The Starting Rotation

The Seattle Mariners starting rotation is
pretty much set for the season. The sixth
spot is probably the only one up for grabs.

Justin Dunn right now is the one the 

Mariners are looking at for that spot.

Sunday Logan Gilbert had a good 

outing for his first appearance. All

depends he will probably start in 

triple-A when there season begins.

Yusei Kikuchi will be making his 

second start of the spring on Monday.

Not sure why it isn't Marco Gonzales

but I am sure the Mariner brass isn't

to worried about him since he is expect

to be the opening starter. James Paxton

hasn't made his first start. The Mariners

are taking their time with him. I am 

they aren't to worried about him either

other than making sure he is healthy.

I will be going over the other starters 

in the next few days. After that we

will look at the bullpen. Of course,

what players who are doing an 

outstanding we will look at too

Go M's. 

Kelenic and more

It looks like the question about service time
for Jarred Kelenic is on hold or is it since
he injured his left knee. How long will he
be out is in question. He could miss the rest
of training camp and of course triple A
season is going to start late. Most likely
he will do the end of his rehabbing in Tacoma
unless they feel best to leave him in Arizona.

Another of the Mariners other prospects 

Taylor Trammell who they got in the Austin

Nola trade at the end of the trading deadline

is having a good spring so far. He is batting

.375. Not a lot of at bats but still impressive.

He makes the team it will be as the fourth

outfielder though he could end up starting

in left field. He to can play all three of the

outfield spots.

Saturday the Mariners game ended in another

tie against the Oakland A's this time at 1-1.

The game went only seven innings and Sunday's

game is expected the same against the LA Angels.

The Mariners will be starting Logan Gilbert. Most

likely he will start the season at triple-A. At 

some point this season he should be on the

major league roster.

Justin Dunn made his first spring start on Saturday.

He went two inning giving up one hit and no runs.

The only trouble he did walk a couple of batters

however he did strike out two as well. We hope

he can start getting into control. Don't want him.

to throw too many pitches.

Nick Margevicius who was in the rotation last 

season went two innings as well. He gave up

no hits, one walk and struck out one. He will

likely start in the bullpen this season. 

Mitch Haniger Is Back

As far as right field goes it is nice to see
Mitch Haniger being back after missing
almost two seasons.

So far in training camp though there only

been a few games it looks as though Haniger

is doing well in right field. I am sure when

the season starts going he will be at dh on

occasion to have a day off in the field. 

Haniger will be near the top of the batting

order at one of the spots. Most likely he

will second in the batting order however 

he has been a leadoff batter well as clean

up batter for the Mariners so if another

player is struggling at their spot in the

order he could move in.

Right now the other outfielders on the

Mariners outside of Haniger and Lewis

are competing for the left field spot but

the extra outfielder or the regular

in left field will play right field when

Haniger is not on the field.

We could see Jake Fraley or Braden

Bishop in right field well as the other

two outfield spots. This is if they both

make the team. In camp though everyone

is looking at one of the two top prospects

in Jarred Kelenic. So far he is looking 

good. Wonder whether he will start the

season in Seattle or triple A. 

Triple A though season has been delayed

a month at this time anyway. Tacoma looks

to be the alternate training site again during

the period. Those in camp that don't make

the ball club will likely go to the alternate

site. There is talk they will have five players

going with the ball club not on the roster

in case of injury. We could see Kelenic in

that group if he doesn't make the ball club.

Thursday the Mariners had another tie for

the second straight game against the Chicago

Cubs 9-9. Mitch Haniger, Kyle Seager and 

Ty France hit back to back to back home runs

in the third inning. Justus Sheffield had his

first outing in spring having two impressive

innings. He is leading off like he ended last

season. 

Kyle Lewis in Center Field

Last year when the Seattle Mariners started
the season in late July I figured Kyle Lewis
would be in right field and Mallex Smith be
playing in center field. To our surprise Lewis
was in center field while Mallex Smith was
in right field.

