LOCAL WATCH: NO DOUBTS IN THE FIELD CIRILLO IN A SLUMP BUT SOLID AT THIRD.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Jeff Cirillo spent the first week of the season answering questions about little more than his hitting. His coaches and teammates got plenty of questions about it, too. Cirillo's early offensive slump is a hot topic surrounding the Seattle Mariners, but his fielding is what could put him in the record books.

Cirillo entered this weekend's series at Texas five games shy of matching the major-league record for most consecutive games at third base without an error (99). He's also just a few chances away from the 25-year-old record for most consecutive errorless chances by a third baseman (261). The records aren't flashy, but then again neither is Cirillo, a product of USC and Providence High in Burbank. The attention surrounding his slow start at the plate is an indication of how much his hitting is valued, but Cirillo's defense exemplifies his no- nonsense approach to the game and his devotion to helping the team any way he can, even if it doesn't put him in the spotlight.

``Hitting's a big part of the game,'' said Cirillo, who hit better than .300 the past four seasons and entered the season with a .311 career batting average. ``But you do need more than that to win.''

He led all major-league third basemen in fielding percentage last season with the Colorado Rockies when he also set the National League records for most consecutive errorless games (85) and chances (228) by a third baseman.

``I do take a lot of pride in that,'' Cirillo said.

The two-time All-Star makes it hard to tell that he didn't start playing third base until his senior year at USC. The Trojans had valued him most for his pitching.

``He went into pro ball as a relatively inexperienced third baseman,'' USC coach Mike Gillespie said. ``But he did not go in there as a project. Off the mound (defensively) he was a superstar in terms of getting (the ball) to third base on bunts. He was a Golden Glove defender on the mound. He was gifted defensively.''

Being a well-rounded athlete used to adapting quickly is part of what bothers Cirillo about his recent hitting woes. He envisioned the ideal season when a December trade sent him from the rebuilding Colorado Rockies to Seattle, the team with the most victories in baseball last season, and close to his family's home. Instead, he finished the first week of the season batting .143 with no extra-base hits and having stranded 10 runners in scoring position.

``I've been in a lot of situations where I've had a chance to drive in runs and I haven't,'' Cirillo said. ``That's the frustrating part about it.

``I've just got to stay positive and trust myself. I need to back off a little bit. I'm a little more anxious trying to get a hit. I've been a little antsy at the plate; you can't do that.''

The Mariners aren't expressing concern.

``He's hit his whole career, so I don't think there's any reason to think he shouldn't this year,'' Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. ``It's just a matter of time.''

CIRILLO FILE

Name: Jeff Cirillo

Team: Seattle Mariners

Position: Third base

Age: 32

Local tie: USC/Providence High of Burbank

Career highlights: Led all major-league third basemen with a .982 (386/393) fielding percentage in 2001, a season in which he also set the National League single-season records for consecutive errorless games at third base (85) and most consecutive chances without an error (228). ... Hit a career-high 17 home runs in 2001, including Major League Baseball's 200,000th home run since 1900 on April 4. ... Had 53 doubles in 2000 with Colorado to become the first player to hit at least 45 doubles in a season in both leagues. ... Had career-high 115 RBI in 2000. ... Was an All-Star in 1997 and 2000.

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Photo:

Seattle Mariners infielder and USC product Jeff Cirillo is closing in on two major-league records for errorless play at third base.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

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CIRILLO FILE (see text)