THE Buzz

Tim Crothers

June 15, 1998

Did the Mariners know something that nobody else in baseball did when they used their first-round pick—the 22nd selection—in last week's draft to take lefthander Matthew Thornton, or were they just trying to save a few bucks? A junior at Division II Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich., Thornton was on a basketball scholarship and didn't play baseball for the Lakers until last year. "I'm a no-name player who came from a no-name high school to a no-name college," a shocked Thornton told the Seattle media. He is, however, a 6'6" reliever who had 33 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA in 20? innings this season, and the relief-challenged Mariners can certainly use help in that area.