Credit: Dave Nakayama/Flickr

On Saturday, seven more roster cuts were made. Pitchers Aaron Heilman, Matt Fox, Jeff Marquez, Josh Kinney, Oliver Perez, Sean Henn, and outfielder Trayvon Robinson were reassigned to the minor league camp. Seattle will option ten more players within the week as they prepare to head out to Tokyo on Thursday.

Today’s lineups:

Seattle: SS Figgins, 2B Kawasaki, DH Ichiro, 1B Carp, CF Wells, 3B Seager, LF Peguero, RF Wilson, C Jaso, RHP Noesi.

Colorado: CF Eric Young, RF Charlie Blackmon, C Jordan Pacheco, LF Tim Wheeler, DH Chris Nelson, 1B Tyler Colvin, 3B Nolan Arenado, SS Brendan Harris, 2B DJ LeMahieu, RHP Tyler Chatwood.

Greg Johns reports that Brendan Ryan and Jesus Montero will be out of today’s lineup. Montero has been under the weather, and Ryan is “feeling some tightness in his quadricep.” Both should be ready to roll in a couple of days.

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Today’s game will be televised on ROOT Sports, broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle, and available on Gameday.

I could get used to a view like this. (Credit: michaeljzealot/Flickr)

I take it all back.

Everything I said about loving Mariners-Giants games, relishing the opportunity to see my favorite team and my hometown team face each other is a lie. What’s the fun in watching a game when you can’t fully despise (if only for nine innings) the other team?

Even while listening to a handful of innings during Sunday’s Mariners-Giants game, I felt like one of those sports moms whose motto in life is “Everybody wins!” That’s a terrible motto.

Before this tangent turns into a rant, today’s lineups:

Seattle: 2B Seager, CF Wells, 1B Carp, 3B Catricala, LF Peguero, C Olivo, RF Wilson, DH Sucre, SS Rodriguez, RHP Ramirez.

San Francisco: LHP Barry Zito will take the mound tonight. For lineup updates, follow the Giants on Twitter (@SFGiants).

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Tonight’s game begins at 7:05pm and will be aired on Root Sports. Coincidentally, I have a non-baseball loving friend coming into town, so I will conveniently miss this game and all the torture that accompanies it.

Yes, today was a charity game. Of all the meaningless Spring Training games, it means the least. It means that we can discredit whatever mistakes the Mariners make… except they managed a terrific, nail-biting victory over the Padres, going 5-4 on the backs of Kyle Seager, Jason Vargas, and Johermyn Chavez.

So, never mind. This was a great game.

Vargas tossed four perfect innings, throwing 35 strikes in 50 pitches, and facing 12 batters for only one strikeout. Brandon League and Charlie Furbush followed in the 5th and 6th innings, allowing the first two hits for San Diego, but no runs.

Kyle Seager was the driving force of the Mariners’ offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run (off starter Anthony Bass) and two RBI singles to score Chone Figgins and Munenori Kawasaki. Montero also picked up an RBI double, driving Seager in for the fourth run. However, it was Chavez who had the most impressive hit of the day, lashing a walkoff double to score Mike Wilson and nab the win for Seattle.

Mistakes we’ll probably overlook for charity: Three throwing errors by infielders Nick Franklin and Vinnie Catricala, allowing DH Kyle Blanks and 3B Jedd Gyorko to reach first. Figgins has yet to heat up in the leadoff spot, drawing one walk in the previous two games and six at bats. Jarret Grube served up four runs to the Padres in the 9th, but we have to credit Franklin for a dropped infield pop up that scored pinch-runner Cory Spangenburg.

Tomorrow, the Padres and Mariners will switch dugouts, and the M’s will play the visiting team in a non-charity game.

Next game: @ Padres | March 5 | 12:05pm

Credit: Mark Sobba/Flickr

Spring Training is less than a week away now! Quick quiz: how many players can you name on the Mariners roster? Less than 25? Over 40?

#6: Familiarize yourself with all 66 Spring Training invitees. I know it’s a daunting task, but you want to be the most well-informed fan in Peoria, right? Learn these names and faces now, because you never know who you’ll see mid-July or September…

Here’s the full list of players invited to play this spring, along with their stats (on the left) and Twitter handles (on the right). Have fun! » Continue reading “Countdown To Spring Training: Day 6″

Consider this your midterm grade, Mariners. Spring Training is less than two months away, but with big names like Prince Fielder still on the market, the offseason is far from over. So, pull up a chair and let’s have a chat about your progress so far.

John Jaso: B+

Technically, this is the only trade you’ve made all season. The others have just been acquisitions. Jaso, a left-handed catcher from Tampa Bay, was exchanged for Josh Lueke. He’s maintained a .992 FP over the past two seasons, which almost makes up for his .224 average. If his numbers hold up, he’ll be a slight improvement over Adam Moore, Chris Gimenez, and Miguel Olivo.

Hisashi Iwakuma: A

I really, really want to believe in Hisashi’s 2.42 ERA and .462 winning percentage. I want to believe that these numbers he racked up in the Japan Pacific League will translate perfectly to Mariner baseball. So, until he proves me otherwise, he has an A in my book.

George Sherrill: A

This may be the best thing you’ve done all offseason, Mariners. Not only does Sherrill fit the bill for lefty reliever, but his stats (major league ones!) show that he’s pretty good. I’ll take the .750 winning percentage, the 1.25 WHIP, and the 12 earned runs in 36.0 IP.

Darren Ford: A

Okay, I can admit to a little bias on this one. After watching him in San Francisco, Ford’s superhuman speed lends him credit, although his major league numbers leave a lot to be desired. However, he’s accepted a minor league deal and an invitation to Spring Training, so things can only go up from here. » Continue reading “Trade Talk Tuesday: Offseason Report Card”

Well, not you specifically, unless you want to pick up a Spring Training travel package. The Mariners have issued their first non-roster invites, giving eleven minor league players the chance to compete for a major league role.

The guest list:

Darren Ford, OF

Luis Rodriguez, IF

Guillermo Quiroz, C

Matt Fox, RHP

Jarrett Grube, RHP

Josh Kinney, RHP

Jeff Marquez, RHP

Scott Patterson, RHP

Steve Garrison, LHP

Sean Henn, LHP

Philippe Valiquette, LHP

There may be a twelfth member added to that list soon, according to MLB Trade Rumors:

“Japanese shortstop Munenori Kawasaki is in Seattle and may sign a minor league deal with the Mariners in the relatively near future [...] The deal may not be finalized until after the holidays, but he will sign with Seattle.”

I guess the aggressive tactics Kawasaki displayed a few weeks ago paid off. Not only will he get to play with his major league mentor, Ichiro, but he’ll bring a .316/.368/.397 bat, too.

Which invitee are you most excited to see this spring?