Spring Training Begins

Today Wednesday February 14 is the beginning of spring training for the Mariners pitchers and catchers. Actually they will be going through their physicals so the actually throwing will not happen until Thursday though some may do so on Wednesday anyway.

The regulars will report next Tuesday February 20 and first game will start on Friday February 23 against the San Diego Padres. This is little early for the start of games because the season begins a few days early on March 29 in Seattle against the Cleveland Indians.

The starting rotation will have two spots fighting for the 4th and 5th spots. James Paxton, Felix Hernandez and Mike Leake have the top three spots. Things could change a bit if one of those three get hurt during spring training and not ready to go.

Erasmo Ramirez, Marco Gonzales and Andrew Moore are the three main candidates to fill the role of the 4th and 5th starter. If either Ramirez or Gonzales don’t make the rotation the one will be likely the long reliever in the bullpen. Ramirez who has had experience in the bullpen before could do more than be the long reliever. Gonzales is out of options so he would most likely be the long reliever if not making the rotation. The Mariners would have to put him on waivers and some other team likely pick him up. The Mariners could look at trading either of them as well if another team is needing a pitcher at the end of their rotation.

I am sure the Mariners will give Andrew Moore a real look to be in the rotation as well however he is only twenty-three years old and still has options available. He would likely go to Tacoma if he doesn’t make the rotation out of spring training. This would depend on other pitchers who are trying to make the staff or the Mariners trade or sign a veteran pitcher which is also possible.

Ariel Miranda who started more games than anyone last year could end up being in the rotation as well or be the long reliever too. Like Moore though he could start in Tacoma as well. The Mariners have talked about going to a six-man rotation some point during the season though it won’t happen at the beginning of the season because the Mariners will have a few days off in April. Having Moore and or Miranda in Tacoma will keep them available to take that spot. It is good idea to start either or both in Tacoma when the season starts because the Mariners will want to be sure they are able to pitch enough innings to start if called upon whether it has to do with going to six starters or because of injuries to one of the starters.

The bullpen likely will start the season with eight pitchers but would go down seven if they do go to a six-man rotation. Newcomer Juan Nicasio along with holdovers David Phelps, Nick Vincent and closer Edwin Diaz from the right side with lefties James Pazos and Marc Rzepczynski. So the Mariners will have one spot remaining for others to fight over besides the long reliever.

Far as the regular players the lineup is pretty much setup. The competition has to do with the backup. The Mariners have four catchers who will compete to makeup Mike Zunino. At this point hard to know whether the position will be the one that is the best hitter or defensively. The Mariners want to have someone that catches twice a week to keep Zunino in top shape and lot will depend on  his hitting as well.

With thirteen pitchers that are expected to be on the roster and the backup catching spot that leaves only two players on the bench. One of those should be Guillermo Heredia as the fourth outfielder unless he isn’t ready to go after off-season surgery. The other spot will be at utility player between newcomer Andrew Romine and Taylor Motter.

Although there isn’t very many spots to plug into the twenty-five opening day roster it will still be interesting to see who makes it. We do hope that everyone stays healthy or at the least fewer injuries unlike last year. I look forward to see Dee Gordon in his first outing at centerfield in spring training along with the looks of Felix and James Paxton. Also it would be good to see how Marco Gonzales and Andrew Moore both look after last year. It would be nice to see improvement from them. I guess it will be nice to see Mike Zunino not struggle at the plate going into the season. I wonder what the Mariners will do if he does struggle none of the backups have much or no major league experience. We know he should be fine behind the plate and the Mariners could use one of the bench players to pinch hit later in the games if necessary. All I know is that I don’t want to see him strike out when there are runners on base. I know even at his best it will happen once in a while I just don’t want to see it on a regular basis. The important thing is for Servais to know when to keep him in the lineup and when not to since he could be a streaky hitter as well.

I look forward to see what the next five weeks will be like going into the season. I hope our questions will be answered in a positive way. Go M’s.