.Monday evening the Mariners start
a three game series against the
A's. Emerson Hancock will start game
one followed by Luis Castillo and Logan
Gilbert.
Hancock has started out well. Bryce
Miller is on rehab assignment with
the Tacoma Rainiers. His next start
will be his second one. How many
starts will he take before being
activated. Hancock right now looks
like he should still be in the rotation.
Luis Castillo who had a bad outing
last time could be out however
I am sure the Mariners won't do that.
Into May the Mariners could go to
a six man rotation which they did a
few years ago. The Mariners have
three off days in May. They have
15 home games and 13 road games.
Of course injuries will decide how
the Mariners will go. At home home
games five man rotation would fit
well while six on the road. A lot would
depend on who they face as well. If
the starters can go seven innings
six starters could go.
I could see Hancock go back to the pen.
He deserves to be on the roster no matter
how they go. Being the first one out of the
pen on some games is a good idea. At
this point he looks like a high leverage
pitcher. This would come down to how
many close games they play or not.
The A's and the Rangers are tied for first.
The Angels are third a half game back
and the Mariners are a game and a half.
The Astros are two behind the Mariners.
The Rangers play three against the
Pirates then next weekend against
the A's all at home. So things could
change by next Monday.
The Angels play the Blue Jays at home
followed by the Royal on the road.
The Astros who have a lot of injuries
start out with the Guardians followed
by the Yankees so this could continue
to be a hard time for them.
The A's top of the lineup has gotten
off well while the rest of the lineup
has not. The Mariners playing better
at home so far should have the
advantage. These could be close
games too. We hope that Cal and
Naylor can get going. I have read
where some fans think that the
lineup should stay the same as far
as Cal and Naylor go. The Mariners
have to do something about the
righthanded lineup against lefties
along with when to pinch hit when
they bring in a lefty when the righty
is starting.
Raley is one of Mariners top hitters
right now. With Robles out I would
start him against lefties although
moving him down the order. I wouldn't
pinch hit for him against a lefty either
unless the Mariners have runners on
base especially late in games. Canzone
can be a different story. I was watching
the Phillies vs Braves game on Sunday
Night baseball. They asked Braves
manager Al Weiss about pinch hitting.
His answer matches what I think.
Only late in games. I am not sure
it is how Dan Wilson manages or
whether Jerry Dipoto has instructed
him. It would be nice if we knew for
sure. I hope we have a change in that
area. Go M's.
Update: Brendan Donovan went on the
Injured list to his groin. They brought
up third baseman Will Wlison. I guess
they are not looking at bringing up
Colt Emerson yet.