Saturday, March 12, 2011 @ 1:57pm
Felix loose in his intersquad tune up

Instead of pitching against the A's this afternoon Felix Hernandez threw four innings in a minor league intersquad game on Field 1 this morning. He allowed two runs on six hits walked none and struck out six while throwing 67 pitches, 42 for strikes and 1 "other" pitch.

Felix threw against familiar faces including Michael Saunders who is re working his swing mid camp. Look for it on the televised games. He is starting with the bat on his shoulder and has eliminated the extra hand motion he has displayed in the past. Saunders was one of the strikeout victims but he will take work on the new swing wherever he can get it right now.

As for Felix, he admitted that while he got good work in it is not close to the high intensity situations he finds himself in games that count. During the game he kept it light for the most part, arguing with catcher/umpire Chris Jimenez over balls and strikes, talking with teammates in between innings and having a quick exchange with his brother who was on hand to watch with some of the other minor leaguers.

He was touched up for the hits by Steven Baron (2 doubles), Mike Carp (double and single), Greg Halman and Kyle Seager. He wasn't bothered in the least that his younger teammates got the hits.

"I know all these guys, we got pretty good talent here!" he said clearly encouraged by what he saw from them. "They swing the bat good and take good pitches. What was that guy, Seager? I throw a good pitch that any big leaguer swing at and he take it. 1-1 count and I say boy you are good man."

It was the change up Seager laid off of. In games against minor leaguers more often then not you see the young guys come up hacking. That wasn't the case today. Some including Seager and Baron put up some impressive at bats. Baron battled back from an 0-2 count to drive the ninth pitch of the at bat off the centerfield wall for his first double.

"At 0-2 I was just reacting," said Baron who refused to even joke about owning Hernandez today.

After working the count to 3-2 and fouling off a couple of change ups Baron got what he was looking for.

"I had a feeling he would come back with the curveball and he left it hanging. I saw the offspeed up and felt it come right into my barrel. It was good."

Hernandez was impressed by the at bat.

"I throw all my pitches and he foul off all my pitches and I throw my slider and hang it and he crushed me to the wall," he said with a laugh and a shake of his head.

Then there was Baron's second double.

"He threw me that curveball at my head, I thought I was going to die," he said with eyes wide. "I flinched, it came in for a strike, it was the most ridiculous curveball I have ever seen in my life."

Baron got out of the way of the curve that was a strike then Felix came back with what he called a good four seemer on the corner. It jammed Baron a little but he was still able to hit it into the gap.

Again, none of this phased Felix in the least bit. He was getting his work in and after had some fun. When his four innings were finished the reporters gathered outside of the dugout which is screened by a black canvas. From behind the canvas we heard,

"Do you guys want to talk to me?"

Why sure Felix.

"Any tv cameras today?"

No. No tv cameras.

"Well, I threw all of my pitches, arm felt good..." he started.

It had to be quite a scene, five or six reporters with notebooks out listening to a black canvas. If Felix wanted to do the interview from behind the canvas then okay.

"You want me to come out?"

Felix came out and the interview continued. He said there is still some work to be done this spring on the pitch that Baron hit out.

"Curve ball is always there. Slider is a little rough but I will keep working on it but my sinker...sinker was there. Change up is good but I am still working on my slider."

With Felix on schedule to pitch every five days until Opening Day he will have three more games to perfect if.

One last note from the game, Chris Ray who is coming off a calf injury threw an inning and gave up 1 run on 2 hits, walked 1 and struck out 1. He didn't look quite as sharp as he did in his sim game three days ago.

Saturday, March 12, 2011 @ 8:38am
Saturday morning Shawn Kelley

Listen to Kelley's thoughts on...

Due to the length of yesterday's never ending typical spring training game and the amount of news we had I failed to post Friday's Shawn Kelley attempt, and darn it, he's watching. So here is his latest segment. I give you Shawn Kelley on the biggest decision you make at the grocery store, designer dogs and who the top four seeds will be in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Saturday, March 12, 2011 @ 7:26am
First Cuts

With the minor leaguers now in camp the Mariners made their first cuts of the spring.

Optioned to AAA Tacoma: Mauricio Robles, Alex Liddi and Carlos Peguero

Optioned to AA Jackson: Johermyn Chavez

Re-Assigned to Minor League Camp: Yusmeiro Petit and James Paxton.

Liddi, Peguero and Chavez are three of the players who popped out at me the minute I walked into the clubhouse and continued to impress as we had the opportunity to watch them work and play in games. They are still young and still have work to do but if you want three players to watch and be excited about in the future these are three good ones. I will write more about them later next week.

