Scooter Chapman
Mariner puzzle pieces fit nicely
Published on Wed, Feb 17, 2010 by Scooter ChapmanRead More Chapman
Believe big.
That's the 2010 Seattle Mariner slogan as pitchers and catchers get ready to report to the team's spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz., just one week from today.
Camp opens for real Thursday - that's tomorrow, sports fans - for the hurlers and backstops, then position players report Feb. 22 and drills begin for the full squad on Feb. 23.
The first spring game is March 3, then camp continues until April 1, the final Arizona preseason game, against the White Sox.
Then it's a pair of games in Albuquerque against the Rockies on April 2-3, a game with San Francisco on April 4 and - finally - the season opens April 5 against the Oakland A's in Oakland.
Seattle had a great year in 2009 under first-year coach Don Wakamatsu and hopes are high for this season after a third-place finish in the American League West.
Mariner general manager Jack Zduriencik was very busy this winter. Here are Z's key moves.
Nine big decisions
_ Ken Griffey Jr. - The popular Mariner re-signed for a year at around $2.3 million and he wanted to sign right away after last season. Junior had a very bad knee most of the season. He hit 19 homers, but, when healthy, can hit more than 30. Medical reports put him in at 10 or so fewer pounds and the knee seems strong after surgery.
He is penciled in as the designated hitter, no ifs, ands or buts, and it's his job to lose.
Griffey's presence in the clubhouse was great, along with Mike Sweeney, who is gone.
_ Cliff Lee - This Cy Young Award-winning lefty was obtained in a three-way deal with the Blue Jays and Phillies. He gives the Mariners a great one-two pitching punch with Felix Hernandez.
_ Felix Hernandez - Signed to a five-year deal worth $78 million. Great job.
_ Chone Figgins - The former Angel third-sacker gets $36 million for four years with an option. He's a good defender, can draw walks, can hit for average and has speed.
_ Jack Wilson - The shortstop signed a two-year pact for $10 million, an extension of the $8.4 million he got last year. He is one of the game's best defensive shortstops.
_ Brandon League - This hard-throwing reliever was with the Jays and gives the Mariners three solid late-inning hurlers: with League, a lefty, and Mark Lowe, from the right side, to set up David Aardsma, the closer.
_ Milton Bradley - The Cubs gave up this outfielder for Carlos Silva and it seems like a steal for the Mariners. Bradley has a bad rep, but maybe Griffey can keep him on an even keel. Left field is his to lose.
Seattle needed a right-handed bat a week ago and got one. With Bradley, a switch-hitter, they were looking for a backup outfielder with experience and found one in Eric Byrnes, a 32-year-old from Arizona who has been injured the past two years but says he is ready to go. They got another bargain as Arizona is responsible for all but $400,000 of his $11 million deal. He may be the right-handed designated hitter they were looking for.
_ Ryan Garko - They signed Garko, a 29-year-old right-hand hitting infielder/designated hitter type, from San Francisco. Garko is a career .279 hitter but a .313 hitter against southpaws, so now Wakamatsu has many options at first, in left field and in the DH slot.
_ Erik Bedard - Mr. Z inked Bedard to a one-year deal. Bedard, a big bust so far, had off-season surgery that the Mariners had to take care of. He signed a million buck deal for a year and just might help the team when he's ready to start hurling again, like in May or early June.
The roster
It's sort of fun to look at the 40-man roster and try to see which 25 players come north to start the season. Here are my choices:
_ Outfield - Ichiro Suzuki in right, Franklin Gutierrez in center. Bradley in left.
Backups will be Byrnes, Michael Saunders and Ryan Langerhans, although Ryan's days may be numbered because of the Byrnes deal.
_ Infield - Figgins at third, Wilson at short, Jose Lopez at second, with newcomer Casey Kotchman at first. Backups are Jack Wilson, Mike Carp, Jack Hannahan and Matt Tuiasosopo. Probably Wilson and Tui, but with Garko here, I think Carp may be gone.
_ Catchers - Rob Johnson underwent two hip operations and a wrist job. He looked good at the media luncheon and says he will be ready by opening day.
Adam Moore came on in September and both are young. Look for the Mariners to keep veteran Josh Bard, who was invited to camp.
_ Pitchers - If Wakamatsu and pitching coach Rick Adair agree, there will be 11 pitchers when they break spring training.
Hernandez and Lee are one and two. Doug Fister, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Ian Snell are my choices for the other three starters.
That leaves six more. League, Lowe and Aardsma are locks and that leaves three more to choose from: Jason Vargas, Ryan Feirabend and Sean White. Luke French and Shawn Kelley are possibles as well. How Bedard will fit in is anybody's guess at this time.
Seattle opens the season on the road at Oakland. Opening day is 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 12, at Safeco. Former Mariner Randy Johnson will throw out the first pitch and that should draw an ovation - and then some.
Single-game tickets go on sale March 13.
