Mariners Insider
You will find news, observations, anecdotes, analysis and photographs on this blog. The purpose is to keep readers informed, but also give them a feel for the team and its players, and a place to go to read about baseball.

Contributors:

Ryan Divish has been with Tacoma News Tribune since 2006, covering the Tacoma Rainiers and high school sports. Divish played baseball at Dickinson State University and also earned a journalism degree from the University of Montana.
E-mail Ryan.

Larry LaRue has covered the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball for The News Tribune since 1988. E-mail Larry.

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    Mariners Insider
    Friday, March 6th, 2009
    One loss, five positives, a few pages of negatives
    Posted by Larry LaRue @ 03:16:53 pm

    Manager Don Wakamatsu sees this phase of spring training as the chance to see players who might not make the team but could help the Seattle Mariners during the year.

    And in a 12-1 loss to Oakland, Wakamatsucame away with a list of five positive things he'd seen:
    David Aardsma's pitching.
    Franklin Gutierrez's at-bats.
    A spectacular defensive play by Yuniesky Betancourt.
    A couple of solid at-bats by Bryan LaHair.
    Matt Tuiasosopo's overall improved play.

    What the manager wouldn't go into details about were a couple of pages worth of notes on things he and his coaches will discuss with certain players on Saturday.

    The Mariners are now 4-2-1 in Cactus League play.

    Categories: General
    It's spring - for better or worse
    Posted by Larry LaRue @ 01:54:37 pm

    It’s been the best of games, it’s been the worst of games, and here in the sixth inning the Seattle Mariners are trailing Oakland, 5-1.

    Jarrod Washburn was banged around for seven hits and four runs in 1 1/3 innings, hitting Jason Giambi twice in the process. Later in the game, David Aardsma hit Giambi a third time.

    This is no game for sissies.

    In the field, the Mariners have made two brilliant plays. Catcher Rob Johnson picked a runner off second base to end one inning, and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt made a film-at-11 play to end the third.

    Betancourt went way to his right to backhand a ground ball, then threw off-balance and still on the move – a strike to first base to get Kurt Suzuki.

    On the bases, the Mariners have been less than brilliant.

    In the fourth inning, for instance, they were rallying from a 5-0 deficit when Prentice Redman rounded second base too far and was thrown out. Johnson then stole second base, tried to steal third but broke too early and was caught in a run down for the third out.

    Oops.

    It’s spring. Bad things happen to good people. Weird things happen to all people. But expect the Mariners coaching staff to discuss aggressive base running and dopey base running soon.

    Categories: Game Updates
    Another Mariners lineup short on star power
    Posted by Larry LaRue @ 08:45:13 am

    It's the World Baseball Classic. It's the team's decision o bring veterans like Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Sweeney and Russell Branyan along slowly.

    It's a lot of things, but the Mariners are having trouble putting many regulars in any given lineup.

    Here's todays vs. Oakland:

    Franklin Gutierrez CF
    Yuniesky Betancourt SS
    Jeff Clement DH
    Chris Shelton 1B
    Bryan LaHair LF
    Mike Morse 3B
    Ronny Cedeno 2B
    Prentice Redman RF
    Rob Johnson C
    Jarrod Washburn P

    Categories: General
    Around the Horn: Gutierrez is the center fielder
    Posted by Larry LaRue @ 06:49:29 am

    Franklin Gutierrez is the center fielder for the Seattle Mariners.

    Whatever else happens this spring, the outfielder acquired by GM Jack Zduriencik in the J.J. Putz trade has won the job he was brought in to fill. Defensively, he’s shown range and speed, a good arm and a fearlessness around teammates and walls – no small thing in any outfielder.

    Offensively, he’s the kind of hitter who has fully accepted the little ball attack that manager Don Wakamatsu likes to play in different parts of his lineup. Gutierrez is a fine bunter, a patient hitter who will take pitches and a man who can put the ball in play on hit-and-run efforts.

    No, he’s not likely to blossom into a .300 hitter or hit 20 home runs.

    But just as Mike Cameron won Safeco Field fans after Ken Griffey Jr. departed, those who appreciate solid baseball may come to embrace Gutierrez. He’s shy but has a great smile. And he plays baseball the way it’s been played well for a century or so.

    Gutierrez may allow the Mariners to use a Griffey or Mike Morse in left field on occasion, allowing them to shade more toward the line because Gutierrez can cover so much ground.

    The bottom line, however, is this: He wasn’t brought in to carry the team. He’s here because what the Mariners are trying to do is build a team.

    Categories: General