Robles has a nice arm that many like but is still searching for that consistency. When and if he finds it he could be a nice addition to the big club.

These four players got a look at the major league clubhouse and a chance to work with the big league staff. While their futures look bright I don't think any had unrealistic expectations for this spring. It was fun to watch and will hopefully will continue to be so as they further develop at the minor league level.

Friday, March 11, 2011 @ 4:59pm
Michael Pineda struggles with command

It was not a walk in the park today for Michael Pineda, who struggled with his command and fell behind batter after batter in the Mariners' 5-5 tie with the Indians. It was mostly a bend-but-not-break performance with a final line of three innings, two runs off four hits and a walk. He struck out three and threw an unofficial 49 pitches, 27 for strikes.

His fastball command was the main culprit and when he was missing he often was missing by a lot. Even so he showed nice composure in coming back to strike out Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner after giving up a home run to Asdrubal Cabrerra to lead off the third.

"He was up a little," Eric Wedge said after the game. "He was rushing some of his pitches but he worked through it and finished strong in the end."

In watching the struggle Wedge saw something as well. Wedge is looking to see how he makes adjustments and his reactions when he faces adversity.

"Whether it be from the mechanical side of it or the emotional side of it or even the mental side of it, I think that everything we have seen thus far are toward the positive side of things," he said.

Pineda realizes that consistent command is something that he needs to work on and says it was his focus over the offseason. One mechanism he is using when he feels his mechanics are off is to step off the mound and slow the game down.

"When I am a little quick in my mechanics and my pitch is not a strike, off the mound I am thinking about control for the batter," he said.

When the mechanics are there he takes the opposite approach and that paid off today and helped him bounce back in the third.

"After the homer, I working a little more quicker so the hitter didn't have time to think," he said.

He estimates he threw seven or eight sliders, a pitch he takes pride in, and five change ups, the pitch he is working on. He needed them all today facing a mostly big league lineup, something he was excited to do. He was very animated when he talked about the opportunity he had today.

"Big leaguers in the lineup? I want it, it's good!" he said. "I want to throw in the big leagues so it is good. So I am thinking about good pitches for the big leaguers."

Pineda is making strides off the field as well. His six and a half minute session with the media was done without a translator. Not that he would have used it as he wants to work on his English but it is nice to have as a safety net, someone to help when he doesn't understand the question or have the words in English.

He apologized a couple of times for not understanding but gamely hung in there and answered every question asking us to make them short to help. You could tell he was anxious but trying hard and this is not an easy thing for a young player to do. It was good to see. I asked which was harder, the pitching this spring or the English? He gave a very thoughtful answer.

"The pitching is very hard. I like the baseball, I like the pitching. The English is very hard too. I like the English but I think the English is hard for me too," he said apologetically.

"I am working, I am working very hard too."

News and notes: There was much concern in camp today, not only for Ichiro and the Mariners team employees and their families in Japan, but for the Japanese media who spend the year with us as well. Ichiro declined to make a statement but Wedge after the game said that he had talked to him and thought that by all accounts he felt that the people he could get a hold of who he was close to in Japan were okay for now...I exchanged e-mails with a friend who covers baseball in the US for NHK and happened to be in Japan when the earthquake hit and she said that the communication in the country is understandably difficult right now. She was particularly concerned about the family of former Mariner Kazuhiro Sasaki, who she believes lives in Sendai. I will let you know if if I get any updates... Fourth round pick James Paxton threw his first bullpen today and by the looks of things the kid was a little nervous. He threw six or seven balls in the dirt prompting bullpen catcher Jason Phillips to yell, "Relax kid, no one is watching!" That was hardly the case as Jack Zduriencik and other organizational members were on hand as well as many of the pitchers in camp. Of Paxton, Zduriencik said he liked what he saw. "Big body, good arm, nice breaking ball. Nice."...Felix will throw in a minor league game tomorrow at 10:15 PST. That of course is 11:15 if you are down here. No word on what field yet...

Friday, March 11, 2011 @ 10:01am
Mariners' statement on earthquake in Japan

The Mariners and their ownership have just released this statement on last night's earthquake:

"The Mariners would like to join with people from around the world in extending our sympathy to the many families affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami centered in Sendai.

"The Mariners and the city of Seattle have a long and close relationship with the people of Japan. Particularly close to all of us here at the Mariners are the many Nintendo employees and their families in Kyoto, Tokyo and other parts of Japan and the many, many Mariners fans all across the country. Our thoughts and best wishes are with the families as they face this great challenge."

