We now have two weeks to see what the Mariners do
to their 25 man roster when opening day starts against the Texas Rangers.
Both questions and answers are still the same. The
everyday lineup is pretty much the same except who will play first base against
left handed pitchers. I don’t have the answer at this point than likely anyone else
does. This is a key week to see who might separate themselves from the others.
Romero, Montero and Lee who shall it be?
Another question is who will be the utility player.
Do we really care at all? I have to say that Luis Sardinas is still the leading
candidate however who wins doesn’t really matter except to them of course and
the Mariners! If Sardinas is the choice then Chris Taylor and Shawn O’Malley
will start in Tacoma. I am sure Chris Taylor is OK except he doesn’t have flair
which maybe fine too. Shawn O’Malley can play anywhere and something always
happens when he is in the game. This is why he may be my best choice. He doesn’t
play short stop as well as Sardinas or Taylor however he likely only plays
there once a week anyway. I like him in centerfield when Martin needs a day off
and he can pinch run for whoever is playing first base or catcher late in the
game. I wonder to who is the best pinch hitter among the three as well. It was
the weakest part of the team last year except when Gutierrez came up in the
second half of the season.
Who is going to be the left handed hitting catcher
backing up Chris Iannetta? I have to say Steve Clevenger has to have the edge
since he has been in camp longer and the Mariners traded for him from
Baltimore. The other candidate Rob Brantley the Mariners got in a waiver acquisition
just two weeks ago. I am sure whoever wins if the hitting is equal than it will
be who is the better one defensively. Being a former catcher himself manager
Scott Servais may have a favorite. Both guys have options so one of them will either
be traded or put on waivers. I am sure
other teams need a backup catcher so a trade is in the offering especially if
the Mariners can get a relief pitcher in exchange.
Speaking of relief pitching it looks like Mike Montgomery
will be one of the left handed relievers after moving over from being a
starter. He is another one who is out of options and the Mariners do not want
to lose him. The other candidate Vidal Nuno may start the season with the
Mariners because Charlie Furbush will likely not be ready for the opening of
the season. Nuno has options still so he can be sent down to Triple A without a
problem and be ready when or if the Mariners need him. The Mariners are fine
with Joaquin Benoit as the setup man and Steve Cishek as the closer however who
will be the other three to round out the right handed pitchers in the bullpen. Two
of the three likely will be Joel Peralta and Tony Zych. One or both be coming
in the game in the sixth or seventh inning. It is anyone’s guess who will be
the final right hander.
The fifth starter in the rotation is still open
though Nathan Karns has the edge over James Paxton. It is very important that
Paxton has good showing this week. His last outing he gave up seven runs
including four walks in two innings so he needs to improve his control. Most
likely if he isn’t the starter he will go to Tacoma unless the Mariners decide
that he could be in the bullpen. The problem though do you want two lefties in
the bullpen that have little experience in the role; if Paxton is the fifth
starter than Karns could be the fifth right handed pitcher in the bullpen.
I am sure we have our favorites to see who makes
the final roster spots, who gets traded or released and who are sent to the
minors. These two weeks are always the most exciting part of spring training. I
enjoy seeing some the future Mariners to who will be in the minors but will
come into the games late. In the meantime Go Mariners!
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