Mariners Pitching

The first four starters should be automatic.

Luis Castillo,  Logan Gilbert, Robbie Ray 

and George Kirby.  The 5th starter is the

one up for competition.

Right now the Mariners  have Marco

Gonzales  and Chris Flexen  as the two 

veterans competing for the 5th spot. 

Both could  be traded before or during 

training camp. Either one could be in

the Mariners  bullpen to. Both ones  

salaries are high to be in the bullpen.

Marco hasn't  pitched out of the bullpen

since being  with the Mariners. Both

he and Flexen would likely pitch multiple 

out of the bullpen. The question is how

spots be available for them. Most likely 

the Mariners  will go with eight pitchers

in the bullpen.

Emerson  Hancock  number one pick by

the Mariners in 2020 is the likely candidate 

of the youngsters  to be the fifth starter. He

could begin the season  in double-A Arkansas 

and be called up in May like George Kirby.

Two other youngsters are #5 prospect Bryce

Miller and #7 prospect Taylor Dollard. They

to could start at double-A Arkansas as well. 

A lot may depend on the health of the starters

as well.

The bullpen as I  said will likely  be  eight.

There are five that are almost for sure.

There is Paul Sewald and Diego Castillo 

as the veterans along with Andres Munoz, 

Matt Brash and Penn Murfee coming into

their second season. Munoz and Brash may

make their ways into the end of the bullpen.

Depending  on the others competing for the

bullpen we could see Diego Castillo being

dealt to a team needing  a veteran in their bullpen

This means the Mariners  may have two spots

open in the bullpen if either Gonzales or Flexen

go the bullpen. The Mariners acquired Chris Clarke 

in the rule 5 draft in December so he has to be

on the roster or sent back to  the  Chicago Cubs.

The Mariners  had Matt Festa most of last season 

as well. 

The Mariners  signed Casey Sadler to a minor league 

contract in December.  Sadler  missed all last season 

because of injury.  In 2021 Sadler had an outstanding 

season for the Mariners so if he is healthy and a strong 

spring  training  could be on the roster. The Mariners 

traded for Justin  Topa from the  Milwaukee Brewers

in January. They will have other minor leaguers invited 

to camp to. It will be interesting to  see what the bullpen

will look like coming out of camp. Go M's. 7

Ready For Mariners Baseball

Now that February  begins on Wednesday 

means baseball  is about ready to  start.

Players will begin to report to camp.

Those who don't  have  a  team being

free agents could still sign with the Mariners.

Bringing in a player who can play third

and first base would be a priority along

with another catcher. Another outfielder 

with experience  would be  good to.

A look at position  to position 

Catcher : Cal Raleigh the primary starter 

with Tom Murphy as the backup. Cooper 

Hummel if he makes the team is listed

as an outfielder,  however, he would be

the third catcher. With needing catchers

for spring training  there will be some 

minor leaguers  invited. 

First base: Ty France  is the everyday 

starter. Right now Dylan Moore is listed

as the backup.  Evan White who has been

injured the last couple seasons could be

backup and play some outfield to if he

makes the opening roster. Most likely 

White will start the season in Tacoma.

Second  base: Kolten Wong and Dylan Moore 

are expected  to  platoon. Wong expected

against righties  while Moore against lefties.

Tommy La Stella  recently signed may play

some  second base to.

Third base: Eugenio Suarez will start most of

the time with an additional time at dh if the

Mariners  want to give a day off in the field.

If so LA Stella or Moore can play there unless

the Mariners acquire another player.

Shortstop: JP Crawford  is the everyday player.

Dylan Moore  will play when Crawford needs a 

day off. 

Left Field: Jarred Kelenic  expected to  start 

against righties  as long as he has a good spring.

AJ Pollock  is  expected to start against lefties 

well as dh at times.  Taylor Trammell could be

in left field  if he has a better spring then Kelenic.

We could see Sam Haggerty  in left as well. 

Center Field: Julio Rodriguez  most of the time.

We could see Kelenic  in center or Dylan Moore 

if Julio  needs a day off. We would expect Julio

dh when that happens.

Right Field: Teoscar Hernandez  be the everyday 

starter. We could see Sam Haggerty  on a day off

or Kelenic or Trammell.

