Your 2013 Cactus League Mariners currently lead the league with a 10-1 record, 24 home runs, and a 10-game winning streak. While winning spring ball games may be meaningless in the grand scheme of things, it sure feels a lot better than losing them.

A model student, Zunino absorbs all aspects of game — Tracy Ringolsby looks at the curiosity that propelled Mike Zunino’s career, from tee ball to the minor leagues, and the unique, challenging relationship he shares with his father and pro scout, Greg Zunino.

Cactus League Game 9, Dodgers at Mariners — Don’t be fooled by the title. This is really a story of the heartfelt legacy future sabermetricians will be able to hand down to their grandchildren one day.

Great numbers in spring don’t always translate (but sometimes they do) — Larry Stone examines the patterns of Cactus League performances over the past decade or so. Some, like Ichiro and Edgar, could carry their hot starts in Arizona to the considerably chillier Northwest terrain. Others, usually those who weren’t great to begin with, couldn’t.

Your Not Obligatory Mariners Spring Training Reminder — Jeff Sullivan is back to pull us down to earth again. Despite his optimistic, half-mocking game recap titles like “Mariners Beat Crap Out Of Idiot Rangers” and “Knock Knock. Who’s There? A Mariners Victory,” Jeff reminds us that this club is still mired in spring training baseball. This is the fun of spring training baseball. You just can’t get too carried away and expect 24 home runs in a week and a half to translate to a stunning regular season run.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

In just three hours, the Mariners will kick off their exclusive single-game ticket presale for the 2013 season. If you signed up for Mariners Mail, you’ll be able to purchase tickets for the next two days before they’re released to the general public on March 16.

Whether you’re looking to purchase tickets this week or willing to wait for some StubHub steals, here’s your guide to the hottest series and promotions of the upcoming season.

Opening Day: vs. Astros | April 8 | 7:05pm

Interleague series:
vs. Padres | May 27-28
vs. Pirates | June 25-26
vs. Cubs | June 28-30
vs. Brewers | August 9-11

Special promotions and events:
Beard Hat Night (and yes, this is as awesome as it sounds) | vs. Angels | April 26
Tom Wilhelmsen Train Engine Nights | vs. A’s | May 11
Felix Hernandez “Perfect Game” Bobblehead Night | vs. Rangers | May 25
Fireworks Night | vs. Cubs | June 28
Dustin Ackley Gnome Night | vs. Angels | June 13
Fireworks Night | vs. Brewers | August 9
Ken Griffey Jr. “Mariners Hall of Fame” Bobblehead Night | vs. Brewers | August 10
Oktoberfest | vs. Royals | September 24
Fan Appreciation Night | vs. A’s | September 27

Dynamic pricing is back for the 2013 Mariners season, with some games offering prices as low as $5 per seat. Opening Day ticket prices start at $15. For a full list of ticket prices and available seating, check out Mariners.com.

A parting look at John Jaso, via his Twitter account (@johnjaso27). We’ll miss him, but that beard had to go.

Should you need a bit of a breather from Wednesday’s trade news, here are some offseason events to shift your focus to the exciting additions the Mariners have coming their way.

• Yesterday, Ryan Divish broke the news that Boston’s Triple-A broadcaster Aaron Goldsmith will be joining Rick Rizzs in the broadcast booth this season, eliminating the rotating panel of broadcasters that temporarily filled Dave Niehaus’ spot. Goldsmith is 28 years old, with six years of experience scattered across the Cape Cod Baseball League, Frontier League, and minor league systems of the Red Sox and Rangers.
• Baseball America’s Ben Badler reports that the Mariners have signed Dominican prospect Luis Liberato to a $140,000 contract. Liberato, a 17-year-old outfielder, is currently projected as a power-hitting center fielder. From the scouting report:

“Liberato is 6-foot-1, 175 pounds and has flashed a mature approach to hitting from the left side with gap power and advanced baseball instincts for his age. Like many young Dominican amateur hitters, he’ll try to sell out for power at times, but when he’s at his best he’s shown a solid swing.”

• Per the Mariners’ official blog, Erasmo Ramirez was invited to speak at a FESA banquet in San Salvador this offseason. FESA is a leadership organization that provides education and baseball training for Nicaraguan youth. During his visit, Erasmo described his journey to the majors, from FESA’s helping hand to his first year with Seattle.

In seven hours, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America is scheduled to announce the 2013 inductee(s) to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

For those of you who haven’t jumped on the #EdgarHOF wagon this year, check out MLB columnist Doug Miller’s piece on Edgar Martinez for a few insights from the former Mariner. You can watch today’s results live on MLB.com and MLB Network at 2pm EST.

Jim Callis of Baseball America ranks Mariners’ farm system No. 2 in majors — Larry Stone reveals Jim Callis’s top ten minor league systems in MLB. Of the ten, the Mariners rank first of six AL teams, while their AL West buddies rank fourth and tenth (Rangers and Astros, respectively).

