Credit: @RealKingFelix

This weekend, the Mariners are rocking College Navy and Action Green as the Seattle Seahawks battle the Atlanta Falcons for a berth in next week’s NFC Championship game. In case you were wondering, that’s Felix’s game face.

And now for some baseball news…

• The Baseball Writers’ Association of America failed to elect a single member of the 37-man ballot to the Hall of Fame this year. Edgar’s percentage of the vote jumped to 35.9% from 32.9% in 2011. While induction may be a few years away, he is still well above the cutoff mark (less than 5%) and eligible for entry again in 2014.
• Baseball Canada has reported that Michael Saunders will represent Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic. The official roster will be released on January 17. From the announcement:

“Of the 23 players, 8 were part of the World Baseball Classic in 2009 which includes Phillippe Aumont, Crain, Chris Leroux, Martin, Lawrie, Morneau, Pete Orr and Saunders.”

• Jack Zduriencik struck out for the second time this season when Justin Upton turned up his nose at a trade proposition from the Mariners last week (h/t MLB Trade Rumors). The proposed trade involved noted Seattle prospects Taijuan Walker and Nick Franklin, as well as relievers Stephen Pryor and Charlie Furbush. While the trade is not entirely impossible to pull off, should Upton change his mind in the face of less appealing offers, such a move is deemed highly improbable at this point.
• The Mariners announced 18 non-roster invitees to their spring training camp, scheduled to open on February 12. The list, via Greg Johns:
  • RHP Jonathan Arias
  • RHP Logan Bawcom
  • RHP Jeremy Bonderman
  • RHP Andrew Carraway
  • RHP Danny Farquhar
  • LHP Danny Hultzen
  • RHP D.J. Mitchell
  • LHP Brian Moran
  • RHP Jhonny Nunez
  • LHP James Paxton
  • RHP Carson Smith
  • RHP Taijuan Walker
  • C Jesus Sucre
  • C Mike Zunino
  • SS Nick Franklin
  • 1B Mike Jacobs
  • IF Brad Miller
  • IF Stefen Romero

The Winter Meetings officially kick off tomorrow, but talks among the GMs should start to percolate this evening. What’s in store for the Mariners?

• As reported by Geoff Baker, the Mariners tendered contracts to John Jaso, Brendan Ryan, Jason Vargas, and Shawn Kelley last night. They signed Josh Kinney to a one-year deal, and non-tendered newly-acquired Robert Andino, releasing him at 9pm and signing him to a one-year contract fifteen minutes later.
• Catcher Jesus Sucre and RHP Jonathan Arias have signed minor league contracts with spring training invites, according to Greg Johns.
• Jack Zduriencik has a concrete game plan heading into the Winter Meetings today, and it’s one that involves taking more risks and, as he put it, “not going to be gun shy because of what happened with Chone Figgins.” I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but it’ll depend on whether the Mariners decide to ink Josh Hamilton for 5/$100 or Mike Napoli for 3/$80.
• Kidding, of course. Johns has a comprehensive list of the Mariners’ needs here, which includes a catcher, first baseman, starting pitcher, corner infielder, and right-handed bat. In return, the team can offer a plethora of prospects, including the Big Four, Nick Franklin, and Mike Zunino.

Welcome back to Cactus League play. You’ve missed it, right? Meaningless games, a lineup full of unrecognizable faces, and easy wins. Hey, it’s not the worst thing in the world.

Kevin Millwood had a strong showing against the Padres, lasting 7 innings for 5 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 26 batters. Due to the lack of pitching opportunities in Japan, Millwood missed out on the trek to Tokyo, but is still slotted at No. 5 in the rotation. Relievers Carter Capps and Stephen Pryor also had solid outings, allowing only one baserunner and finishing with 2 strikeouts apiece.

Offensively, the Mariners scattered 6 runs over 12 hits, including two late-inning home runs from outfielder Daniel Carroll and catcher John Hicks. First baseman Rich Poythress also went 3-for-4 with 3 base hits and 1 RBI.

Finally, a bit of news we didn’t mention this week: Mike Carp was placed on the 15-day DL this Wednesday with a strained right shoulder. Eric Wedge insists that it’s “nothing major” right now, and the team is evaluating Carp on a day-to-day basis. Until he is recalled—which Greg Johns speculates could be as soon as April 13—Carlos Peguero will take his spot on the 25-man roster.

Next game: vs. Royals | April 1 | 1:05pm | 13 days until Opening Night

Game #2 will be won here. (Credit: Jay Cox/Flickr)

This is Seattle’s last split squad day. It is not their last day against split squad teams, but the last day they play two games at the same time. Unless there’s a B Game, in which case there will be two games on the same day, but not official split squad games.

Now that I’ve tried my best to confuse you, read these lineups:

Seattle: CF Figgins, 2B Rodriguez, RF Ichiro, LF Carp, DH Wells, 3B Seager, 1B Jaso, C Sucre, SS Noriega, RHP Iwakuma.

Oakland: CF Coco Crisp, 2B Eric Sogard, RF Josh Reddick, DH Manny Ramirez, 1B Brandon Allen, C Kurt Suzuki, LF Collin Cowgill, 3B Josh Donaldson, C Adam Rosales, RHP Graham Godfrey.

