First game of Spring

It is February 28 which means the Mariners
first spring training game happens. Not sure
who will start however I expect it will be
Marco Gonzales the opening game starter
for the regular season.

The Mariners will be taking on the San

Diego Padres who are expected to contend

for the National League West division. 

Usually the Mariners and Padres begin

spring training against each other. It 

helps they share the same facilities or

at least the same park.

Many of the starting position players 

will be starting the game, however.

they will probably play three innings

before substitutions in. I am sure we 

will see top prospects Jarred Kelenic,

Julio Rodrigues and Logan Gilbert

in the game.

News around pitcher Justin Dunn 

reported in good shape while being

on a new diet. He is taking it serious

to be in the starting rotation. He has

looked good in the bullpen as well.

He could be in the game today as 

well. 

The Mariners won't have a game on

Monday, however, they will have a

spring training game everyday after

that until March 28 which is just 

before the season begins. 

The Mariners season will begin on

April 1 against the San Francisco

Giants at home in T-Mobile Park.

The series will be three games 

after a day off on Sunday which

sounds strange to me the Mariners

will have a three game series against

the Chicago White Sox before going

on the road. 

The Mariners will not play a division

rival until they play the Houston Astros

in Seattle beginning their second home

stand It will be a three game series. At

the end of month the Mariners and Astros

will play four games in Houston while

finishing the month off by playing the

Los Angeles Angels. It is a three-game

series ending on May 2.

The Mariners will not play the Texas

Rangers until early May and the Oakland

as for the first late in May. At that point

we will know where everyone in the

division is at. The Mariners will have

played 47 games before facing the Oakland

A's for the first time. The Mariners don't

take on the New York Yankees just before

the all-star game in July. Unusual they 

take on the Angels at home in the last

series before the all-star game and then

on the road in the first series after.

It will be interesting to see when the

Mariners will be able to see fans at

T-Mobile Park. With covid going down

and we hope the vaccine in place it 

will be sooner than later. Could have

a small crowd on opening night. Go M's.

Moore At Second

There is thought Dylan Moore who was
having a good season before being injured
might be the starting second baseman this
year.

Early on last season Kyle Lewis was the 

only true outfielder in the lineup. Moore

played some outfield, however, Shed Long

struggled at the plate. Moore did play more

in left and right field than second base but

he is still the leading candidate to play second

this year.   

Shed Long will have an opportunity to play

some second base as well. He has to show that

he can hit in the major leagues though. Long

is a left-handed bat so he may start some at

second base if he does hit. Moore and Long

could play some left field this coming year

to depending on how Jake Fraley does in

left or Jarred Kelenic. We will get back to 

that when the outfield comes up.

Ty France had a really good time hitting the

ball when he came over from the San Diego

Padres. The question is can France play some

defense whether at second, third or first base.

He will be the super utility player when he

isn't at dh. He will be in the lineup a lot at

some position or dh if he does hit again this

way. 

Sam Haggerty considered the one who will

come out as the utility player will probably

play multiple positions including second

base. Like France he could be in the lineup

somewhere if he hits well. He is a switch

hitter so could play every day. 

There is a chance Moore, France and 

Haggerty could be in the lineup somewhere

more often than not. Long hits well he could

be to.  

General Manager Jerry Dipoto and manager

Scott Servais like the versatility of his

players especially with only two bench 

players with the Mariners going with 14

pitchers beginning of the season. 

Whose On First

We know for the most part Evan White
will be playing first. Why not he did win
the gold glove for his defense.

His offense needs to improve as we know

it. He did show some power having seven

doubles and eight home runs in 54 games.

Not bad if you figure over a whole season.

White all he needs to do is cut down in

his strike outs. We hope there will be

an improvement there. 

Jose Marmolejos is listed at number two

in the depth chart at first base. Last season

he did show some good signs though in

all he didn't hit well either. For Jose to be

the backup he will need to have a good 

spring training but it will still be hard

for him to make the roster since there 

will be two spots opened and he may

not be the one to be there. Jose can play

left field as well. His best chance would

be win the left field spot but won't be

easy as Jake Fraley is the favorite and

there are more gifted outfielders as well.

Ty France is listed third at first base. He

likely will win one of the two spots. Actually

he probably has a spot which would be 

number three  pretty much his as long as

he has a good spring training. France showed

the Mariners he can hit when they picked 

him up in the Austin Nola trade. His deal

whether he can play defense and the chances

he will be the dh for some of the time. He 

will probably start the season as the dh then

see action at first, second and third base.

