One of the most prolific base stealers in Seattle Mariners’ history recently found himself in an unusual position: on the mound at Auburn High School.

That was Julio Cruz’s starting point as he instructed the Trojans’ baseball team April 14 on the finer points of the running game. Cruz, who stole a Mariners-record 290 bases from 1977-83 before Ichiro Suzuki (438) surpassed him, said that successful baserunning often is a byproduct of observation.

To show what he meant, he demonstrated how a right-hander might relax his shoulders and emit air before moving into his delivery.

“Once you see the lean, you must get going,” Cruz said.

Left-handed pitchers often are regarded as more difficult to steal on because they face the runner at first base before delivering their pitch. But Cruz said southpaws also make subtle gestures sometimes that runners can take advantage of.

Such might occur, Cruz said, when the pitcher nods in agreement with the catcher’s pitch selection.

“Most left-handers like to look at first base and go home,” he said. “You have a pretty good chance (to steal) on his very first move.”

But Cruz stressed the importance of being disciplined, too. In 10 seasons with the Mariners and Chicago White Sox, he stole 343 bases and was successful on 81.5 percent of his attempts. Some pitchers use a slide step, which is a delivery where the hurler barely lifts his front foot off the ground and then slides toward home plate. That lets the pitcher deliver the ball more quickly to the catcher’s mitt.

“You have to be disciplined enough to know he’s slide stepping,” Cruz said. “I’m not going to go.”

Cruz worked his way around the base paths for 52 minutes, detailing the nuances of the running game, ranging from how a third baseman can step in front of a player to block his view to the importance of observing a pitcher’s mannerisms as he warms up.

“Being a baserunner is all about knowing your surroundings, where the ball is and picking up on things early,” said Auburn senior outfielder Dillon O’Grady.

“It’s just nice to know that a big-league guy like himself is kind of taught the same ways. It’s kind of nice that the game is as simple as it is now.”

Auburn coach Justin Mentink said Frank Bartenetti, who has been friends with Cruz since he helped him re-sign with the White Sox after the 1983 season, coordinated the clinic. Mentink said his son played youth soccer with Bartenetti’s grandson, and the two developed a friendship. Bartenetti then offered to have Cruz run a clinic for Mentink’s team.

“I jumped at the chance,” Mentink said. “He was one of my favorites.”

While Mentink’s players did not get the chance to see Cruz play, as someone who stole at least 40 bases in six consecutive seasons, he still brought a high level of credibility.

“What a great experience for these kids,” he said. “It’s fun to hear all the little tips he has that a lot of kids when they play at this level don’t even think about. It was a lot about being involved and being aware. You tell it to them as coaches, but hearing it from a Mariner legend is a little different.”

Seattle ties

It was an opportunity that might not have existed without timing. The Mariners selected Cruz from the California Angels in the 1976 expansion draft. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native decided to make the area home when he finalized the purchase of his house in Redmond on June 15, 1983 – the same day he was traded to Chicago.

Cruz has maintained that residence ever since then. After his playing career ended in 1986, Cruz became a coach, leading the Texas Rangers’ Single-A team, Pulaski, to a first-place finish in 1997 and later guiding Eastside Catholic with former Mariners’ teammate Bill Caudill. He rejoined the Mariners’ organization in 2002, where he teams with Alex Rivera on the Spanish-language broadcast to call the team’s 81 home games.

Even though the Mariners have struggled – they had a 3-6 record when Cruz visited Auburn – he cautioned against making quick judgments.

Well, except when it comes to the manager.

Cruz said he likes what he has seen from Scott Servais, who is in his first year guiding the Mariners, and his staff, which includes former major-league manager Manny Acta.

“He runs a good program,” Cruz said of Servais. “He’s really organized. The guys are happy to have him as the manager, and he has a good staff. He has a lot of ex-major leaguers, which is a big plus for these kids to know that the instruction they’re getting is from a former major-leaguer.”

Cruz also makes a ritual of watching batting practice before each game at Safeco Field. While he acknowledges a partiality for middle infielders, he cannot help but be impressed with the slugger who shares his surname: Nelson Cruz, who finished second in the American League last season with 44 home runs.

“What a specimen,” said Cruz, who finished his career with 23 home runs. “I just love being around the guy.”

One prototype that Cruz – who quipped to Auburn players that his speed enabled him to “run out of the ghetto” in his hometown – does not often see is someone like himself. Last year, only three players stole more than 40 bases. At least 10 players accomplished that feat in every non-strike season of the 1980s.

“We ran all the time,” Cruz said. “Early in the count. Early in the game. Today you don’t see it as much.”

He thinks that might relate to television, where young players grow up watching games and being inundated by highlights.

“The long ball,” Cruz said. “You don’t get on ESPN when you steal a base; you get on ESPN when you hit one out.

“I’m glad I played in (my) era.”

Cruz, who said his base-stealing prowess was a byproduct more of speed than knowledge, was hopeful that his lesson resonated with the Trojans. He told the players that he had only planned to stay for 20 minutes until he saw how engaged they were.

“I just hoping that the instruction I gave these Auburn High School kids can help at least one kid,” he said. “If I got through to one player, I did my job.”