Note: this could change  depending  on  spring training 

and any new acquisitions.

Next post  we will  look at the pitching. Go M's 

Two Wins and Loss

We start with loss first. The

Washington Huskies were 

blown out by Arizona Saturday

afternoon 95-72.

The blow out wasn't a big 

surprise going into the game

but the Huskies led most of

the first half though halftime

was Arizona 38-36.Second

half was all Arizona.

The Huskies showed what they

are capable of with their talent

but couldn't sustain it. The Huskies now go on the road to 

play UCLA on Thursday and 

then USC on Saturday. They play the Cougars the following

Saturday. We will see how they

do over the next three games.

Keion Roberts Jr and Keion Merrifield scored 46 of the 

Huskies points. Merrifield a

freshman has been a  surprise.

The Huskies future with him

and fellow freshman Koren Johnson looks bright. Whether

Coach Mike Hopkins be still

around we don't know.

Washington State Cougars

played well besting Arizona State 75-58. Not great road

trip losing to the two Washington schools. They had 

done well beforehand.

Forward Andrej Jakkimovski

led the Cougars with 22 points

and Justin Powell had 20.

Mouhamed Gueye had 11 points and 15 rebounds.

The Cougars have been inconsistent on the season.They must play well

to get a win at either USC or

UCLA this week. 

At this point the Huskies and

Cougars look to be in.the middle of the pack in conference. The last they 

play UCLA and USC on the

season unless in the Pac-12

tournament. Both teams

should do well in the second

half of February after facing

each other. The Oregon Ducks

is the only difficult team they

are playing.

As expected Gonzaga beat

Portland Pilots 82-67. Not as

big a blow as their first game

in Spokane. The Bulldogs only

led 35-29 at halftime but took

care of business in the second.

Guard Julian Strawther who has played well on the season

but not what they expected

went off for 40 points. Maybe

Gonzaga will benefit the rest

of the way.

Forward Anton Watson was

the only other one to score

in double figures with 17.

Leading scorer Drew Time 

had only 8 points but he

needed a game off. Lol

This week the Zags will be

home Thursday against

Santa Clara followed by

Saint Mary's Saturday on

the road.Let you know how they do. 

Mariners and Seahawks off-seasons

We are now looking at the off-season 

for our Seattle Mariners  and Seahawks. 

The Mariners spring training  begins in

February  so players will be reporting 

soon. 

Jerry Dipoto  president of baseball 

operations  said the team needs a

corner infielder after signing AJ

Pollock for the outfield. They signed 

Tommy LA Stella recently let go

by the San Francisco Giants. The

Mariners  are hoping  he get somewhere 

near what he used to do. He is listed

as the dh on the 40-man roster. His

experience  has been  at second base.

Wouldn't surprise me if he works out

at first or third base though right now

Dylan Moore should be considered 

Eugenio Suarez backup  as well as

platooning at second base. The Mariners 

can still  find a player for first and third.

The Seahawks  have signed a number

of players to future contracts who likely 

will  see on the practice squad though

or two could make the opening day roster.

The likelihood  isn't  great since they have

nine draft picks at this point with at least

five will be on the opening day roster.

The big question  when will Geno Smith 

sign for the Seahawks and how many years.

The amount and years are in question.  We

hear anywhere from $25 million to $35  million

per year. The high number could strap the

Seahawks  on the salary  cap so how much

is quranteed will be the answer. 

We have different sites putting out a mock draft

but I  wonder how many teams will pick what

any of the mock drafts show. The key who actually 

goes first and the Seahawks at number five decide

to do. The Seahawks  could slide down and add an

additional  pick. Most feel the Seahawks won't 

draft a quarterback that early  but if the right one 

comes along they may. Does the quarterback sit

behind Geno Smith for a season? The likelihood 

the Seahawks will draft a defensive  lineman with

first pick. They may do so with the second pick too.

Just like they picked two offensive tackles last year.

Right now we have  college basketball to watch.

The Huskies  and Cougars are not playing well.

Gonzaga  not playing  as well as expected. An 

NBA fan there is the Portland Trail Blazers after all.

We continue to  see what continues to happen.

Enjoy your sport teams.