Howard Lincoln, Seattle Mariners Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Friday, March 11, 2011 @ 8:30am
Lineup, Pineda and the rest

The Mariners travel to Goodyear to take on the Indians today in a game that can be heard on 710 ESPN in Seattle. As most of the regulars have played in the last couple of days this lineup has the look of a spring travel squad.

Jo. Wilson 6
Rodriguez 5
Kennedy 3
Cust DH
Tui 7
Saunders 8
Ackley 4
Gimenez 2
Chavez 9
Pineda

Michael Pineda will get the start having been moved up one day so he doesn't pitch on the same day as Felix. He is scheduled to get three innings and Nate Robertson is to follow. The battle for number 5? Stay tuned...

Friday, March 11, 2011 @ 7:17am
Earthquake and Mariners update

The first concern in Mariners camp this morning is the earthquake in Japan and the ties that the Mariners have there. We just spoke with Hide Sueyoshi, Director of Minor League and International Administration for the Mariners, and he tells us that he has been able to talk with his family and friends in and near Tokyo and that the team has also made contact with their scout there.

A somber Ichiro arrived at his customary time, about 15 minutes before the daily team meeting. Teammate Jamey Wright walked over and said a few words to him, then Ichiro went on with getting ready for the day. He declined to talk to the media, both US and Japanese. Translator Antony Suzuki told us that Ichiro preferred not to talk as the news was still breaking and he did not yet know the full extent of the the situation. We asked if he had been able to contact his family in Japan and he said he had not.

Before Ichiro arrived we spoke with Antony Suzuki, who told us his wife was traveling in Japan but was safe. Ichiro's trainer Taka Morimoto also has family in Japan and we are told that they are safe as well.

Sueyoshi said that he is most concerned that he was not able to reach a friend who is with the Rakuten baseball team, which is located in Sendai, the area hardest hit by the earthquake. Sueyoshi believed that the team was traveling but could not be sure. One member of the Japanese media said that he heard that the team was in Sendai and was helping with rescue efforts.

Thursday, March 10, 2011 @ 7:35pm
Shawn Kelley back at it

Shawn Kelley Idol Judge

No, not pitching although everything on that end is going well. Shawn is still trying to take my job. If that doesn't work out he may try for a judge's spot on American Idol.

Thursday, March 10, 2011 @ 12:14pm
Mariners vs Angels-Bedard encouraged

Scorcher today, not a cloud in the sky, 88 degrees, slight breeze blowing out to left. Let's play ball.

Bottom 5

Let's jump ahead. Bases are loaded and I don't know why because I was writing about Bedard.

Saw that Laffey looked a little erratic out of the corner of my eye in the top of the inning.

Rodriguez grounds back to the pitcher, runner out at home.

Adam Moore up...3-0 takes pitch, seems to be looking at a lot of pitches today...walks. Bases loaded again.

Mangini up...wow. Beats out a dribbler up the middle. Pitcher just misses it, shortstop rushes slightly bobbles. Given a tough error, especially in the spring. Run scores, no rbi.

Liddi up with the bases loaded. Again. Oh of course he did. Slam. 2 days, 2 slams. Rizzs is ecstatic.

4th

Missed most of the 4th as we were in the clubhouse talking to Bedard. Looks like Lueke gave up a couple of runs.

Bedard saw what we saw. He was trying to throw inside and missing his spots. Consensus in the booth (not on radio but the broadcasters and others are in the booth) was some of those pitches were strikes.

"There were little command inconsistencies. Spring training. But that is what spring training is for," he said in the clubhouse after he left the game.

The run was not a concern. Nor was the fact that he was having trouble hitting a spot.

"The arm feels really good," he said. "Results are second, arm is first. If it feels good it is a positive. Hopefully it continues like this and right now it is."

As always Bedard leaves us with a caution that what we are seeing and what he is feeling is just one game and things could change. He told me after his last start that statements like these are to temper others expectations, not his own. When asked today if he was more excited or encouraged as he progresses through each start he still wouldn't admit to any excitement but encouragement was another story.

"Yeah it's encouraging," he admitted. "The more starts I have under my belt that I feel healthy is really good."

The shoulder he says is no longer in his thoughts. He feels like the same pitcher he was when healthy.

"I feel like that. We will see during the season but right now health-wise and stuff-wise I feel like before."

Bottom 3

Figgins bounces out to first, Bradley walks.

Smoak picks up his second walk of the spring. Told me this morning he was relieved to get his first. He is still searching at the plate a little.

New pitcher. Matt Meyers.

Langerhans strikes out on breaking ball.

Gross grounds out to end inning.

Top 3

Velazquez opens the third with a double to right. Bedard in Danger of giving up his first run.

Willits with the sacrifice to get him to third. Figgins handles the bunt no problem.