Sam Haggerty is the likelihood to win the

utility spot on the Mariners so he could see

action at first base as well. This of course

if he doesn't win the left field spot. We will

be back with Haggerty next time as well

when we look at second base. Go M's. 

What's Up Catcher

We are going to begin Thursday
going by each position in the field
for the Seattle Mariners.

Today's edition will be catcher.

Tom Murphy who had his best

season in 2019 was out for the

2020 season. He will be sharing

the catching spot with Luis Torrens

who the Mariners picked up at the

trading deadline when they

sent Austin Nola to the San Diego

Padres.

Nola was expected to be the backup

catcher for Murphy after playing

in the infield for the time he played

in Seattle in 2019. With Murphy

out Nola had a good enough season

for the Padres to give up four prospects

for him. The Mariners also send two

relievers to San Diego as well.

One of the prospects the Mariners

received Luis Torrens who played

18 games for the Mariners in September

where he hit a solid .254. What makes

Torrens to be a good Mariners in 2021

is he plays a good defense and he 

hits around the .254 again it would be

fine. Torrens could be a surprise and

hit even higher. I expect Torrens will

play about 40% of the time while

Murphy plays about 60 percent.

Tom Murphy season in 2019 had a

solid season playing as a backup

catcher himself. The Mariners had

picked him up on waivers from the

San Francisco Giants right at the

end of spring training. His major

league experience was playing 

parts of four seasons for the 

Colorado Rockies. 

Murphy started 66 games at

catcher as he appeared in

75 games for the Mariners

as a backup Omar Narvaez.

Murphy had almost as good

a season at the plate as Narvaez.

The reason the Mariners kept

Murphy by trading Narvaez

they felt he was a better 

defense catcher. 

This coming season we will

have to see if Murphy can hit

as well as a starting catcher.

It is hard to imagine him hitting

more than 18 home runs which

would be a good deal if he does.

Depending on Torrens and top

catching prospect Cal Raleigh

Murphy could be dealt during

the season if he is having close

to another good season and 

where the Mariners are at

far as the playoffs go. The

Mariners could wait and trade

him during the off-season as

well. 

One thing we do know the

catching will be in good hands

as far as defense goes. The

Mariners went many years

having trouble behind the

plate not having anyone close

to Dan Wilson. I am sure

we will see Wilson working

with the Mariner catchers

during the spring training

as well as the regular season.

I am sure we will hear and

see him the radio and television

on Tuesday nights too when the

team is at home depending 

the announcers are traveling

this season with the team.

Cal Raleigh is expected to

be starting the season at triple

A Tacoma this year. At some

point he could be brought up

to Seattle depending on whether

the Mariners do trade Murphy.

The chances are good that

Raleigh will be the Mariners

starting catcher in 2022 or 

share the position. Raleigh

is a good hitter and working

on improving behind the plate.

With his bat he may dh at times

to have a rest behind the plate.

It looks like the Mariners are

good for the future behind the

plate.

Next time we will look at first

base. Go M's. 

Full Spring Training Is Underway

The story behind Ken Mather along
with the fact he resigned as President
and CEO has been a distraction for
the players along with manager and
coaches for a day anyway. At least
this happened at the beginning of
spring training instead at the end or
into the season.

Marco Gonzales in a press conference

said that the veterans will help the

younger players to get through it.

Also, the relationship of the players

is with general manager Jerry Dipoto

and manager Scott Servais. They have

built an understanding culture the last 

couple years. Other words they are

not really effected directly by Ken

Mather.

Now the position players are in camp.

Spring games begin this Sunday. The

next month we will see any surprises

to who makes the ball club. 

There won't be many spots open to 

make the roster. Starting rotation is

pretty much set. One pitcher could

get the last spot. The bullpen has

eight spots but only three really

have competition at.

Position player would be left field 

while Kyle Lewis in center and Mitch 

Haniger in right. The infield the only 

spot for a starter is second base 

otherwise the utility spot and catcher 

is set unless an  injury happens.

Mariners planning to go with six 

starters and eight relievers to begin

the season.  This leaves two spots

besides the starters and dh. The

Mariners don't plan to have an 

everyday dh so actually three spots.

