TaiJuan Walker Takes on A’s Opening Night At Home

TaiJuan Walker pitches opening night at Safeco Field taking on the Oakland A’s. We do hope that he starts better than Iwakuma and Miley who had some wild moments and so did Felix walking some batters on opening night in Texas. What made the series in Texas was the Mariners were in every game including scoring first. The Rangers did come back in the first game to win 3-1 however the Mariners should have won that one if it wasn’t for the errors. In the other two games the Mariners came back to take over the game late in the games to win. The most positive thing though was the Mariners bullpen they gave up no runs in any of the three games. They did have some walks but the relief pitchers did not allow them to let the Rangers score. Mike Montgomery who went in the game for Felix in his first regular season major league game out of the bullpen pitched two innings without giving up a hit and walked one batter who did not go any further than first base. Also he strikes out four batters. I would not be surprised if he is the first pitcher to come into the game to relieve Walker.

We can hope that Walker can pitch six innings and giving up only a few runs. Walker is the youngest pitcher on the staff so we can hope that he won’t be too nervous in starting this home opener. We hope that he will pitch a game that will bring him along where he will have an outstanding season all along. Everyone from Jerry Dipoto down to the ball boy hopes that this is the season that leads him to stardom. If so next season he will be the number two starter to King Felix. Also the Mariners will need to add a nickname to him. I am sure it will sometime during the season possibly earlier than later. Dipoto felt that Walker had a better spring this year over last though the results did not look the same. If we see the Walker who pitched the second half of last season from the beginning the Mariners will be in really good shape. He could be the difference in how many wins the Mariners come up with for the season. We all hope that all the writers who cover the Mariners including myself though I am unofficial will be able to write something fantastic in the next addition.

In the meantime the batters and the bullpen just have to continue what they did in Texas. I don’t expect a lot of home runs in Safeco unless they are to right field. I am sure a home run to left field would have to be down the line. Unless the pitcher really leaves the pitch up most likely the hitters won’t hit a home run in middle left or center field. We do hope the Mariners will continue getting batters on base whether by walks or hits. I hope to see Cano, Cruz and Seager hit the ball the other way unless it is a home run. Adam Lind has the power to pull the ball down right field line. It would be nice to see all four hit well in this series come up. So let’s go Walker and the Mariners tonight.