Taijuan Walker and More

Taijuan Walker returned to the Mariners
this spring training after being released
by the Arizona Diamondbacks made his
first start of spring training on Monday.

Walker was released by the Diamondbacks
after having surgery on his elbow. He is
competing for the 5th starter with Justin
Dunn. Right now Walker is expected to
be the 5th starter; however, we won't know
likely for a couple more weeks.

Taijuan made his first start going three
innings giving up four hits, no walks,
four strikeouts and one run. The run was
a home run in the first inning off the leadoff
batter.

Justin Dunn pitched in the game as well
coming in relief of Walker. He to pitched
three innings giving up one hit, one walk
while striking out five batters and no runs.

If both pitchers continue pitching well
the Mariners may have to go with a
six-man rotation or one of them well
pitch in relief which probably would
be Dunn since he has experience in
that area.

The Mariners did end up losing the
game to the Milwaukee Brewers
2-1. The Brewers had a home run
in the bottom of the 9th inning off
of  reliever Taylor Williams who
ironically the Mariners picked up
off of waivers from the Brewers.

I noticed in the Brewers lineup
was former Mariner Justin Smoak
playing first base. He signed with
the Brewers as a free agent during
the off-season after playing five
years with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Omar Narvaez the Mariners traded
to the Milwaukee Brewers during
the off-season was not in the lineup
against the Mariners.

Kyle Lewis who had been struggling
at the plate for the Mariners is starting
to heat up had the lone run for the Mariners
hitting a home run in the 4th inning.

Logan  Gilbert the Mariners number one
pick in 2018 will start Tuesday for  the
Mariners against the Los Angeles Angels.

Wednesday will be Seahawk Wednesday
however I will give info on the Mariners
too.

It's Monday Sports Continue

I am sorry I haven't written for a couple days
because my mother passed away on Friday.
I hope to keep going here depending on how
busy I am otherwise.

The Huskies beat Arizona on Saturday to
sweep the two teams in the Valley of the
Sun. The only victories on the road in the
Pac-12 regular season

The Huskies play Arizona again on Wednesday
with the first round of the Pac-12 tournament.
The Huskies winning four games straight in the
tournament would automatically put them in the
NCAA tournament.

They play like the last two games it is possible
they go to March Madness. Go Dawgs!

The Mariners continue in spring training. Regular
season begins in 17 days when they take on the
Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on March 26.

The bullpen how it turns out will take over the next
17 days  Also, who will make the outfield on the roster
and the utility players as well.

Justus Sheffield is now throwing a two-seam
fastball instead of the four-seam. It seems to
be working for him.

Taijuan Walker makes his starting debut today
against the Milwaukee Brewers. He or Justin
Dunn will be the 5th starter.

Logan Gilbert is expected to start on Tuesday.
Probably won't be on the opening day roster
but we should see him sometime during the
season.

Justin Dunn Started Wednesday

It wasn't mentioned initially, however, Justin
Dunn started for the Mariners on Wednesday
against the Los Angeles Angels.

Dunn is competing with Taijuan Walker for
the 5th starter. Dunn went 1 and 2/3 innings
giving up one run on one hit, a walk and
struck out three. Not bad. Walker on the
other hand threw in a practice squad game
and he looked good.

Most likely Dunn will go to triple-A if
Walker wins the starting spot. If Dunn
wins Walker probably pitch out of the
bullpen in long relief. We are three weeks
exactly from the starting of the season
so the questions are still a ways off to
be answered.

The Mariners gave up only three hits on
the day; however, they lost to the Angels
2-0. The Mariners had four hits in the game.

We could see a lot of low scoring games
on the season. It depends on whether the
hitters go in a slump all at the same time.

The four hits by the Mariners were one each
by Evan White, Dan Vogelbach, JP Crawford
and Alen  Hanson the Mariners signed as a
minor league free agent.

Yusei Kikuchi is scheduled to start Thursday
against the San Diego Padres. The Mariners
are the home team. We hope for Kikuchi to
expand on his last outing. Most likely he will
pitch three or four innings depending on his
pitch count. Go M's.

Seahawk Wedesday

Another Seahawk Wednesday. It seems like it
comes again so fast.

Last week the Seahawk brass were at the
combine to check perspective draft picks.
I am sure they will be looking at picking
another defensive lineman in the first or
second round depending whether they
move down or not. The history of the
Seahawks since Pete Carroll and John
Schneider is to move down and add more
draft picks.

Now that the combine is over they are
now looking to go after free agents
whether their own or those from other
teams. Clowney is the first priority to
sign at defensive end.

Far as the draft besides a defensive
lineman they will be looking for a
offensive lineman, a good cover
cornerback to begin with. I am sure
a wide receiver and a running back.

The Mariners had Tuesday off so back
to games on Wednesday. Nestor Cortes
a lefty the Mariners picked up from the
New York Yankees during the off-season
will start the game. He has primarily been
used in relief though he has started a few
games in limited major league experience.

