It is that time of spring training
where the Seattle Mariners and other teams in major league baseball start
trimming down the roster they started when camp opened.
There are some players being sent
down as expected while others hang around for longer time and in some cases
they make the surprise of making the team while others may not.
The Mariners primarily have a whole
lot of pitchers so most of the roster moves were with them. Many of the
pitchers sent down were names that you probably don’t know. The main name that
was sent down that was expected to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation
and spent some time in Seattle was Andrew Moore. He is still only twenty-three
years of age so it shows that he isn’t ready to start in the major leagues at
this time. A surprise move was reliever Tony Zych who was designated for
assignment. He was on the forty man roster so that leaves a spot open if the
Mariners decide to sign or trade for another pitcher. Zych again has been
struggling with injuries so I am sure the Mariners felt it was time to move on
with him. He is still in his twenties so another team might take a chance on
him or he could return by starting the season in triple A.
The Mariners announced that Erasmo
Ramirez has started throwing on the side line. They feel he could be ready to
be the fifth starter in the rotation when the Mariners have the spot open to
use in middle of April. With several off days early in the season the Mariners
won’t need to have a fifth until the eleventh game in my estimation.
The Mariners are hoping that Felix
Hernandez will be ready to go when the season begins. They haven’t left open
the possibility of him starting opening day however I am not sure whether that
will happen or not. The Mariners won’t need a fourth starter until game six in
my estimation. So either Felix or Marco Gonzales can wait until that game to
start. I figure that James Paxton and Mike Leake can start game one and two
then games four and five. So game three could be Felix or Gonzales but I am
sure the Mariners will hope that Felix will be able to start that game.
If Ramirez isn’t able to make the
start when the fifth starter can likely the position now will go to Ariel
Miranda. Most likely he will start a game in triple A before then unless they
plan to use him in long relief when the season begins. Miranda started Saturday’s game against the
Cincinnati Reds. He did struggle in the first inning giving up two runs however
did go three innings giving up four hits walked a couple batters giving a home
run and striking out four.
The Seattle Mariners came back to
win Saturday’s game scoring five runs in the sixth including inside the park
home run by Mike Marjama with two runners on base. Marjama is still one of the
main guys competing for the backup catcher for the Mariners. Mitch Haniger made
his first start of the season in right field however didn’t get a hit in three
at bats. Guillermo who had been in a few games as designated hitter did make a
start in left field but walked twice in two at bats. Mike Ford who is competing
for a roster spot got two hits in the game including a double and driving in
two runs. Dan Vogelbach who is competing at first base as well did pitch hit
for Marjama late in the game. At this point it is hard to know for sure who
will be the backup catcher or utility player.
On Sunday Ichiro is going to make
his first start in left field and lead off. Guillermo Heredia will start and
play in center field. Segura, Cano, Cruz and Zunino will start as well with
Haniger making his second start in a row playing in right field. Seager who
played Saturday has the day off and utility player Andrew Romine who is having
a good spring will start at third base. It will be a good chance for those
there to see how Ichiro will do in his first game back. I will let you know how
that goes next time. Go M’s.
No comments:
Post a Comment