PEORIA, Ariz. - The Seattle Mariners were one of the best defensive teams in baseball a year ago. There's no reason to expect anything different this season, even as the team works with catcher Kenji Johjima on his throwing.

Johjima has been bothered by a tender throwing elbow and Milwaukee took advantage on Sunday, twice successfully stealing on the Mariners' second-year catcher. Johjima also committed a throwing error during a rundown.

This season's defensive coach is John McLaren, who has returned to Seattle as manager Mike Hargrove's bench coach, after serving the same role under Lou Piniella with the Mariners from 1998-2002. One of McLaren's first tasks has been working with Johjima.

"We're working to make a few adjustments with Kenji," McLaren said Monday morning after batting practice. "Overall, he made an amazing adjustment coming over here last year, and he is very intelligent. He'll be fine, and I see him as an all-star in the future."

With Johjima's throwing, McLaren noticed a problem. In Japan, McLaren said Johjima threw from several different arm angles. Now, McLaren wants Johjima to throw strictly over-the-top, but the tender elbow, has prevented Johjima from cutting loose.

Overall, McLaren said the Mariners' defense is stellar. Last season, Seattle finished fourth in American League fielding, behind Boston, Minnesota and Oakland.

The defense could be even a better friend to Seattle's revamped pitching staff.

"We're solid at second (with Jose Lopez), short (with Yuniesky Betancourt), third (with Adrian Beltre), and (Richie) Sexson at first has a large wing span to help over there," McLaren said. "(Raul) Ibanez played a few positions before settling in left, and (Jose) Guillen has demonstrated a strong arm in right. This is a very strong team with the glove"

McLaren believes Ichiro Suzuki is the anchor of the defense, and his move to center field for the entire season will only help. McLaren noted Suzuki has a penchant for not only hitting cutoff men accurately, but throwing people out. He had nine outfield assists last season and has 59 through his first six major league seasons.

ON THE ROAD: Starting Tuesday, the Mariners will be in Tucson for three days. Pitchers will commute each day, but several everyday players will get breaks. Hargrove said Suzuki will play only on Tuesday, while Beltre and Sexson, among others, will play only Wednesday and Thursday.

The Mariners play the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, the Rockies on Wednesday and close-out the swing against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

SPLIT SQUADS: Before playing the Cubs and Diamondbacks Monday with split squads, Hargrove said he is not in favor of the arrangement. The Mariners have one more split-squad situation on March 29. Half of the team will play San Diego in Peoria, while the remainder will be in San Francisco to face the Giants, having already left camp.

"You have to divide your team so fans can see veterans, but these games tend to get ugly too early," Hargrove said.