Mariners Nation 2012

[West]

Some notes from MLB.com about the Mariners progress over the past few weeks. Posting for Mariners faithful

Liddi to get reps at first base this spring

Mariners third base prospect Alex Liddi will get some playing time at first base this spring, manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday, as the club looks to add more opportunities for the youngster from Italy.

Liddi, 23, played strictly third base during his September callup with Seattle last season when he batted .225 with three home runs and six RBIs in 15 games. But he has played 53 games at first base over his six years in the Minor Leagues, including two games last year at Triple-A Tacoma.

Robinson arrives at camp eager to start work

Young outfielder Trayvon Robinson became the latest position player to roll into camp on Tuesday, and the 24-year-old said he's refreshed and ready to tackle a new season after a rough finish to 2011.

:blackhyphen:

Robinson, acquired from the Dodgers in the three-team deal involving Erik Bedard at the July 31 Trade Deadline, hit just .210 in 143 at-bats for Seattle. But he said he worked hard on using his hands more during the offseason and is eager to put that to the test in batting practice.

"I think I got away from what I do best," he said. "But I'm putting last year behind me. This is a fresh start and I'm looking forward to getting after it."

Kawasaki making good first impression

While Japanese free-agent pitcher :kuma: has been the focal point of much of the media during the early going at Mariners camp, fellow countryman Munenori Kawasaki continues making a big impression on his new teammates with his outgoing personality and energy as a potential utility infielder.

Kawasaki, an eight-time All-Star shortstop in Japan, signed a Minor League contract with an invitation to camp last month. And while Seattle's position players aren't due in camp until Friday, the 30-year-old was one of the first to arrive in Peoria last week and has been a daily presence during early workouts.

"He's got a lot of energy," Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan said the first time he took ground balls with Kawasaki. "This could be a lot of fun."

 

[West]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7t-b-Eaywg"]Brendan Ryan 2011 Highlights - YouTube[/ame]

 

[West]

Ichiro Suzuki, who has spent nearly all of his 11 years in the Major Leagues as the leadoff hitter for the Mariners, said Saturday he's open to a new role if that's the direction manager Eric Wedge wants to go in the coming season.

Over the offseason, Wedge talked openly about the possibility of moving Ichiro down in the lineup. The two have yet to resume that conversation at Mariners camp, with Ichiro just arriving on Friday and being on the field with his teammates for the first time Saturday as full-squad workouts began.

But after a season in which his batting average and on-base percentage dropped to career-low marks of .272 and .310, the 38-year-old didn't sound opposed to the idea of a different spot in the order if that is what Wedge decides.

"It's too early," Ichiro said through interpreter Antony Suzuki. "We just went through our first workout. But I can say this. I'm always prepared for a new challenge, and that's how we all have to move forward. If that's the case, we're just out there to perform as baseball players and go all out."

Wedge has pondered batting Ichiro second or third in the lineup, with Chone Figgins or Dustin Ackley as potential leadoff candidates. Ichiro has always displayed an ability to hit with power in batting practice, but has focused on being more of a typical leadoff hitter and accumulating base hits in impressive numbers over the course of his career.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

No way am I for Ichiro batting 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Ichiro too much of a risk to GIDP.

7,8,9 would be a lot better

There is no way they will bat Ichiro in the bottom third of the order. Despite the down season, I think he's earned the right to not be humiliated in that fashion and deserves a chance to prove he can bounce back.

I always thought Ichiro was an ideal #2 hitter. No strikeouts, great bat control, ability to bunt, can slap the ball to all fields, great speed, etc.

And I don't see him as a DP risk at all. He can still run very well from what I saw (and his SB% is one area that did not regress at all last year), and has always had a pretty low GIDP rate. Fantastically low, actually.

 

[BiggaAdams]

There is no way they will bat Ichiro in the bottom third of the order. Despite the down season, I think he's earned the right to not be humiliated in that fashion and deserves a chance to prove he can bounce back.

I always thought Ichiro was an ideal #2 hitter. No strikeouts, great bat control, ability to bunt, can slap the ball to all fields, great speed, etc.

And I don't see him as a DP risk at all. He can still run very well from what I saw (and his SB% is one area that did not regress at all last year), and has always had a pretty low GIDP rate. Fantastically low, actually.

Ichiro doesn't work the count. Led the team in GIDP last year. I know they'll bat himin the top 3, and hopefully he does recover but he needs to change his approach at the place.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Ichiro doesn't work the count. Led the team in GIDP last year. I know they'll bat himin the top 3, and hopefully he does recover but he needs to change his approach at the place.

