Baseball Season Now Here

The Seattle Mariners season begins 

Thursday night in Seattle against the

Boston Red Sox for a four game series.

Luis Castillo will be the Mariners opening 

starter facing Brayan Bello. To be honest

don't know much about him. Bello started

28 games with a 12-11 record and an era

of 4.24. He went 157 innings which is 5.6

per start. This means he gave up about 3 

runs per start. He had 45 walks on the 

season and 132 strikeouts. Bello gave up 

just over one hit per inning. It does look 

like the Mariners will have to get to him 

early since he won't walk many batters.

Did give up 24 home runs so the Mariners

will have the chance to get to him. The key

 is Bello to make a mistake. 

Former Mariners dh Nelson Cruz will 

throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The Mariners starting pitching will be

as expected except Emerson Hancock

will be the fifth starter instead of 

Bryan Woo who begins the season

on the injured list. Woo is expected

to miss only one start however since

the Mariners are being careful with

Woo it wouldn't be surprising if they 

wait another start.

The bullpen will be as expected except

Matt Brash and Gregory Santos will 

start on the injured list. Most likely

won't be back until May.

Cody Bolton and Collin Snider are the

two expected to take the spots of

Brash and Santos. They will be at 

end of the bullpen so to speak.

Bolton the Mariners acquired from

the Pittsburgh Pirates last November.

He didn't give up a run in eight 

appearances  this spring so he would

be ahead of Snider. 

Snider the Mariners claimed off

of waivers from Arizona in February.

He pitched last year for the Royals.

He didn't have a great era during the

spring however that doesn't mean

so much. In his last outing on Monday

in San Diego he did give up three runs

and was only able to get one out.

He is likely the eighth member of the

bullpen so may not have much pitching

time except clean up. The Mariners

could go with someone else as well.

The position players are what was

expected as well coming into camp.

The main competition was in the 

outfield where Dominic Canzone

beat out Cade Marlowe who will

start in triple A. Canzone will likely

be the opening day left fielder.

Mitch Haniger who the Mariners 

reacquired in the off-season will

start in right field. He had an 

awesome spring and when the

lineup is announced he will get 

a big ovation. Luke Raley the

Mariners acquired from the

Tampa Bay Rays for Jose 

Caballero will begin as the fourth

outfield. He will spend time

mostly in left and right field 

though will see action in center

when Julio needs a day off

which won't happen often we

hope. He can play first base

as well so he will be in for

Ty France as well.

Dylan Moore had a very good 

spring and will be the Mariners

utility player. Most likely play 

left field against lefties depending

how Canzone is doing. Raley

didn't face a lot of lefties as

he and Canzone bat left handed.

Moore will see action at shortstop

when JP Crawford needs a day

off. Could see him all over the

place too.

The infield is Ty France at first

base. The Mariners are expecting

a bounced back year this season

from Ty.  Newly acquired Jorge

Polanco will start at second.

He had an awesome camp so

the question is well he stay healthy.

Josh Rojas who is expected to

start the season against righties

at third base while Luis Urias will

against lefties for the most part.

Urias came into camp injured.

Though he was able to play the

second half of camp is how will 

he do. The big question is how

well will Rojas and Urias do

playing defense. Can Urias stay

healthy to. We could see Dylan

Moore play some third.

The catching will be mostly

done by Cal Raleigh. He

probably get a day off on

either Saturday or Sunday

depending whether facing

a lefty or not. Cal is a switch

hitter however I see him

getting a day off most like

against lefties. 

Seby Zavala will be Cal's

backup. The Mariners

acquired him in the Eugenio 

Suarez trade with Arizona

in the offseason. Seby 

though is more known for

his glove than his bat.

Mitch Garver the Mariners

signed as a free agent will

be the everyday dh though

he is the third catcher as

well. Probably won't catch

often since they want the

to see him get hurt.

On the high side the Mariners

could win 95 games with their

pitching and improved offense.

Injuries would be of concern. 

They do have more depth

however be difficult if one

the starting position players

Is out for sometime. Go M's.