Yusei Kikuchi

Friday Kikuchi the Mariners lefty out of Japan
has his second outing of the spring. Did much
better this round. It doesn't mean he won't have
his lumps the rest of spring.

Kikuchi is working with new mechanics so it
means things could go up and down for a little
while in spring.

Kikuchi is expected to be the Mariner number
two starter behind Marco Gonzales so the
important thing is to be ready for the beginning
of the season

Kikuchi was stretched out a little further
going 2 and 1/3 innings giving up a run
in the third inning. He gave up one hit,
walked two and struck out three. He
should have another outing next Wednesday.

The Mariners hitters did something different
that happens even less often they hit a reverse
cycle. Kyle Lewis hit a home run for his first
of the spring. First baseman Jose Marmolejos
who I am not familiar with who signed a minor
league contract as a free agent during the off-season
with the Mariners hit a triple.

Tim Lopes playing third base had a double.
He has gotten off to a tremendous start this spring.
He keeps doing what he is doing he will make the
Mariners.Lopes had a tremendous season with the
Mariners last year when he was called up
in August. Dee Gordon followed with a single.
Gordon made a start at shortstop had three hits
on the day.

Shed Long Jr expecting to be the Mariners
second baseman had a couple hits on the day
driving in a couple of the Mariner runs. The
Mariners won the game 6-2 collecting ten
hits.

The Mariners are not expecting to have the
long ball as much this season but collecting
ten hits on a regular basis would be less
missing the home runs.

The Mariners take on the Kansas City Royals
Saturday afternoon in Peoria. The game will
be televised for those who can get the Mariners
on television.

Shed Long will be leading off again, however,
he will be designated hitter this time. He will
be followed by JP Crawford at short and Kyle
Seager at third.

Daniel Vogelbach who should be at dh most of
the season will be playing first base. Tom Murphy
 will be catching followed by Carlos Gonzales who
 is trying to make the team signing a minor league
contract at the beginning of training camp in right field.

The Mariners number one prospect Jarred
Kelenic who did have an appearance in Friday's
game will be starting in center field. Dee
Gordon will be starting once again this time
he will be at second base. Jose Siri will be
starting in right field to round out the starting
lineup. Marco Gonzales will be starting pitcher.
He is hoping for a better outing than his initial
outing for the spring.

Julio Rodriguez the Mariners number two
prospect is expected to play in the game at
some point as he did in Friday's game.

It is so exciting for the fans to see the young
guys playing and thinking what the future
for the Mariners look like. The Mariners
haven't had young players like this for
some time. Go M's.

In college men's basketball the Washington
State Cougars ended up beating the Washington
Huskies Friday night in Seattle. It ended up
being a close game though the Cougars did
lead by double digits in the first half. The
final score was WSU 78 UW 74.

Both teams have two games remaining on the
Pac-12schedule facing Arizona and Arizona State
on the road. After that will be the Pac-12
schedule. For either team to go further they
need to win the tournament Tall order though.