Washington Huskies play Arizona State
in their next to last game of the regular
season while WSU Cougars take on
Arizona both games on Thursday. They
reverse teams on Saturday. The Pac-12
tournament will come up soon. Only
chance either the Huskies or Cougars
 have to make NCAA tournament is to
 win the Pac-12.

Sheffield Had A Good Day

Justus Sheffield had a good day going three
innings on Monday. He gave up two hits, one
run and struck out four without giving up a
walk. The one run was a home run in the first
base.. He looks to being ready for the season.
It will be nice to see what he does over the
course of a full year.

Evan White was back into action on Monday
He had a couple hits including a double and
driving in a couple runs though the Mariners
lost the game to the Colorado Rockies.

Top prospect Jarred Kelenic had his first home
run of the spring. The first of many for the
Mariners we hope. Will it be hard for the
Mariners to send him to the minor leagues.
We will see won't we.

Kyle Seager is having a good spring. He
had three hits on the day including a double.
Kyle usually gets off to a slow start on the
season so he should save some of those hits.

Tim Lopes had another hit to keep his spring
going along just fine. He is looking to keep
it going for the season making the ball club.

The relievers didn't have a good day. It is
likely showing who won't make the team.
Joey Gerber pitched the last inning for the
Mariners not giving up a hit and striking
out two so he is vying for a spot. At this
point hard to know whether he makes it
or not. Go M's.

Another Week Of Spring Traning

Sunday the Seattle Mariners lost to the Chicago Cubs on the road
7-3. JP Crawford had a hit so he is hitting well so far in the spring
batting .455. Daniel Vogelbach played first base he had one hit
now batting .305.

Austin Nola and Tim Lopes are both having good springs so far.
Nola started again at catcher while Tim Lopes came later in the
game at third base. Each player had a hit while Lopes drove in
a run as well. Nola likely the backup catcher though the Mariners
will try to get him into games at other positions as well while
Lopes is competing for the utility position. Dee Gordon will be
the primary utility player but the Mariners may go with two so
Dylan Moore who was on the team all last year and Lopes are
the guys who are competing the most for the other spot.

Mallex Smith had a good day having two hits. This year Smith
is wanting to stay healthy when last year he missed time during
the spring. He missed the trip to Japan as well.

Kelly Graveman expected to be the 4th starter pitched two innings
giving up one hit and  no runs.

The Mariners are playing in Peoria on Monday against the Colorado
Rockies. The game is already going. Justus Sheffield who pitched
two scoreless in his first outing gave up a run in the first inning.
The Mariners are up to bat now. Evan White is back in the lineup
after missing a few games because of an injury. Kyle Seager got
a hit while playing third base. Dee Gordon is in the lineup at
shortstop once again.

The game is tied as Vogelbach drove in Seager in the first inning.
Other news reliever Matt Festa will be lost for the season as he
is going to have Tommy John surgery. We wish Matt the best.

Tuesday the Mariners will have the day off . Wednesday they
will be taking on the Los Angeles Angels. Thursday they will
take on the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday
Oakland A's on Saturday and San Francisco on Sunday. Go M's.

Nice Outing By Gonzales

On Saturday Marco Gonzales had a very good
outing going three innings giving up just one
hit, no walks and two strikeouts.

The Mariners have Tuesday off so it might
mean Gonzales next outing might be on
Friday.

The Mariners were leading 3-0 when Marco
left the game; however, Art Warren had trouble
getting the ball over the plate and an error
by JP Crawford allowed the Kansas City
Royals to score six runs. The Mariners were
able to tie the game scoring a run in the 6th
inning and two more in the seventh. The
Royals though scored two in the 8th and
one more in the 9th with a home run off
Dan Altavilla So the final score was Royals
9 Mariners 6.

I was hoping that Art Warren would pitch
better I am rooting for him to be healthy
and have a good spring. He certainly will
have to do a better job to get a spot in the
rotation.

Yoshihisa Hirano breezed through one
inning for the Mariners without giving
up a hit. Brandon Brennan followed going
an inning as well just giving up one hit.
Both of them are expected to be in the
Mariner bullpen when the season starts.

Back to Dan Altavilla. He has all the talent
to be an outstanding reliever. Health and
getting the ball over the plate consistently
has been his downfall. This year he has to
make the ball club out of spring training
because he is out of options. Other words,
he would be put on waivers if he were sent
to triple-A. Most likely he would be picked
up by another ball club.

In the hitting department catcher Tom Murphy
had two hits including a double. Also, Joe
Odom who came in for Murphy had a hit
driving in two runs. Odom invited into camp
as a non-roster player should start the season
at Tacoma. He spent last year at double-A
Arkansas and Tacoma.

Sunday the Mariners take on the Chicago
Cubs on the road. Kelly Graveman signed
as a free agent during the off-season will
start for the Mariners while Tacoma area
native Jon Lester goes for the Cubs. It
will be a good time for those position
players to face a pitcher like Lester.
Go M's.