Getting Ready For Opening Night

Marco Gonzales didn't have a good
game on Friday night but he is getting
ready for opening night and that is
what counts.

Marco gave up five runs in the second

inning. It included a three-run homer.

He left the game for throwing more 

than twenty pitches then returned in

the third inning under the rules of

spring training. 

The Mariners were able to comeback

after being behind 5-1 to win 7-6.

Not sure it will happen very often

during the regular season however 

it would be nice.

The bullpen did a fine job giving up 

only one run in four and 1/3 innings.

We are hoping with several new 

pitchers added to the bullpen it will

be good enough to add more victories

during the 2021 season.

We know over the last few seasons

the bullpen has not helped out a 

whole lot for sure. It will be important

the starters go deep enough to keep

the bullpen rested. Going at least

six innings for the rotation let it

be that way. Having a six-man

rotation should keep the starters

fresh as well.

Mariners had four players having

two hits in the game in Mitch Haniger,

Kyle Seager, Kyle Lewis and Jarred

Kelenic. Haniger had a triple while

Kelenic had a double and Lewis a

home run. Kelenic ran the bases as

though his injury isn't affecting his

running the bases too much. Kelenic

played in center field while Lewis

was at dh for the game.

Outside Kelenic the Mariners had

most of there starting players in the

lineup. The question is well Kelenic

start the season in Seattle or not.

We still have almost two weeks

for the answer.   Go M's. 

In other sport news there was talk

Chris Carson would go to the Miami

Dolphins however he actually signed

back up with the Seahawks on a two-

year deal so it looks like he will still

be the primary running back. 

Justin Dunn Rough Start

The Seattle Mariners beat the San Francisco
Giants Thursday night 6-3, however, Justin
Dunn had a tough time getting out of the
third inning. Dunn continued to have
problem walking batters as he walked
three giving up one hit in two and 2/3
innings. This led two three runs. It
would be good if he won the starting
spot or Ljay Newsome since a second
right hander in the rotation would be
good.

Nick Margevicius continues to have a

great spring. He went four innings,

giving up four hits, no walks and 

striking out six batters. He certainly

deserves a chance to start, but do the

Mariners need five lefties in the rotation.

Aaron Fletcher is having a good spring

training giving a good chance to be the

short lefty reliever out of the bullpen.

He pitched one inning, giving up two 

hits, a walk but struck out three batters

and not surrendering a run.

Taylor Trammell continues to be 

impressive at the plate having two 

more hits including a double, scoring

two runs and driving in a run at the

leadoff spot.

Ty France continues having a hot spring

with two more hits. He certainly has a 

spot on the opening day roster. He has

been hitting well since he joined the 

Mariners at the beginning of last September.

Kyle Lewis is starting heating up at the 

plate. He had two hits both doubles raising

his average to .269.

The Mariners take on the Chicago White 

Sox Friday night with Marco Gonzales on

the mound. So far Marco hasn't given up

a run. This will be his third start of the spring.

He will have one last one before opening night.

Seahawk Moves and More

The Seattle Seahawks were busy on
Thursday. They re-signed center Ethan
Pocic, along with defensive tackle Poona
Ford and special team Nick Bellore.

The Seahawks signed free agent tight end

Gerald Everett from the Los Angeles Rams

to a one year contract.  Made a trade with

the Las Vegas Raiders for guard Gabe Jackson.

The Seahawks lost wide receiver David Moore

to the Carolina Panthers. Not a big surprise.

Also, word out Chris Carson to the Miami

Dolphins.  This means the Seahawks will

have to find a replacement or draft a running

back to take Chris Carson. 

Chris Flexen and Mariners Lose

The Seattle Mariners took on the LA
Angels Wednesday night losing 7-4.
Chris Flexen in his third start of the
spring didn't do so well.

Flexen went three innings giving up

six runs on nine hits, one walk and

striking out four. He gave three

runs in both the first and second

inning. On the positive note at least

if you are going to lose to a team

do it in spring training.

The Mariners four runs all happened

in the sixth inning when Evan White

hit a grand slam home run. White has

been struggling at the plate  so this is

a good time to get going with two

weeks until regular season starts.

Jarred Kelenic is now back into action

after having an injury earlier on. He

scored one of the runs ahead of White's 

home run. He walked to load the bases.

The Mariners had four hits in the game.

The game went seven innings which was

agreed before it was started as the Angels

had limited pitching. Besides White's

homer, Dylan Moore, Kyle Seager and

Tom Murphy each had a hit. Murphy's

was a double. He is starting to hit the

ball well now. 

Most of the remaining spring training

games will be played at night including

Thursday's game. Justin Dunn is expected

to start for the Mariners. They will be

taking on the San Francisco Giants. Nick

Margevicius should follow Dunn as they

are competing for the six spot in the rotation.

