Travis Blackley tells the story because he thinks it's funny.
But the punch line, and we do mean punch line, is that it helps explain why the Mariners think the 21-year-old Australian left-hander is the hottest pitching goods they have in a farm system loaded with arms.
A few years ago in a world junior tournament in Edmonton, the Australian national team lost a game. The Aussies began to gather down the third base line for a talk when the team from Cuba, playing the US in the next game, abruptly moved into the dugout.
"They starting nipping our stuff," Blackley said, referring in Aussie slang to stealing. "Our coach said, `Get out, we're not done yet.' The Cuban coach barked back at him. Pretty soon there were f-bombs everywhere, and our coach hit their coach."
Bat-swinging mayhem ensued. Since both teams were in the dugout, which was below field grade, there was little to be done but fight one's way out.
"I was right behind the coach, so it was, `Turn around and get the first guy you see,'" he said, smiling at the recollection. "I ended up with a bit of a black eye, but I didn't get hurt. We gave as good as we got."
Police broke up the fight. Several players were sent to the hospital. To better control the next day's game between the Cubans and Aussies, the tournament considered playing it at 6 a.m. without spectators.
Another moment of drama came that evening in the dorms housing the players. After getting high-fives and attaboys from US and Canadian players, Blackley, 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, went to the elevator.
"The doors opened and there stood five Cuban players, and some had bandages," he said. "I'll never forget it. I got on, turned my back and waited to get crushed.
"But they didn't do anything."
Same thing happens with hitters.
They don't do anything to him, either.
Blackley faced 15 batters in five spring innings. He allowed no hits or runs, one walk and struck out seven.
Crikeys, mate!
Upon sending him down to Class AAA Tacoma yesterday, Mariners manager Bob Melvin admitted to some guilt: "I wish he had a number in his ERA."
Whether mano-a-mano on the field or five-on-one in the elevator, Blackley is not to be messed with.
"His attitude is what stands out -- he doesn't think a guy can get a hit off him," Melvin said. "It won't be long before you see him in Safeco Field. I don't know how long he needs to be in Tacoma."
Echoed pitching coach Bryan Price: "We set our expectations high, and he's played above them."
The Texas League pitcher of the year last season at Class AA San Antonio, Blackley led the league in wins (17), was second in ERA (2.61) and fourth in strikeouts (144) and innings pitched (162).
If the Mariners weren't in the unusual position of having all five starters return from the past season, in which none missed so much as a turn, Blackley probably would be in the rotation. There had been talk of using him as the much-needed lefty in the bullpen, but the Mariners brought in a passel of veterans to fight for that spot.
"Everyone's been asking me about making it this time, but I don't see it," he said. "Not with this rotation. And that's fine. I'll still have fun."
A native of Melbourne, Blackley grew up in a country known for sports.
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