Mike Zunino: Reasonable expectations for Mariners top prospect in 2013 — Speaking of Seattle’s MiLB studs, Mike Zunino’s breakout success in Single-A and Double-A levels comes with a warning to temper any big-league expectations. Jonathan Irwin weighs the young backstop’s potential against the necessary adjustments he’ll have to make in the near future.

Michael Bourn, Chopped Liver? — Last month, MLB Trade Rumors targeted the Mariners as a possible landing spot for the newly-minted free agent outfielder. FanGraphs’ Eno Sarris examines the current market for players of Bourn’s skill set and salary bracket, concluding that a lower-priced deal may be struck out of necessity. It is worth noting that no formal talks between Jack Zduriencik and Bourn’s agent Scott Boras have progressed past the Winter Meetings.

Dustin Ackley Emotional Range — Tired of prospect talk? Weary of unresolved trade rumors? Jeff Sullivan is here to brighten the offseason with a lovely spectrum of Dustin Ackley’s game day reactions, from “interested” to “thoughtful.”

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

With a quiet Hot Stove and another year almost in the books, here’s a look back at some of the more special moments from the Mariners’ 2012 season.

1. Felix Hernandez’s perfect game.
27 up, 27 down. 113 pitches. 12 strikeouts. An RBI single by Jesus Montero. A perfect summer afternoon.

Felix’s perfecto didn’t erase the Mariners’ 87 losses, but his moment in the sun will be one of the single moments remembered from their 2012 season.

2. A combined no-hitter featuring Kevin Millwood, Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League, Tom Wilhelmsen and rookie catcher Jesus Montero.
Backed by sharp defense from Brendan Ryan and Kyle Seager, the Mariners snagged another gem that, incredibly enough, managed to be overshadowed by the first perfect game in franchise history.

It’s even stranger to think that the first Mariner to throw a solo no-hitter this year might’ve been Kevin Millwood, who was excused in the 6th inning with an untimely groin strain.

» Continue reading “Top 5 Mariners Moments In 2012″

As 2012 winds down, here’s a look at the Mariners’ recent holiday gifts to the Seattle fanbase—and a few presents you may have neglected to leave under the tree for your Mariner-loving family and friends.

Awful Gifts For Mariners Fans You Hate — The only thing worse than giving someone a bad present is giving them a bad present one day too late.

Radio comments by Josh Hamilton on whether Mariners made strong play for him: ‘No, not really’ — Continuing the spirit of bad taste in gift giving, here’s another one the Mariners missed out on giving the fans this year: Josh Hamilton. Geoff Baker breaks down Hamilton’s recent interview on The Dan Patrick Show, shedding more light on the talks between the Rangers and Mariners this offseason.

Anatomy of a transaction: Morales trade was 36 years in the making — The Seattle Times‘ Larry Stone weighs in on the Morales-Vargas trade with a round of Six Degrees of former Mariner infielder Bill Stein (actually, it’s 38 degrees, but who’s counting?).

The End of Mike Carp — As we celebrate the arrival of a promising power hitter in Safeco Field, the increasingly crowded roster means that someone will be booted out of the first base/catcher/designated hitter platoon. According to U.S.S. Mariner, it won’t be Justin Smoak, Jesus Montero, or John Jaso.

Prospects Will Break Your Heart: Seattle Mariners Top 10 Prospects —- Finally, a small ray of sunshine in the middle of a long, now Christmas-less winter: the Mariners top ten prospects, as ranked by Baseball Prospectus’s Jason Parks. Note: This article comes at the price of $4.95, and it will be money well spent to find out just how soon Taijuan Walker and Mike Zunino are scheduled to arrive in Seattle.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

Last night, Shannon Drayer, Matt Pitman, and the crew of the 710 ESPN Radio network broadcast a live Hot Stove League Show from the Alderwood Mall.

Their first two guests, Jack Zduriencik and Eric Wedge, were none too forthcoming about the Mariners’ hand in free agent dealings, but spoke candidly about their hopes for the team in the coming season. Wedge, who prank texted the GM during his segment, let slip that Brendan Ryan was not to so much as touch a bat during the offseason—a rule, he guessed, had been broken once or twice already.

Future live tapings of the Hot Stove League Show will resume on January 8, 2013. You can find Shannon’s rundown of the show on MyNorthwest.com, and upcoming events listed in the sidebar. On to today’s links!

Josh Hamilton Still Available, Mariners Still Looking — For you Hamilton hopefuls out there, here’s a whole lot of non-news. However, one remark Jack made during yesterday’s show is that players like to get deals made before the holidays. True, it’s a cryptic and meaningless comment, but read into it as much as you like.

Should M’s Make a Play for R.A. Dickey? — In the likely event that Texas manages to wrangle Hamilton from the Mariners’ shiny five-year offer (because really, how else would they lure him?), Dave Cameron suggests a non-detestable, quite affordable Plan B: R.A. Dickey.