Kyle Lewis showed us he was a better defensive
center fielder than Smith and a better hitter for
that matter. Mallex Smith didn't hit well and before
August was over he wasn't on the Mariners any
longer. We could say it wasn't one of the Mariners
better trades. I did a search on Mallex Smith and
he is in the New York Mets organization. I wish
him the best. Can't deny he is a hard worker but
his defense and hitting wasn't good for the Mariners
on two seasons while Kyle Lewis won the rookie
of the year in 2021 and we wish high things for
him. Lewis showed he can be right up there
defensively with Ken Griffey Jr, Mike Cameron,
and Franklin Gutierrez. Cameron and Gutierrez
are working in the Mariner organization in spring
training so I am sure they keeping an eye on Lewis.

What makes the Seattle Mariners organization on

the major league level now is they have choices in

center field when Kyle Lewis needs a day off in the

field. Whoever wins the job in left field can play in

center field as well. The primary candidates in left

field are Jake Fraley, Jarred Kelenic and Braden 

Bishop. All three can play a good center field as well.

The Mariners go with four outfielders then two of 

those three will be on roster on opening day.

Last year for much of the season Kyle Lewis was the

only true outfielder on the team. They had to use utility

players like Dylan Moore and Tim Lopes in the out

field. Moore got in a few games in center field He did

an adequate job but wasn't like Lewis or those three

players competing in left field who can move over

to center field when needed and do a good job too.

The Mariners game against Chicago Cubs on Wednesday

ended up in a tie as the Mariners scored two runs in two

runs in the top of the ninth to make it 8-8. Ljay Newsome

started the game going two innings but gave up four hits

and two runs. All the relievers were guys competing for

a spot in the bullpen. There is a strong possibility none

of them will be in the bullpen on opening day.

The Mariners starting lineup were made of reserves for

the most part though Dylan Moore was at second base

leading off followed by Kyle Lewis and Ty France playing

at third. Jarred Kelenic was at dh where he hit a home run

and Jake Fraley in left. The rest of the players were 

guys competing for spots on the team or working toward

being on the 2022 team. Go M's. 

 

Left field and more

The Seattle Mariners lost to the Cleveland
Indians on Tuesday afternoon 6-1. Yusei
Kikuchi pitched two innings giving up a run
in the first inning. He did strike out three
batters so that is a good sign. The relievers
in the middle of the game didn't fair so well.

News came out on Tuesday that major league

baseball decided to delay the opening of triple-A

for a month. So the question now will Jarred

Kelenic make the Mariners team or not. I am

sure the issue of service time will come up again.

Kelenic is one of those competing for the left 

field spot which has an opening with Kyle Lewis

in center and Mitch Haniger in right field. Kelenic

is one of those who can play any of the outfield 

positions and since left is the open competition

right now it makes sense he could start his career

in left.

The other candidates for left field are Jake Fraley,

Braden Bishop, Taylor Trammell, Jose Marmolejos,

and utility player Sam Haggerty.  Shed Long might

have a shot depending on how he hits and competes

at second base. 

If Kelenic doesn't make the ball club out of spring

training then Jake Fraley and Braden Bishop would

be the main players to get the position. The question

for both can they hit major league pitching. Anyway

let the best player win. 

Seager At Third

The Seattle Mariners are playing their
second game of spring training Tuesday
against the Cleveland Indians. As we
continue through spring looking first at
the position players. Now we are at third
base after catcher, first base, second base
and shortstop. So third of course makes
the round of the infield.

Those who are Mariner fans knows this

long time Mariner will likely be leaving

after this season. He is in the last year

of his contract plus an option for next

season which sounds the Mariners won't

pick up unless he has an outstanding 

season and under that circumstance he

could be traded.

The thing about the option for next season

if Seager is traded before the season is

over it becomes a player option where he

actually will make more money. So the 

Mariners will either have to pay him more

depending on what they get in the trade

though could do so anyway or the team

who he is traded to has pay the salary.

For the most part it has been a good ride

to have Seager with the Mariners. After

Felix Hernandez contract ended after 2019

Seager became the longest current member

of the Mariners. Until 2019 when Kyle

Lewis was brought up in September then 

became the regular starting centerfielder

the Mariners hadn't had a player at position

since Seager had come up. We now hope with

the rebuilding we will see position players

along with pitchers coming up through the

system on a regular basis.