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
That's the 2010 Seattle Mariner slogan as pitchers and catchers get ready to report to the team's spring training camp in Peoria, Ariz., just one week from today.
Camp opens for real Thursday - that's tomorrow, sports fans - for the hurlers and backstops, then position players report Feb. 22 and drills begin for the full squad on Feb. 23.
The first spring game is March 3, then camp continues until April 1, the final Arizona preseason game, against the White Sox.
Then it's a pair of games in Albuquerque against the Rockies on April 2-3, a game with San Francisco on April 4 and - finally - the season opens April 5 against the Oakland A's in Oakland.
Seattle had a great year in 2009 under first-year coach Don Wakamatsu and hopes are high for this season after a third-place finish in the American League West.
Mariner general manager Jack Zduriencik was very busy this winter. Here are Z's key moves.
Nine big decisions
_ Ken Griffey Jr. - The popular Mariner re-signed for a year at around $2.3 million and he wanted to sign right away after last season. Junior had a very bad knee most of the season. He hit 19 homers, but, when healthy, can hit more than 30. Medical reports put him in at 10 or so fewer pounds and the knee seems strong after surgery.
He is penciled in as the designated hitter, no ifs, ands or buts, and it's his job to lose.
Griffey's presence in the clubhouse was great, along with Mike Sweeney, who is gone.
_ Cliff Lee - This Cy Young Award-winning lefty was obtained in a three-way deal with the Blue Jays and Phillies. He gives the Mariners a great one-two pitching punch with Felix Hernandez.
_ Felix Hernandez - Signed to a five-year deal worth $78 million. Great job.
_ Chone Figgins - The former Angel third-sacker gets $36 million for four years with an option. He's a good defender, can draw walks, can hit for average and has speed.
_ Jack Wilson - The shortstop signed a two-year pact for $10 million, an extension of the $8.4 million he got last year. He is one of the game's best defensive shortstops.
_ Brandon League - This hard-throwing reliever was with the Jays and gives the Mariners three solid late-inning hurlers: with League, a lefty, and Mark Lowe, from the right side, to set up David Aardsma, the closer.
_ Milton Bradley - The Cubs gave up this outfielder for Carlos Silva and it seems like a steal for the Mariners. Bradley has a bad rep, but maybe Griffey can keep him on an even keel. Left field is his to lose.
Seattle needed a right-handed bat a week ago and got one. With Bradley, a switch-hitter, they were looking for a backup outfielder with experience and found one in Eric Byrnes, a 32-year-old from Arizona who has been injured the past two years but says he is ready to go. They got another bargain as Arizona is responsible for all but $400,000 of his $11 million deal. He may be the right-handed designated hitter they were looking for.
_ Ryan Garko - They signed Garko, a 29-year-old right-hand hitting infielder/designated hitter type, from San Francisco. Garko is a career .279 hitter but a .313 hitter against southpaws, so now Wakamatsu has many options at first, in left field and in the DH slot.
_ Erik Bedard - Mr. Z inked Bedard to a one-year deal. Bedard, a big bust so far, had off-season surgery that the Mariners had to take care of. He signed a million buck deal for a year and just might help the team when he's ready to start hurling again, like in May or early June.
The roster
It's sort of fun to look at the 40-man roster and try to see which 25 players come north to start the season. Here are my choices:
_ Outfield - Ichiro Suzuki in right, Franklin Gutierrez in center. Bradley in left.
Backups will be Byrnes, Michael Saunders and Ryan Langerhans, although Ryan's days may be numbered because of the Byrnes deal.
_ Infield - Figgins at third, Wilson at short, Jose Lopez at second, with newcomer Casey Kotchman at first. Backups are Jack Wilson, Mike Carp, Jack Hannahan and Matt Tuiasosopo. Probably Wilson and Tui, but with Garko here, I think Carp may be gone.
_ Catchers - Rob Johnson underwent two hip operations and a wrist job. He looked good at the media luncheon and says he will be ready by opening day.
Adam Moore came on in September and both are young. Look for the Mariners to keep veteran Josh Bard, who was invited to camp.
_ Pitchers - If Wakamatsu and pitching coach Rick Adair agree, there will be 11 pitchers when they break spring training.
Hernandez and Lee are one and two. Doug Fister, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Ian Snell are my choices for the other three starters.
That leaves six more. League, Lowe and Aardsma are locks and that leaves three more to choose from: Jason Vargas, Ryan Feirabend and Sean White. Luke French and Shawn Kelley are possibles as well. How Bedard will fit in is anybody's guess at this time.
Seattle opens the season on the road at Oakland. Opening day is 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 12, at Safeco. Former Mariner Randy Johnson will throw out the first pitch and that should draw an ovation - and then some.
Single-game tickets go on sale March 13.
Columns by KONP 1450 AM sports announcer Scooter Chapman appear weekly in the Sequim Gazette. He can be reached via e-mail at scooter@olypen.com.
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster