Spring Training

[wazzu31]

WOOT! DJ Peterson hit's a HR today in the opener...

If he were to play himself into a roster spot that would throw a massive monkey wrench into a team designed on their designed platooning bench. Outside of the backup catcher their bench is going to a half starter.

 

[NWinAZ]

The good news for spring training is that the rain ended on Tuesday and yesterday was blue skies and a high of about 68. Actually I don't have much advice on other baseball stuff outside of going early to the practice fields and watching them up close over there.

Cubs stadium is on our list this year so I looking forward to that.

There are usually radio shows held across the street from the stadium with M's stopping by. I am sure they will still be doing that.

The closest stadium to Peoria (M's) is the Royals/Rangers stadium which is about 20 minutes straight west on Bell Rd and then a left on Bullard Ave (you will see the electronic sign out front on Bell). That is a nice stadium as well and it has like 16 practice fields which is huge.

Have fun guys and I will be there Saturday.

 

[NWinAZ]

And In & Out Burger on the corner of 83rd and Bell (just a few block from stadium) is frequented by players and coaches after games. Just keep your ears open and you will here players talk at these places.

 

[cezero]

Today's lineup looks like very much like an April 6th lineup to me.

 

[Mariners_44]

Cruz already paying dividends in his first game! 2-2 / 1b & HR

 

[cezero]

split squad today vs. white sox and dbacks

 

[cezero]

Rickie Weeks just hit a mammoth homer. Longest since Morse hit one out a couple years back.

 

[NWinAZ]

I was in the 1st row way down the 1B line for the DBacks game and saw Weeks go deep in person. It was very impressive. I wanted to see him challenged in the OF, but he never really got the chance.

I give Kuma an 'A'. Not for his pitching, but for the fact he walked off the field in one piece.

 

[cezero]

Saunders getting blasted by Cincy today.

Good thing we have him instead of paying another $200K or something for Beimel, right?

oooh, evidently he just pitched for the cycle in an inning of relief.

 

[NWinAZ]

Like everyone on here says, 'What does it hurt signing a guy like Saunders?'. Bye, bye Beimel.

 

[wazzu31]

To be fair George Sherrill was the worst Mariner in spring training history but he served his role. Its not only a lefty reliever, they need a sacrificial lamb in the pen in a way IMO. Beimel would've been nice but IMO Jack didn't make a bad move with this one.

 

[NWinAZ]

He did, but not his first and won't be his last. He is a dart throwing GM.

 

[cezero]

To be fair George Sherrill was the worst Mariner in spring training history but he served his role. Its not only a lefty reliever, they need a sacrificial lamb in the pen in a way IMO. Beimel would've been nice but IMO Jack didn't make a bad move with this one.

Our lefty relief situation is abysmal.

Dart throwing is indeed a good way to describe letting one proven lefty reliever go, and hoping that Safeco Joe can work out.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Farquhar, Wilhelmsen and even Medina put up decent numbers against lefties last year. That's why I dont see the need to force feed a 2nd lefty in the pen if none of them earn it.

 

[cezero]

Having 2 lefty relievers for middle/long relief bailed us out of a lot of games last year.

It's something that will have to be addressed if the team is to contend. No way around that. Maybe Safeco Joe will adapt over the next 3 weeks and be a viable option. Who the fuck knows.

 

[NWinAZ]

Plus, and I think it can be an overlooked plus, is that a good lefty reliever can also hold a runner on 1B in a tight game and Beimel was great at that. All the righty relievers mentioned are easy to run on comparatively so.

 

[SeattleCoug]

I haven't been able to catch any game action yet but have heard positive things thus far from Tyler Olson. I can only go by what I read on twitter and such but nice to see a potential LH reliever candidate doing well. Not sure if he was being thought of in that conversation yet because he hasn't been past AA but crazier things have happened I suppose.

 

[cezero]

I haven't been able to catch any game action yet but have heard positive things thus far from Tyler Olson. I can only go by what I read on twitter and such but nice to see a potential LH reliever candidate doing well. Not sure if he was being thought of in that conversation yet because he hasn't been past AA but crazier things have happened I suppose.

would be great to see him emerge as a MLB reliever somehow

 

[unlvmariners]

I haven't been able to catch any game action yet but have heard positive things thus far from Tyler Olson. I can only go by what I read on twitter and such but nice to see a potential LH reliever candidate doing well. Not sure if he was being thought of in that conversation yet because he hasn't been past AA but crazier things have happened I suppose.

Personally I think he looks good so far. From what I have seen his pitching style fits the part of a LH relief pitcher that can get lefty hitters out. I think we will see a lot more of him as spring goes on.

 

[NWinAZ]

Just got done watching him on TV from todays game and he looks impressive. Great sweep on his ball and deceptive motion. Not sure if he makes it, but would be a good guy in Tacoma just in case we needed a quick call up.

I am just amazed on watching Walker again. I just don't get that delivery from last year and why they even played with it? He looks so natural again like 2013 and that could be huge.