TODAY
Colorado scored six runs in three innings against Erik Bedard and coasted home for an 8-3 victory over Seattle, using eight walks to ignite the Rockies offense.
SATURDAY
Seattle visits the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe for a 1:05 p.m. that will be broadcast on KIRO and televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Carlos Silva vs Mike Palmer.
NOTABLE
Bedard and Brandon Morrow said they felt wonderful – and between them, walked seven men in four-plus innings. “Eight walks doesn’t work,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. Seattle out-hit Colorado, 11-7, but the Rockies were hitting early with men on base. Morrow, for instance, hit a batter, walked another and then gave up a home run. …
When the Mariners want their best defensive team on the field late in the game, the outfield set is easy – Endy Chavez, Franklin Guttierrez and Ichiro. But what about at first base? One option the team has considered is sliding Jose Lopez from second base to first and putting Ronny Cedeno at second. That may happen, occasionally, but the Mariners will start the season hoping Russell Branyan can be their first baseman late. He doesn’t have great range, but he’s a big target and, guarding the line late, the Mariners think he can do the job. Mike Sweeney will be the ‘other’ first baseman on the roster. …
Catcher Jamie Burke returned from Oregon as a proud third-time father, rejoining Kenji Johjima, Rob Johnson and Jeff Clement in camp. Expect those numbers to shrink soon – there aren’ enough at-bats or innings to give four catchers. …
Cedeno and Johjima had two hits apiece and, though he was just 1-for-4, Ken Griffery Jr. hit two shots that were caught and had two RBI. …
Ryan Rowland-Smith, the likely No. 5 starter in the Mariners rotation, threw an early bullpen so he could get to the dentist for a root canal. “They asked me the other day what kind of pitcher I was, and I said, ‘I’m Ryan Rowland-Smith – I get outs any way I can,’” he said. “I learned a lot last year. Maybe by the end of this year, I’ll know what kind of pitcher I am.” Wakamatsu’s evaluation of Rowland-Smith? “He’s a tough kid, but sometimes is approach has no rhyme or reason,” the manager said. “He’s aggressive, I like his stuff, he needs to mature a little bit on the mound. I like him.” …
Think the Mariners are serious about bunting this spring? During batting practice, they have coach Lee Tinsley working with a pitching machine on a half field, and players rotate through. Everyone bunts, with at least one round dedicated to forcing the third baseman to field a bunt. “You try bunting, once a week, for a hit and even if you’re out, the opposing teams have to start playing you differently,” Tinsley said. “They have to play in at third base, and holes open up for you. Just the threat of a bunt makes a team play differently.” …
Lefty Tyler Johnson was scheduled go throw a 30-pitch simulated game but apparently threw too much on Thursday and was shut down, instead. He’ll start the season on the disabled list, along with closer-in-waiting Chad Cordero. … Sweeney’s two-out RBI single won the Mariners game in the ninth inning on Thursday – and it was the fifth time this spring Seattle has won a game in its final at-bat. Not a bad habit. …
Morrow on his inning-plus of work: “I felt real good but my mechanics were off. I'd throw three good pitches in a row, then four bad ones. This is the time to work on things, and I was working on my curve. I threw one that got me a double play - and one that got hit out.” …
Rookie Shawn Kelley’s long-shot surge toward a spot in the bullpen continues to shorten the odds. Against the Rockies, he threw two shutout innings, facing only seven batters.
QUOTABLE
From Morrow, on a curve that Christian Colonel hit for a home run: "That pitch felt great out of my hand. Off the bat, I knew it was going over the fence.”