Home-run count against Erik Bedard blamed on dry Arizona air

Years ago, a sousy pal-o-mine would ALWAYS blatzbile after downing two quarts of Olde English 800, a bottle of Southern Comfort and a small bag of Wise potato chips. His constant reasoning?..."It must have been the taters.”

After allowing only 19 homers over 182 innings last season, the left-hander has given up seven long balls in 18 innings this spring. That would factor out to 70 homers over the same number of innings Bedard pitched last season.

“This has to be a record,” Bedard said after giving up two more blasts in an 8-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday afternoon.

It is indeed a record pace, and not only for Bedard. Bert Blyleven holds the major-league record with 50 homers allowed in 1986.

Something is clearly amiss with Seattle’s prized trade acquisition. Bedard insists he has no idea what’s going on, but Mariners manager John McLaren says the dry Arizona air is a prime suspect.

“I would think that would have a lot to do with it,” McLaren said.