Lueke up in the pen.

Bourjos with a high chopper to Ryan. Borjos beats the throw. Bedard gives up his first run of the spring.

Bedard strikes out Trout on a nasty curve. 55 pitches, Wedge comes and gets him. Lueke in.

Bourjos steals second.

Wild pitch gets him to third.

Ryan handles a hot shot on one knee from Brandon Wood to end the inning.

Bottom 2

Langerhans hits one mid way up the wall in center. That is a shot. Double. Wall got in the way.

Gabe Gross avoids the wall. Mariners up 2 zip.

Wilson with a lazy pop fly to center. Wall was never in danger.

Scorekeeper says base hit to short for Ryan. It wasn't.

Moore stikes out looking. 3 pitches.

Ichiro eyes wall.

Grounds out to short.

Top 2

Bedard still a little off. Scheduled to pitch 3 but might run into a pitch count.

Chris Petit with a line drive single to right.

Bedard trying to hit the inside corner but no luck so far...

Take that back. Finds it and freezes Jacobo for the strikeout.

And our first Ryan to Wilson at second put out to end the inning.

Bottom 1

Ichiro reaches on a very Ichiroish chopper over third that Brandon Wood shook his head at...

Ichiro picked off at first after several throw overs. Not even close

Figgins with a nice 11 pitch that ended with a single to right.

Bradley swings at the first pitch and pops out to third. At bat was so fast gameday has Smoak up without Bradley hitting.

Smoak strikes out swinging.

Top 1

Angels brought what looks to be mostly their B squad. Willits flies out to right, Bourjos grounds out to first,

Bedard is scheduled to go 3 today, not as sharp with the location early on but the curve looks good. He is definitely working faster, let's see what happens if he gets someone on base.

Trout gives him a good at bat, fouls off a couple and takes a walk. Wood pops out to right, inning over.

Thursday, March 10, 2011 @ 8:59am
Mariners vs. Angels: How comfortable is Smoak in the middle?

Ichiro and Figgins have gotten it going early. Let's see if a Bradley/Smoak combination can hit them in. Lineup vs. the Angels:

Ichiro, DH
Chone Figgins, 3B
Milton Bradley, LF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Ryan Langerhans, CF
Gabe Gross, RF
Jack Wilson, 2B
Brendan Ryan, SS
Adam Moore, C

Erik Bedard, P

A lot of folks are saying that Justin Smoak is the key to the Mariners doing anything good offensively this year. It is a lot to put on a kid who has had less than 1,000 at bats in his professional career.

I was talking with Smoak this morning in the hall outside of the clubhouse and I was starting to ask what he does to deal with the mental side of hitting in the middle of the order when Jack Zduriencik walked by answered the start of the question.

"He's going to do a lot, that's what he is going to do, right?" he said as he fist bumped a smiling Smoak. "That's what he is going to do, have a nice year."

More pressure from the GM? No. Encouragement. Not that Smoak has any qualms about hitting in the middle of the order.

"The way I look at is I have been a middle of the order all of my life," he said. "Last year I hit 7th and 8th, which is part of being a rookie but I have been there my whole life. It is something I am comfortable with and I feel like I can do it at any level."

While some may argue that a young player can be better protected lower in the order, Smoak doesn't see it that way.

"It is no different," he said. "They are still going to pitch you the way they want to pitch you. No matter if you hit at the top or the bottom it is going to be the same thing day in day out."

Regardless of how he is pitched there still can be pressure hitting higher in the order, especially if guys in front of you get on. It will be up to Eric Wedge to gauge how Smoak deals with that pressure. It is great when you are hitting them in but what happens when you leave them stranded? Wedge has handled a steady stream of young players in his managerial career and he will have a close eye on Smoak and give him days off when needed.

News and notes: Franklin Gutierrez has left camp to fly to Florida with his wife to be with her father, Luis Salazar. Salazar, who is a minor league manager in the Braves organization, is being treated in an Orlando hospital after being hit in the face by a Brian McCann-hit ball. According to reports, Salazar suffered facial fractures and possible eye injuries but thankfully there was no brain damage...A minor league intersquad game is being set up for Felix Hernandez to pitch in Saturday. Felix was originally scheduled to start the Cactus League game against the A's but the Mariners prefer to hold him out of that since he will face them on Opening Day...Looks like there is a flu bug going around. Jack Wilson and Adam Moore missed days earlier this week. Garrett Olson was sent home sick today...Haven't gotten to the bottom of this yet but it appears that Milton Bradley must have lost a bet because the die hard Lakers fan walked into the clubhouse this morning wearing a LA Clippers uniform.