Boone a Boon to Mariners

Bret Boone cautions about getting too excited, but it is hard to ignore the numbers.

He leads the American League with 78 runs batted in, nicely filling the void in the Seattle Mariner offense left by the departure of Alex Rodriguez. Entering play Friday, Boone had a .328 batting average to Rodriguez’s .319, and his 20 home runs were only two fewer than the former Mariner shortstop.

At that pace, MVP talk will certainly begin in Seattle at some point, if it hasn’t already.

Hard work has paid off. The off-season regimen Boone went through rivaled the one his father, former catcher and current Cincinnati Red Manager Bob Boone, subjected himself to during his playing career. Bret changed his diet and hired a personal trainer.

The former USC standout arrived at spring training 15 pounds heavier.

“He looked like Tarzan when he came into our camp this spring,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said.

Boone, a second baseman, signed a one-year, $3.2-million contract with the Mariners, who hoped he would provide some power numbers to offset the loss of Rodriguez. So far, he has done that.

“I knew this was an important year for me,” Boone said. “I’m a free agent again and I’ve reached my 30s. It was important that I have a big year.”

Boone, who played with San Diego, Atlanta and Cincinnati the last three seasons, has been productive in the past--in 1998 he had 24 home runs and 95 RBIs for the Reds. But he was doing it on talent alone, according to his father.

“Up until a couple years ago, Bret had taken his gift for granted,” Bob Boone said. “He has become a workaholic . . . and he got serious about his body.

“I tease him that I didn’t learn to hit until I was 38. Luckily, I played five more seasons. I was a slow learner. Bret is ahead of me.”

Pitcher Ismael Valdes was scheduled to come off the disabled list and start today, but suffered a setback and will be held out at least until Thursday.

Valdes, on the disabled list since June 15 because of a sore right shoulder, was scratched after throwing in the bullpen Tuesday. Ramon Ortiz, who was to start Sunday, will pitch today. Matt Wise will start Sunday.

“There is no reason to send Ismael out there at 80%,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He didn’t have a great bullpen [session]. The ball wasn’t coming out of his hand very well and he didn’t look comfortable.”

The Angels and first-round pick Casey Kotchman may be getting closer to a deal. Tom Kotchman, his father, talked with Donny Rowland, the Angels’ director of scouting, Friday.

Kotchman, a first baseman who was the 13th overall pick, will likely sign for about $1.9 million. The Padres’ Jake Gautreau, the 14th overall pick, signed for $1.9 million.

TODAY

ANGELS’ RAMON ORTIZ

(6-5, 4.04 ERA)

vs.

MARINERS’ DENNY STARK

(0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Edison Field, 12:15 p.m.

TV--None. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Update--The Angels activated pitcher Shigetoshi Hasegawa and sent pitcher Mark Lukasiewicz to triple-A Salt Lake City. Stark, who was recalled from triple-A Tacoma Thursday, replaces Paul Abbot.

* Tickets--(714) 663-9000