Ty France is expected to dh more 

than any other player. He is expected

to play some first, second and third

base as well. Dylan Moore is the

one who might be the regular second

baseman along with Shed Long Jr.

giving another shot. Both Moore

and Long Jr. may play some left

field as well depending who wins

the spot there. The Mariners likely

give Jake Fraley the chance to win

it but Jarred Kelenic could work

his way on at the beginning of the

season though he could start the

season in Tacoma. 

Sam Haggerty who looked good

last September before being injured

looks to be the favorite to win the

utility spot. This would leave one

additional spot which could go to

a fourth outfielder. We will see.

Go M's. 

The Latest News From the Mariners

Ken Mather who was President and CEO
of the Seattle Mariners resigned today
for remarks he made on February 5 on
a meeting of the Bellevue Rotary Club
on zoom.

I won't get into the details of what he

said but what has happened for almost

a year with black lives matter not a very

bright idea to do so. Even if you believe

what you say don't say it before a group

of any kind for that matter especially

when you have a high position as President

and CEO of a baseball team or any 

organization. 

Mather has had some other issues of 

what he has said and done in the past

so you could say this is the last straw.

Likely he would have had to resign 

anyway if had no other issues before.

Now the question who takes over as

President and CEO of the Mariners.

Will they bring in someone else that

might be a well known name in baseball

or go with someone with business 

experience I guess we will see won't

we.

In another matter manager Scott Servais

has announced that Marco Gonzales will

be the opening day pitcher once again.

I wonder if he sticks around he will pass

up King Felix Hernandez. Of course, that

can depend on who and when the Mariners

have an ace on the staff. We all know 

Marco Gonzales is a good pitcher but he

isn't really an ace when you identify one

it is the truth the Mariners haven't had one

in a few years. 

The Mariners have brought back James

Paxton this year on a one year deal, He

is the closest the Mariners have had to an

ace since Felix was going on for most of

his time until the last couple seasons in

Seattle. If Paxton wasn't the ace it was

injuries keeping him from doing so. He

returns to Seattle after experiencing 

injuries while in New York. We hope

to see the true Paxton in 2021.

Most likely Logan Gilbert will be the

next ace for the Mariners and that could

happen as early as 2022. Wouldn't that

be the deal if that were true. The Mariners

have a couple of other pitchers on the 

farm who may fit the bill as well. We

will see. 

I would more likely say Marco Gonzales

is a good two or a three. With what is 

coming down the pike he could be the

number four in the rotation which won't

be a bad thing. 

So we may think this year's starting 

rotation might not be very good but

this could be the end of it for a number

of years. The Mariners have other 

pitchers in the minor leagues who 

they may trade for other parts to help

out or be put into the bullpen. It is

hard to say whether it is good to put

a starting pitcher in the bullpen if he

fits the major leagues but not in the

rotation. Exciting time ahead. Go M's.

A Look At Some of the non-roster invitees

The Mariners are having a number of players
in camp during spring training who are not
on the 40-man roster. This is where the name
of non-rosters invitees comes in.

Three players on the list are outfielders Jarred
Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez along with pitcher
Logan Gilbert. Kelenic and Gilbert are both
players who could start the season with the
Mariners however will see them at some
point as well.

Besides James Paxton returning to the starting

rotations another former Mariner is returning

as a non-roster invitee. The Mariners have

Roenis Elias invited on a minor-league contract.

Elias will be competing for a spot as a long

reliever or short lefty reliever for that matter.

We wish him the best hoping he still has something 

left in the tank.

Among pitchers invited are Matt Magill who

got off to a good start before being on the

injured list missing the remaining of the 

season. Mariners took a gamble and took

him off the 40-man roster.  Signed him to

a minor league contract. I am  surprised

another team didn't take a chance on him.

Another is Gerson Batista reliever who had

been on the 40-man roster as well. Batista

missed the whole 2020 because of injury.

The Mariners acquired Batista in the Cano

trade. He is a hard throwing righthander

who can have a spot in the Mariners bullpen.

There aren't a lot spots available so might

start the season in triple-A.

The Mariners have five catchers in camp

besides Murphy and Torrens who should

be the two starting the season. One of the

five is top prospect Cal Raleigh who should

start the season in Tacoma. One of the other

four will be in Tacoma as well. Since there

are a lot of pitchers in camp need enough

catchers to be used for the pitchers to throw

too. 

