Another Tie

The Seattle Mariners are playing a lot of
tie games this spring. It seems more than
I remember before. The final score was
Seattle 4 Los Angeles Dodgers 4.

 Chris Flexen got off to a rough start in

his second outing giving up a home run

to Kyle Seager's little brother in the first

inning. Flexen if he can be steady over 

the season it will be good for the Mariners.

Most likely he will be the third pitcher

in the rotation after two lefties start the

first two games.

Right now it is hard to know who the

first two lefties will be in the rotation.

Marco Gonzales is expected to be the

opening day starter. James Paxton hasn't

started or been in a game yet in the spring.

It may not matter as long as he is ready

to go when the season begins. Gonzales

has only pitched in one game himself

during the spring. 

It looks like the Mariner brass are looking

at other pitchers right now so I expect no

big deal. Regular season starts in three 

weeks so I expect we will see Paxton make

a couple starts along with two more by 

Gonzales. None of the starters have pitched

more than two games so far. 

The Mariners could have Kikuchi start in the

second spot while Paxton pitches fourth or

fifth in the rotation when the season begins.

Jake Fraley finally had his first two hits of

the spring against the Dodgers hitting a 

double then a three-run homer in the

fourth inning. 

Fraley and Taylor Trammell right now look

like the two outfielders who will spend time

in left field. Still three weeks away so things

could change. A lot depends when Jarred

Kelenic gets back into the lineup after his

injury. 

All three outfielders bat left so you

wonder if the Mariners will keep two or

just one of the three. Kyle Lewis and Mitch

Haniger both hit right handed so not a big

concern unless they figure to platoon in left.

Platooning in left field would mean the 

Mariners would keep Braden Bishop on the

roster or they could use utility player Sam

Haggerty as the right handed platoon player

as he is a switch hitter. Another option would

have Dylan Moore play left field against 

lefties and have Ty France at second base. 

Jose Marmolejos is having another good spring

training. He can play first base, left field and

dh as well. I wonder though he will make the

opening roster or not. He got off to a poor start

when the season began last year. 

We don't have to be too concerned about left

field right now. It will work itself out for sure.

The key is how the bullpen works out besides

the starting rotation. They will work themselves

out as well.

News came out on Thursday with conversation

with the governor T-Mobile Park will be able to

start out the season with nine thousand fans in

the stands. I am sure things will change over the

course of the season with the vaccine being available

for fans.

The first game of spring on local television will

happen Friday night as the Mariners take on the

Cincinnati Reds. Nick Margevicius will start the

game. Though he started most of last season with

four other lefties in the rotation he will probably

be in the bullpen unless injuries happen to one of

the other lefties.  He is starting so his arm will be

ready to go for the season regardless where he will

be.