Kyle Seager for the most part will be starting

at third base until he is traded or the option

isn't picked up after the season is over. Ty

France may play some third base when Seager

has to have a day off. France is a good hitter

but his fielding is questionable, however, I

am sure he is working on his defense during

spring training. 

Dylan Moore who is expected to be the 

starting second baseman this season could

play some third base as well. Also, Sam

Haggerty expected to be utility player may

see some games at third base too.

The Mariners have several third basemen

in their farm system but none of them are

ready to go. Donovan Walton who began

his career at shortstop has seen action at

second and third base. He likely will start

the season at Tacoma unless he beats out

Haggerty as the utility player. Walton would

have to be ready to go as the Mariners most

likely want him to play everyday. If Seager

were to get hurt or traded Walton then would

probably be brought up to Seattle. This would

depend to on what the Mariners get in return

for Seager.

The Mariners do have two players in camp 

who have third base experience but likely

they will start the season in Tacoma. They

are Jordan Cowan and Jantzen Witte. Neither

player has major league experience though

they have played in triple-A.

The Mariners top prospect at third base is

at #17 Austin Shenton. He was drafted by

the Mariners in 2019 in the 5th round. He

could be moving up through the Mariner

system quickly because of his bat. Shenton

is a Washington native out of Bellingham.

He has to work on his defense.

Joe Rizzo is listed at #22 he was drafted out

of high school in the second round in 2016.

Though he is still young this could be the

year he makes it or not. Like Shenton he

bats left handed and he is a similar type

of hitter as well. He is expected to start

the season at double-A.

The third prospect is Tyler Kennan drafted

this last year in the 4th round. He was in

camp in Tacoma during the last season but

likely start in single A this year. He to bats

left handed. So whoever of those three

becomes the Mariners third baseman in the

future they will bat left. Kennan though it

will be his bat that makes him to the major

leagues. Most likely he could be the Mariners

designated hitter with playing third base

and first base on occasion. Yes the Mariners

will likely see how he works out at first base.

With Evan White being around if he is able

to hit no one else will have a chance to play

first base except on occasion.

So that looks like third base for now and the

future. Next time we will look at left field.

Go M's. 

Mariners Win First Game of Spring

As we know spring training games don't
mean a whole lot except those trying to
make the team. The Mariners did win the
opening game 5-4 with Julio Rodriguez
driving in Jarred Kelenic with the winning
run in the bottom of the 9th inning. Something
we hope to see a lot of in the future for sure.

The Mariners did start the game with what is

expected to be their opening day lineup. The

only exception might be Jake Fraley who started

in left field. I actually hope he wins the spot if

Jarred Kelenic doesn't open the season in Seattle.

Mitch Haniger started in right field and had a

hit in his first at bat. He batted in the second spot

of the order. Could be where he is all season long

however his versatility he could end up anywhere

in the order.

Kyle Lewis and Kyle Seager batted third and fourth

in the lineup as they did most of last season. As we

know this will be Seager's last season in Seattle 

whether he gets traded this year or  his option isn't

picked up after the season. 

The rest of the lineup was Ty France at dh followed

by Dylan Moore at second, Evan White at first, Tom

Murphy at catcher, with Jake Fraley in left. 

As we have looked at the position players and will

continue for several more posts JP Crawford is the

Mariners starting shortstop. Right now he looks to

continue in leadoff spot. His two previous seasons

Crawford has gotten off to a good start hitting but

not so much in the second half. We hope he is in

shape to have a full season at the plate. Of course,

he will have his moments where he will be in a

slump, however, it only happens for a short period

of time. Crawford's best spot would be second in

the lineup where being a left-handed hitter he can

move the runner along by pulling the ball. The 

Mariners don't have too many to lead off at this

point.

Crawford we hope another steady time on the

defense side as he one the gold glove last season.

When he needs a day off the best choice would

be utility player Sam Haggerty though Dylan Moore

can fill in as well. Donovan Walton came in at short

in this first game for Crawford so if he misses anytime

Walton could be the guy at short. He likely will be

starting the season at Tacoma. Want him playing every

day instead of being on the bench.

So this is what we see the options at shortstop though

Crawford will be in the lineup most of the time. Next

up will be third base. Go M's.