The Mariners will have three additional 

infielders in camp in Jordan Cowan, Sam

Travis and Jantzen Witte. Cowan and Witte

are both listed as third baseman. Neither 

has played in the major leagues. Most

likely start in Tacoma but will compete

for the utility role. Witte is 31 years old

so this is likely his last chance. Sam

Travis is listed as a first baseman. He

is the only one of the three who has

played in the major leagues with the

Boston Red Sox. He is bringing depth

to first base in case of an injury happens

to Evan White or makes the ball club

at the dh spot as well. Likely start in

Tacoma unless another team finds 

interest in him if he has an outstanding

spring training.

In the outfield the Mariners have three

additional outfielders besides Kelenic

and Rodriguez. The three most likely

will begin the season in Tacoma. They

are Eric Filia, Luis Liberato and Dillon

Thomas. Filia has hit well throughout

his career in the Mariners system, however,

he doesn't hit with power. Most likely

makes the team being a backup, however,

since the left field spot is open he could

be starting there. Liberato has had a 

solid career in the Mariners system as 

well. His batting average isn't as good

as Filia but has hit with a little more 

power. His defense would give him a

better chance to make the team. He to

will likely start the season in Tacoma.

Thomas resume' looks like Liberato's. 

All three are left handed hitters so they

could have a spot though Jake Fraley 

at this point has the edge over all three,

however, you never know.

So that is the look at some of the invitees

to spring training. We might come back

to any of them who are having a good

camp along with any other outsiders

looking in. We wish the best to all of

them. We always root for someone

who might make the roster unexpectanly.

Go M's. 

It is Official

Wednesday the pitchers and catchers
reported for spring training so baseball
is officially on. I am sure glad they didn't
postponed spring training.

The days ahead we will be looking at

the return of James Paxton and see how

former first round pick Logan Gilbert 

looks on the mound. I am sure fans will

want to look at the new guys on the team

as well.

In the outfield fans will want to see 

Jarred Kelenic. I am sure most everyone

is hoping he comes to Seattle on opening day.

He will have to force the Mariners to choose

him. Also, to see Kyle Lewis in season two.

Who will be at second base as well. Dylan

Moore or Shed Long making a second try.

Behind the plate it will be nice to see Tom

Murphy back in action after missing all of

last season. Also, see more of Luis Torrens

the Mariners picked up in the Austin Nola

trade.  We expect Murphy and Torrens sharing

the load at catcher.

The pre-season games begin at the end of the

month on February 28 against the San Diego

Padres. The Mariners will have Monday March

1 off but then play everyday until March 28.

They finish spring training games on the 29th

against the Cincinnati Reds before heading to

Seattle to take on the San Francisco Giants

on April 1 in a three game series. They don't

lay on Sunday the 4th which is really odd

because it is the only Sunday of the season

they don't play. The first TV game will be 

on March 12 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Next time we will look at some of the players

who are not on the 40 man roster trying to

make their way onto the team. Go M's. 

 

James Paxton Returns

The word came out on Saturday the
Seattle Mariners signed James Paxton
to a one-year contract.

I was hoping to see Taijuan Walker

back in a Mariner uniform.

Only four days until spring training

when the pitchers and catchers report.

It should be an interesting spring

training this year. See what youngsters

make the ball  club.

Only seven relievers so be interesting

to see who makes up that group. There

is probably competition for two spots.

The position spots left field and second

base will be fought over. 

See any more news comes up before

training camp begins. 

Russell Wilson Speaking Out

On KIRO Am the last coupe days they
have been speaking about Russell Wilson
speaking out on the Dan Patrick Show.

Wilson said he liked winning but didn't

like be hit so much. I guess we could

agree with him on that one.

The on-air personalities didn't mind

what he said just how he said it.

My opinion the NFL season is now

over and they have to talk about 

something in regards of the Seahawks.

I wish they would start talking more

about the Mariner spring training coming

up. Since the Seahawks have been winning

under Pete Carroll it is more important

than anything else during the off-season.

Personally people should be involved

in other sports as well. I know it won't

happen.

I enjoy the Mariner off-season but I am

not going to talk about over the Seahawks

when they are playing and should be the

same the other way. On the air personalities

are there for football though.

If they talk football then they should give

equal to the Washington Huskies a well.

In some respects I wish the Seahawks 

were losing so the focus would be off

of them. Probably won't happen because

if they were losing they would talking

about what they have to do to get them

back to winning. This year it is why they

didn't get far into the playoffs. Russell

Wilson was able to take the focus off

that too.