Seattle is also in the middle of their first split squad game against Milwaukee, with Felix Hernandez facing RHP Brad Peacock. Check out the Mariners’ official blog for updates.

 Loading ...

Mariners: 5, Giants: 7

The world-beating Mariners haven’t shown much vulnerability. They have scored runs upon runs and their pitching has done well enough to win a good majority of their ballgames so far. After this game, half of the Mariners’ losses have come at the hands of the San Francisco Giants, who are having as successful a Spring Training as the Mariners are. The Mariners just can’t topple the Giants – it’s a good thing they play in the A.L. West and only have to face the lowly Rangers and Angels.

This game started off in a very disappointing and frustrating fashion. Erasmo Ramirez, renowned strike-thrower of the Mariners, started off the game by… throwing a ball. Gregor Blanco lined the next pitch to Mike Wilson in right field, who added to the frustration by fumbling the ball and allowing Blanco to reach second. Ramirez proceeded to then strike Freddy Sanchez out and induce a Brandon Belt fly ball, but Casper Wells frustratingly took his time in getting the ball back in, allowing Blanco to tag up and advance to third. A Brett Pill double drove in the Giants’ first run.

Ramirez ended up going 4 innings, giving up 4 hits and only that one run. He struck out two and lived up to his reputation, throwing 34 strikes and only 16 balls.

» Continue reading “Mariners Postgame Recap: Kryptonite”

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).

 Loading ...

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.

Things I overheard on today’s broadcast: “If you win the Cactus League Championship, you get paper rings or something.”

This is big news. The Mariners have something to fight for now. Cactus League Championship, here we come!

As wins go, today’s was more exciting than most. It may have had you sitting on the edge of your seat, or relatively close to the edge of your seat. The Mariners and Brewers had a tie game going into the 9th inning, 2-2 thanks to RBIs from Michael Saunders and Justin Smoak, an RBI single from Alex Gonzalez, and Travis Ishikawa’s home run.

Hector Noesi pitched 3.0 innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and one earned run. The win, however, went to reliever Sean Henn, who kept a scoreless 8th with two walks and one strikeout.

So far in Spring Training, the Mariners haven’t made a habit of spreading out their runs. They take a run or two in early innings, and then let loose in the last third of the game. Today, they left us hanging until the 9th.

Mike Wilson, Justin Smoak, and Jesus Sucre loaded the bases for Carlos Peguero. With no outs and almost guaranteed runs just waiting for a hack down the foul line, Peguero swung his bat and… struck out swinging. Thankfully, Alex Liddi drove in the tie-breaking run with a line drive to center field, Michael Saunders hit a 2-run double (his second of the day), and Dustin Ackley followed with another RBI double to put the Mariners ahead 7-4.

Sure, a 5-run inning may sound a little excessive, but it was welcome insurance when George Kottaras whacked a 2-run homer off Josh Kinney in the bottom of the 9th. Don’t feel too bad for Milwaukee, though—it’s the top of the 9th and Oakland is only leading them by two runs. I’m sure they’ll bounce back.

Next game: vs Royals | March 14 | 7:05pm

HoHoKam Stadium currently houses the Chicago Cubs, but will accommodate the Athletics as soon as 2015. (Credit: Chuck Reynolds/Flickr)

Today, the Mariners play overlapping away games against the Rockies and Cubs. The B squad faced Colorado at Salt River Fields at 10am, while a different squad of Mariners will take on the Cubs in HoHoKam Stadium at 12:05pm.

The lineups:

Mariners @ Rockies (B Game)

Seattle: SS Miller, 1B Jaso, 3B Catricala, C Sucre, CF Robinson, DH Jimenez, RF Chavez, LF Chiang, 2B Romero, RHP Noesi.

Colorado: 2B Eric Young Jr., RF Brendan Harris, 3B Brandon Wood, 1B Chad Tracy, DH Ben Paulsen, LF Andrew Brown, SS DJ LeMahieu, CF Jamie Hoffman, C Lars Davis, RHP Rob Scahill.

Mariners @ Cubs

Seattle: 2B Ackley, CF Saunders, DH Montero, 1B Smoak, 3B Seager, C Olivo, RF Peguero, LF Wells, SS Kawasaki, RHP Kevin Millwood.

Chicago: RF David DeJesus, CF Marlon Byrd, SS Starlin Castro, 3B Ian Stewart, LF Alfonso Soriano, 1B Anthony Rizzo, 2B Jeff Baker, DH Reed Johnson, C Welington Castillo, RHP Chris Volstad.

This will be Ackley’s second time batting leadoff. He last headed the lineup on March 5 against the Padres, and went 3-for-3 with a single, double, and triple.

In non-game related news, catcher Adam Moore fractured his wrist during the Reds game this Tuesday. Greg Johns has the full injury report here, but it’s safe to say Moore will be in recovery for at least six weeks.

 Loading ...

You can catch the Cubs game on Gameday and MLB.com, although the 710 ESPN broadcast won’t be aired until this evening at 7pm. For B game coverage, make sure to check out the Mariners’ official blog.

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″