Saying he led the team in DP's is a bit deceptive, since he only hit into 11 in well over 700 plate appearances. I think last year was the first time he hit into double digits in DP's, and has had multiple years under 5 in over 700 PA's.

I would bat him in the 2 slot, but if he's hitting .270 and getting on base at a .310 clip like last year by mid June or something, then it will be clear he's not the same guy, and then you can talk moving him down to 7th. I'm not convinced he's done.

I love the idea of Ichiro drag bunting with a man on first, and busting down the line to beat it out. At worst it's a sac bunt, and either way he's a fucking pest.

 

[BiggaAdams]

Saying he led the team in DP's is a bit deceptive, since he only hit into 11 in well over 700 plate appearances. I think last year was the first time he hit into double digits in DP's, and has had multiple years under 5 in over 700 PA's.

I would bat him in the 2 slot, but if he's hitting .270 and getting on base at a .310 clip like last year by mid June or something, then it will be clear he's not the same guy, and then you can talk moving him down to 7th. I'm not convinced he's done.

I love the idea of Ichiro drag bunting with a man on first, and busting down the line to beat it out. At worst it's a sac bunt, and either way he's a fucking pest.

He could such a huge pest, but that's not how he plays. I'd love for him to drag bunt, but I don't see it happening. he just seemed a step slow last year. I hope he was just distracted with the tsunami crap and cant get back.

 

[Goober]

Ichiro batting third seems like a bad idea to me.

 

[West]

I'm giving Figgy one last chance to prove himself to Mariners nation. Every time he was on the field last season I wanted to

but if Wedge and friends thinks he deserves another shot, I guess so do I. I will give him until the all-star break to establish himself as a decent leadoff hitter this season before being cynical about it

 

[West]

go mariners

:kuma:

 

[Golden Taters]

I'm actually getting pretty excited for next season. I know we won't win a lot of games, but it will be fun watching a lot of our younger players this season, especially Ackley and Jesus Christ.

 

[West]

 

[Bomberooski]

I love George so much. This made my day!

 

[Bomberooski]

Awesome story about Franklin Gutierrez... oh wait

Spring training games haven't even started for the Seattle Mariners yet and already an injury is taking its toll on the roster. Franklin Gutierrez partially tore the pectoral muscle in his right chest and got sidelined for at least the next four weeks as a result. The bad news just came through on Wednesday night (Feb. 29) that the injury is as bad as everyone had feared, derailing what had looked to become a great comeback story for the Mariners' starting center fielder.

I just want a center fielder that will play for a whole season. And if he doesn't play for the whole season I want the reason to be that he broke his wrist making a spectacular play against the center field wall.

 

[West]

Its looking like Michael Saunders is the runner-up for the starting center field position as per Greg Johns (mariners beat writer) of MLB.com

I don't think there is any reason to be optimistic about Gutie's return before opening day, especially with Wedge's approach to injury

bummer, but maybe this is the final opportunity and push that Saunders needed to get hotter at the plate

 

[West]

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jason Vargas pitched a perfect four innings in his Cactus League opener on Sunday, as the Mariners topped the Padres, 5-4, in the annual Charity Game at Peoria Stadium.

Third baseman Kyle Seager went 3-for-3 with a home run for the Mariners and also made a nice diving stop in the second inning to help keep Vargas' slate clean, as Seattle improved to 2-1 in Cactus League play.

 

[BiggaAdams]

Hope Seager gets a shot this season. Doubles machine.

 

[Bomberooski]

Nice USS Mariner article on Saunders vs Seager for that center filed position:

http://www.ussmariner.com/2012/03/05/saunders-or-seager/

 

[West]

PEORIA, Ariz. -- While second baseman Dustin Ackley went 3-for-3 with a double, triple and two runs scored in his first shot in a leadoff role this spring, Mariners manager Eric Wedge said he prefers to keep the youngster second in the lineup if possible.

Chone Figgins remains the leading candidate to handle the top spot in Seattle's order, but he didn't play on Monday and that led to Ackley's ascension.

Wedge said early in camp that Ichiro Suzuki would bat third this season and Figgins would get first crack at the leadoff role.


----

pretty much all the confirmation we needed that figgins will be the leadoff hitter as well as starting third baseman for opening day :niggaplease:

also the m's beat the padres 13-7

 

[Golden Taters]

Loving the Mariners this season!


Also, WEST COME BACK!