Look at the Tacoma Rainiers

The Seattle Mariners have the day off before going on a ten game road trip to New York to face the Yankees then Boston to take on the Red Sox again next weekend and the Baltimore Orioles before coming home to wrap up the month of June against the Kansas City Royals. If the Mariners can split the road trip which they should be able to that will be good going into July. This will make June a successful month whether it is a record around five hundred.

Before looking at the Rainiers the Mariners did make a move Monday morning activating reliever Juan Nicasio and catcher Chris Herrmann off the disabled list along with sending pitcher Rob Whalen and catcher David Freitas. While Herrmann was on the disabled list Freitas started games with Mike Leake on the mound; Herrmann could catch Leake  as well depending on whether the Mariners face a right handed starting pitcher or not. Herrmann is a left handed hitting catcher who can play first base as well. It would not surprise me to see him start occasionally at first base well at catcher. Nicasio will be back in the rotation pitcher either the seven or eighth inning. Nick Vincent who is on the disabled list is expected to go on a rehab assignment if everything goes well. He had some issues so his assignment was delayed. He could be activated either in Boston or Baltimore depending how things go. Getting Vincent back will help out the bullpen too.

Now a look at the Tacoma Rainiers who look different at times depending who is up or down from the Mariners team. They will now have starter Rob Whalen back since being sent down Monday. He has a record of 7-3 with an era of 4.50 and has walked only twenty-five batters in 72 innings. If you walk a batter about every three innings that isn’t bad at all; Ariel Miranda who made a brief start for the Mariners has a record of 5-0 in nine games including eight starts. He spent the end of May on the disabled list. I am sure we will see him in Seattle again before the season is over.

The Rainiers have a record of 36-24 right now and second in their division. Not bad for a team that has a history of changes always happening. Sunday they beat the Iowa Cubs 12-3. Bryan Evans who spent time at Arkansas and Tacoma last year made his return to the Mariner organization and Tacoma after starting the year in the Mexican League. Unfortunately he didn’t have a good outing only going three and two-third innings giving up three hits and three runs. Also he walked three batters and gave up two home runs. Christian Bergman and Casey Lawrence have done well in the rotation. Bergman has a record of 4-4 while Lawrence has a record of 5-2 with an era of 2.52. Wouldn’t be surprised we see him up with the Mariners if the team needs him.

The three primary relievers in the Rainiers bullpen have been Shawn Armstrong who spent a little time with the Mariners has pitched in twenty-five games has a record of 1-2 with an era of 2.64 over thirty and two-thirds innings. He has struck out forty-one batters as well. Mike Morin who had a real brief time last week with the Mariners was sent down after going through waivers. He has pitched in twenty games as well for the Rainiers. He has a record of 2-1 with an era of 3.24. The third pitcher out of the bullpen is Dario Alvarez who has no record pitching in twenty games with an era of 1.71. The Rainiers have other pitchers in the bullpen but have seen little action.

When it comes to the regular position Daniel Vogelbach who has gone up and down between the Mariners and the Rainiers has a batting average of 2.89 with ten home runs and twenty-six runs batted in. He is the only real first baseman on the team right now. Gordon Beckham is the primary second baseman since he was sent back down after spending some time on the Mariner roster when Robinson was put on the disabled list before being suspended for eighty games and then Dee Gordon also went on the disabled list. He is batting .279 in thirty-eight games. He has played a little first base well as shortstop. This will help if the Mariners need another utility player. Zach Vincej is the primary shortstop though he has played some second base as well. He currently is batting .256 while playing in forty-eight games. He is not big in home runs though he has five and has twenty-six runs batted in. Seth Mejias-Brean is the primary third baseman though he started the season at double A Arkansas. He has played in thirty-one games for the Rainiers batting .259 and has five home runs.

In the outfield Ian Miller who got the Ken Griffey Jr Award as the best hitter in the Mariner minor leagues last season has played in sixty games with a batting average of .293. He has only one home run is more known for his speed has seventeen stolen bases and has twenty-six runs batted in. Veteran outfielder Cameron Perkins is on the disabled list however should be coming off soon has a .293 too. He isn’t known for home run power either though he has four right now. John Andreoli who has played some center field well as left field is batting .282. He spent a little while with the Mariners as well. The other outfielders on the squad have nothing really to write about.