Last time Dunn pitched he came in for

Margevicius so those two have been 

alternating starting. 

Thursday night's game will be Dunn's

second start  three game of the spring.

He hasn't given up a run as of yet. It

would be nice to keep it that way. Go M's.

Sheffield Bounces Back

Justus Sheffield after having his worst
outing of the spring shut out the KC
Royals Tuesday night. The Mariners
won big 13-0. Sheffield gave up only
two hits in four innings with two walks
and striking out six. He will likely have
two more outings before regular season
begins.

The Mariners used four relievers all 

still competing for a spot doing a fine

job as well. News came out Roenis Elias

will be out this whole season. He is 

going to have Tommy John surgery

on his elbow. The Mariners gave him

a minor league contract to help out

for two years.

The Mariners had three home runs on

the night by Ty France who continues

to sting the ball mightily, Also, catcher

Tom Murphy and outfielder Julio Rodriguez.

Utility play Sam Haggerty had three hits

on the night including a double and a triple.

He looks like the favorite to win the utility

job. Tuesday night he played in center field.

The Mariners play the LA Angeles on Wednesday

night. The game will be televised on local 

television.  Chris Flexen will start his third

game of the spring. See how he goes. Go M's.

Griffin Twins Headed to Jacksonville

The word is out Shaquill Griffin is signing a
three year $44 million contract with the
Jacksonville Jags and his brother says that
he going home to. Both are from Florida.

Last season I don't think Shaquill didn't 

have a very good first half of the season. 

His brother started the season on the practice

squad so not sure going to miss either one of

them though they were a good story for several 

seasons.

News came out on Tuesday the Seahawks are

signing former SF 49er cornerback Ahkello 

Witherspoon. Sounds like they new they likely

would lose Shaquill Griffin. 

Running back Carlos Hyde also signed with

the Jags. I thought he would be back with the

Seahawks but it wasn't meant to be.  Chris

Carson is a free agent as well so there is a

good chance the Seahawks will lose him too.

What may keep other teams from signing him

to a lucrative contract is his injury history.

We will have to see what other signees the 

Seahawks come up with. This will be another

post on a day beyond the regular post. The 

Mariners will be primary over the baseball

season. 

The Starting Rotation

The starting rotation is pretty well set
except for the number six spot. Justin
Dunn and Nick Margevicius are competing
for that spot. On Monday Ljay Newsome
started instead of James Paxton who pitched
another simulated game just in case you
wanted to know where he is at.

The loser of the six spot will be in the 

bullpen when the season starts. It doesn't

leave a lot of spots open. This means there

three spots likely available out of the eight

roster spots with five pretty much guaranteed

already. Newsome could take one of those

three spots, however, he could be sent to

extended training camp or triple-A.

On Monday Newsome went 3 and 2/3 innings

against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He gave

two hits, one run, one walk and struck out three.

Newsome has an ERA of 3.12 so he is showing

he could be on the roster but is there a spot for

him is the question. Newsome is on the 40-man

roster which helps as well. We wish him the best.

The Mariners lost to the Diamondbacks 6-2 

with the bullpen giving up most of the runs.

Those pitching on Monday were pitchers still

competing for a spot. 

Taylor Trammell still looking like he could be

the opening day left fielder. He started Monday

in right field though. Trammell hit a double and

scored a run as well along with being the lead

of hitter. JP Crawford was the lone regular having

a hit in the game. He drove in a run too.

Justin Sheffield takes the mound Tuesday for the

Mariners against the Kansas City Royals. Sheffield

struggled in his last outing so the Mariners are

hoping for a rebound. He should be expected to

go four innings in this outing.

The Mariners made some moves sending players 

down. The big surprise to me was Brandon Brennan.

Having been on the Mariners roster the last two 

seasons he was sent to alternate site along with

Wyatt Mills. This means we will probably see

both players at some point in the season. Sam

Delaplane who the Mariners were hoping to 

make opening roster was sent to triple-A. He

is still considered one of the top relievers when

it comes to rebuilding but isn't quite ready yet.

The Mariners still have 36 pitchers in camp with

14 spots open so more will be moving on or sent

down in the next couple weeks. 

The Mariners still have five catchers in camp

though they will only keeping two in Tom Murphy

and Luis Torrens. How long the other three stay

will depend on the pitchers going down too.

The infield Jordan Cowan was reassigned to minor

league camp so leaves eight infielders not including

those who can play both infield and outfield like

Dylan Moore and Sam Haggerty. There are ten 

outfielders still in camp. Likely they will only

have four open day roster at the most since Moore

and Haggerty can play both infield and outfield.

Moore is expected to be the opening day second

baseman, however, he will could move to the 

outfield when Ty France is playing at second base

especially against left handed pitching. Go M's.