Potential new developments — In light of the recent Indians-Reds-Diamondbacks blockbuster, Jason Churchill examines the remaining free agents and selects those that would fit well with Seattle. Here’s a hint: Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher, and Justin Upton aren’t on that list.

Greinke signing highlights Mariners’ dilemma with Felix Hernandez — The asking price for starting pitchers, especially those of King Felix’s caliber, is going way, way up. Larry Stone looks at the recent extensions for top tier pitchers and imagines how the Mariners will need to handle Felix’s upcoming contract renewal.

We’ve officially entered a baseball age of prospect overdose — Geoff Baker ruminates on the perceived value of prospects, and how they affect the mentality of GMs when it comes to building toward a great future or preparing to win in the present.

What have you read this week? Share it with us on Twitter or in the comments below!

As the Winter Meetings wind down, the biggest name still in play for the Mariners is Josh Hamilton.

From Ken Rosenthal’s Twitter account:

Sources: #Mariners have discussed three-year deals with Hamilton in range of $20M to $25M per season.

The likelihood of this deal hinges on the Rangers’ progress with Zack Greinke, as it is widely thought that the team will not strive to sign both players. Currently, the Dodgers appear to be backing off in their pursuit of the starter, which may bode well for both Texas and Seattle.

Players the Mariners met with or “checked up on”: 1

• Kevin Youkilis

Players the Mariners were linked to, but did not interact with: 0

Players the Mariners actually signed: 0

This concludes the 2012 Baseball Winter Meetings coverage. For ongoing trade rumors and breaking news, continue to follow the Mariners team on Twitter:  Greg Johns, Ryan Divish, Geoff Baker, and Shannon Drayer.

With the end of No Shave November approaching this weekend, another beloved tradition faces its final test: the Mariners’ Movember Madness. It’s time to take sides between the skipper’s handlebar mustache and Brendan Ryan’s facial topiary. You can cast your vote here, or simply enter to win a baseball autographed by Eric Wedge.

• As the winter meetings draw ever closer, Jack Zduriencik offers a glimpse at his offseason plan—and it’s not quite what you might expect. From Greg Johns:

“Offense would be a focal point, but if there are other avenues, if we could add a starting pitcher, who knows what might present itself both for this year and with the bigger picture in mind.”

While the Big Four (Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, and Brandon Maurer) have shown considerable progress in the past season, Jack Z appears to be holding a short leash so far.

• Minor league Mariner and second baseman Stefen Romero was elected to Topps’ 2012 Double-A All Star Team. He joins the outstanding cast of Darin Ruf (PHI), Jurickson Profar (TEX), Mike Olt (TEX), Ali Solis (SD), Oswaldo Arcia (MIN), Alfredo Marte (ARI), Oscar Taveras (STL), and Chris Heston (SF).
• Three Mariners cracked the list of the 2012 AFL Top 25: catcher Mike Zunino (#3), shortstop Nick Franklin (#10), and lefty James Paxton (#25).
• The Mariners are officially on the hunt for a suitable Miguel Olivo replacement. Their latest target? Yankee backstop Russell Martin, who posted a slash line of .211/.311/.403 in 2012. Via MLB Trade Rumors:

“Free agent catcher Russell Martin is receiving significant interest from the Pirates and Mariners, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Yankees remain the favorites to sign Martin, but it appears that they’ll have to duke it out with the Bucs and M’s in addition to the Rangers.”

• Ken Rosenthal also appears fairly certain that the Mariners will make significant efforts to boost their offense, potentially including Mike Napoli and other, non-Josh Hamilton hitters. The biggest draw for Napoli, Rosenthal says, would be a legitimate shot at consistent playing time.
• The team released its 2013 spring training schedule yesterday, with pitchers and catchers slotted to begin workouts on February 13. The full list of Mariners’ Cactus League games can be found here.

This week, the Mariners take a look at some catching depth, Brendan Ryan is awarded another defensive title, and the Javelinas make a push for the playoffs.

• Hardball Talk reports that Hisashi Iwakuma will not represent Japan in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Instead, he intends to focus on the upcoming 2013 season in Seattle.
• From Jon Heyman’s Twitter account: “#mariners have reached out to russell martin & mike napoli. also looking at corner OF bats.” The Yankees and Red Sox have expressed interest in Napoli, while the Red Sox and Rangers are currently linked to Martin.
• John Dewan of the Fielding Bible named Brendan Ryan and Dustin Ackley the Best Double Play Combo in 2012, with a combined 38 DRS. Close on their heels were Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro with 31 DRS.
• With three games remaining before the AFL Championship on Saturday, the Peoria Javelinas are clinging to a half-game lead over their division rivals, the Surprise Saguaros. They are coming off of a three-game losing streak, punctuated by Carson Smith’s loss and Logan Bawcom’s blown save. The singular highlight of the Mariners’ performance was a banner day from Vinnie Catricala, who went 2-for-4 against the Mesa Solar Sox with an RBI double, single, and walk.