Huskies Win Cougars Lose

The Washington  Huskies  found a way 

to win despite getting off to a slow

start as they do most of the time.

Early  on the Huskies  allowed Arizona 

State to get off on a 12-0 lead before

getting their act together for a little 

while anyway.  During that stretch they 

had half the night's  turnovers with 11.

The Huskies did well the rest of the first 

half leading 32-20. Second half was the 

Sun Devils. The Huskies had the game won

but Keion Brooks Jr fouled allowing the

Sun Devils to tie the game with three foul

shots under a second remaing. Fortunately 

the Huskies won the overtime. Huskies 69

Sun Devils  66.

The Huskies  were  lead by Keion Brooks Jr

with 22 points while Noah Williams has been

playing well  with  18. Braxton Meah led the

Huskies with 11 rebounds. The Huskies went

with the starting  five most of the way despite

the terrible start. The question is the problem

with the players or coaching or both.

As expected the Washington State Cougars were

beat by Arizona 63-58. Why I  say expected because 

their first meeting  in Arizona the Cougars upset the

Wildcats and they couldn't afford another loss to the

Cougars. Both teams  had only two players scoring

in double figures. For the Cougars Mouhamed Gueye 

and Justin Powell  each had 15 points. Jabe Mullins 

who has been averaging 10.5 points a game coming

off the bench had zero in this one while playing 14

minutes. If he had scored half of his average the

game would have gone into overtime. 

The Huskies are now seventh place by themselves 

with 5-6 record in Pac-12 while the Cougars are tied

with Colorado in 8th place with 4-6. Now we see if

Huskies can sweep the Arizona schools with a win

over Arizona. With the way they are playing I doubt

it much. 

Next week  won't  be  any easier as both schools take

on UCLA  and USC on the road. Both could be sinking 

fast.

Let you know I  haven't  forgotten  about Gonzaga. They didn't 

play Thursday night. They play the Portland  Pilots in Portland 

Saturday  afternoon. The beat the Pilots two weeks  by 40 

points. Whether  they win by that much again or not they

should win. 

Seahawks Wednesday

Since the Seahawks  season  ended 

with the loss to the 49ers  in the first

round of the playoffs  they have signed 

several players to future contracts.

Most have been on the practice squad. 

I guess we have to see how the  new 

USFL works out. It would be good if 

players who want to  play in the NFL 

and are on the fringe or practice squad 

are able to play  in the spring.

The Seattle  USFL team is the Dragons

and their head coach is Jim Hanslett

former NFL  linebacker. Most of the

names on the Dragons team I don't 

know. The most notable name is 

Kasen Williams former Washington 

Huskies and Seahawks player. It

would be nice to see more Huskies 

and Cougars players on the roster. 

Speaking of former Huskies  players 

Jacob Eason who spent some time

with the  Seahawks  has signed a deal

with the  Carolina Panthers where he

spent some time last year on their

practice squad  before being let go

and going to  the 49ers practice squad.

Eason will have  more opportunity to

see what he can do this year. He originally 

was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts.

We are still  waiting  to  see when Geno Smith 

signs with the Seahawks or someone else.

Go Hawks!

Mariners Tuesday

Spring  training  is  coming up

less than three weeks.  I  am 

sure all of us baseball fans

are ready for  it.

Are the Mariners  in for making

another trade before training  camp.

Remember  the Jesse Winker and

Eugenio Suarez trade happened at

training  time.

I read a story  on  line about the

Mariners  trading Jarred Kelenic 

to the Cincinnati Reds.  Not sure

whether happen or not. Didn't 

see who they will get in return

either whether prospects or a

major league player.

I expect Kelenic  along with Trammel

will compete for the left field spot

against righties. Expect AJ Pollock 

playing against lefties. All three if

on the ball club will dh some as well. 

Former Mariner Jake Fraley had a good

season  last year for the Reds batting

.259 and obs of .344. I expect he is

playing in a platoon situation as well.

He had 12 home runs as well.  It would 

be nice if Kelenic  and or Trammell have

Fraley's batting average.  They both have

more power than Fraley.  With the World 

Baseball Classic happening in March

and Julio Rodriguez playing  for Dominican 

Republic  Kelenic and Trammell  will  get

plenty of at bats. Go M's.