I wonder when the Kraken start playing

and they are winning whether it will still

be about the Seahawks. I expect so since

more people are more interested in football

then anything else, 

Wilson is right the offensive line has been

terrible for a number of years. They have

had some good offensive lineman but they

go elsewhere being paid more money.

I guess he could have spoken better than

sounding like he was throwing them under

the bus. Again I have to say I don't really

care in February. It should be able college

basketball and baseball. 

It isn't like they don't talk about both it is

just the time is still mostly about Seahawks.

You listen to one program then wait a little

while and the next program talks about the

same thing.

Now let's talk about how to fix the offensive

line if that is the problem than about Wilson

throwing them under the bus.

This is all I am going to say about the subject.

I don't want to say anything more until the

NFL draft but they will drag it out for the

next two months I know. Take the rest of

this week away from sports radio and tune

back in next week you will hear the same

thing. 

Oh yes Mariner spring training starts next

Thursday isn't that good news with the

pitchers and catchers. Let's see who else

Jerry Dipoto brings into camp. Have 

up to dates if something news worthy

happens. Thank you for letting me

give out my opinion. 

Spring Training Coming Up

Spring training for the Mariners pitchers
and catchers report on February 18. I can't
wait how about you?

I am glad the players didn't cave in to the

commissioner who wanted to wait six 

weeks to start spring training and move

the season back to the end of April.

Now we see whether Jerry Dipoto will

be able to get a left-handed outfielder

he is looking for along with a pitcher.

Rosters are going to be set at 26 players.

The Mariners may go with 14 pitchers

and 12 position players to start the season.

This could change just before season begins.

Each team will have a five player taxi squad

as well.

After the super bowl Seahawk quarterback

Russell Wilson was named the winner of

the Walter Payton Award. We congratulate

him on the award. He said he wants to win

and not get hit so much. I can't blame him

on that for sure.

The Washington Huskies men's basketball

team has a 3-14 record heading into the

final seven games of the season. They take

on USC and UCLA on Thursday and Saturday

followed by WSU Cougars next Monday.

It would be nice to win at least one of those

games.

Last Friday athletic director Jen Cohen gave

head coach Mike Hopkins a vote of confidence.

Really wonder if it works out if the Huskies

lose all seven remaining games to end the

season in a horrible fashion. I guess we will

see won't we. 

Of course, Hopkins is owed $12 million for

the remaining of his contract through 2024-

25 season so might make a difference with 

what is happening with the finances because

of covid-19.

Until next time enjoy your sports. 

Start Of Spring Training Up In The Air

Baseball Spring Training Postponed

Not only we have to deal with covid and
in many instances not able to get the vaccine

it looks like major league baseball wants
to postpone spring training and the regular
season.

The proposal is to start training  on 

March 22 and the regular season at the

end of April and going to a 154 game 

schedule. Enough we had to deal with

only 60 games last season.

On the bright spot it will allow Jerry

Dipoto some more time to pick up

an outfielder and a pitcher.

We do some more talking about the

players on the team. We have to keep

the spirit up. 

We can enjoy Gonzaga basketball.

We hope the Cougars and the Huskies

start improving though I don't have

much faith in the Huskies right now.

 

February 1st

Here we are now beginning of February. We
usually look forward to spring training after
the Super Bowl next Sunday. This year though
it is scheduled on time we don't really know
whether it will have any troubles.

The Seahawks have a new offensive coordinator
coming over from the rival Los Angeles Rams.
See if the Seahawks go back to run first pass second
or try Russell cooks which I don't think will happen.

Until this last season the Seahawks ran the ball as

their first option. They are making it sound like they

have never done it before. 

The Washington Huskies men's basketball team was

blown out by WSU Cougars on Sunday. Not a big

surprise but I was hoping better after they beat Colorado

and Utah. I guess it is going to be one of those years.

I find it hard to watch especially after the last several

seasons. 

The Mariners pitchers and catchers will be reporting

in a couple weeks. We see if at least one more pitcher

is added to the staff. Jerry Dipoto is still looking for

a veteran left handed outfielder. Be someone who won't

hurt the development of the rebuilding process. I guess

could go the same for another starting pitcher.

We will see what players worked hard during the off-season

to improve themselves as well. Look forward to see Jarred

Kelenic in camp and whether he is ready to make the jump

to major leagues right out of the spring. 

Enjoy your first day of February and be looking forward to

this month.