on which pitchers were putting in the extra work, doing the little things to make themselves better, and which were not.
"I watch these guys to see who runs and who doesn't run, so I got a little book on them, so I can have a little chat with some of them," McKeon said.
