Bleacher Report - Articles by Hayato Uwai

Seattle Mariners Leading the Chone Figgins Derby

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:41:37 -0500

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, the Seattle Mariners are "clear front-runners" to sign free agent third baseman Chone Figgins . The Mariners did offer Adrian Beltre , their starting third baseman for last several years, arbitration but he will likely sign elsewhere as he is only a Type-B free agent and his Gold Glove defence should be enough for him to get a contract he wants.

Figgins, who will turn 32 in January, posted line of .298 BA/.395 OBP/.394 SLG/.789 OPS in 2009, along with five homers and 54 RBI. He also swapped 42 bases this year.

Figgins is a guy who can draw walks, a type of player the Mariners don't have. He can also run, as 42 stolen bases shows that. He and Ichiro Suzuki can team up to create strong one-two punch in the lineup.

Figgins is a versatile player so even if Beltre accepts arbitration, Figgins can move over to second or outfield. In that case, Jose Lopez will likely move to second or Michael Saunders becoming their fourth outfielder. Figgins posted 16.7 UZR this year at third, so he is better at third defensively.

In any case, adding a player like Figgins is a great move for the Mariners. They need a guy who can consistently get on base and can play solid defence at third to fill a hole made by Beltre's departure. Do you think adding Figgins will help the Mariners get closer to winning AL West?

Seattle Mariners Seriously Considering Gregg Zaun

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:20:25 -0500

According to MLBTradeRumors.com , the Mariners are seriously considering free agent catcher Gregg Zaun . The Tampa Bay Rays, his previous team, offered Zaun arbitration but he is a Type-B free agent so even if he declines arbitration and signs with the Mariners, the Mariners don't need to give up a draft pick. Zaun said he expects to sign by the end of the week so that might be the Mariners.

Currently, the Mariners' catchers are Adam Moore and Rob Johnson, both right handed hitter. Johnson recently had surgeries to both hips and may not be ready for spring training. Zaun is a switch-hitter so adding left-handed catcher to platoon with Moore and Johnson makes sense. Zaun hit .260 BA/.345 OBP/.416 SLG/.761 OPS for the Orioles and the Rays.

Zaun is a veteran catcher, so he should help Moore adjust at big league level. Do you think this is good move for the Mariners or not? Let's hear it.

Seattle Mariners' AFL Wrap-Up: Dustin Ackley's Pro Debut a Success

Hayato Uwai — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:41:48 -0500

2009 Arizona Fall League has ended as the Peoria Javelinas defeated the Phoenix Desert Dogs 5-4 to win the league.

Seven players from the Mariners organization played for the Javelinas and some looked they're close to the big league. Let's review how they've done this fall.

Dustin Ackley 1B/LF

The Mariners drafted Ackley second overall in last year's draft. He did not sign with the club until the signing deadline so he didn't play in the minors.

Ackley mainly hit lead-off for the Javelinas and he managed to hit .315 BA/.412 OBP/.425 SLG/.836 OPS. He only hit one home run but considering AFL was his pro-debut, this numbers are good enough.

He walked 12 times in 73 AB as well. He should put up decent numbers next year.

Carlos Triunfel SS

Big disappointment as he posted a poor line of .204 BA/.250 OBP/.245 SLG/.495 OPS, mainly hitting last for the Javelinas.

He did missed most of last season because of an injury, but he is the Mariners' future shortstop so everyone expected better than this from Triunfel.

He needs to stay healthy and put up good numbers to prove that he is one of the top Mariners prospects.

Joseph Dunigan OF

Dunigan hit 30 HRs along with 104 RBI and .294 BA/.355 OBP/.570 SLG/.925 OPS for Adv. A High-Desert this season.

He didn't take all of that to AFL but still managed to post line of .280 BA/.349 OBP/.467 SLG/.816 OPS. He showed he can hit for power in the Adv. A, let's see how he does at higher level next year.

Joshua Fields P

After having horrible season at AA West Tennessee, Fields was lights-out for the Javelinas, posting 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 11.0 innings.

He didn't sign with the Mariners until February and that hold-out effected him this year, but looks like the Mariners' future closer is back on track.

He may crack the opening day roster as the Mariners look to take work-loads off from Sean White and Mark Lowe.

Phillippe Aumont P

The Mariners converted him into a reliever this year as they try to bring Aumont up quickly. He didn't look sharp, posting 12.00 ERA/2.25 WHIP in 12.0 innings.

Although his ERA was above the roof, he struck out 18 batters, good for 13.5 K/9 rate.

Still, he is considered one of the top pitching prospect on the Mariners and may make the big league debut soon.

Anthony Varvaro P

Varvaro recently made the 40-man roster. He went 1-0 with 4.05 ERA and decent WHIP of 1.13. He started the championship game, giving up a run over 2.0 innings.

It's unclear he will make the roster or not, but he did post decent ERA of 2.82 at AA West Tennessee. Adding him to the 40-man roster and sending him to AFL means Zduriencik likes something out of him.

Nick Hill P

West Point graduate posted 10.50 ERA with 2.67 WHIP in 7 starts. He struck out almost a batter per inning, but this numbers doesn't look too good.

Overall some guys had great time at AFL, some were not. But this experience at AFL should help them in the future.

It'll be interesting to watch how many of them will make the Mariners roster in the future.

Chris Jakubauskas, Robert Manuel Lost to Waivers: Mariners Make Roster Moves

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:33:13 -0500

According to mlbtraderumors.com, the Seattle Mariners have lost relievers Chris Jakubauskas and Robert Manuel via waivers.

Jakubauskas was claimed by the Pirates and Manuel by the Red Sox.

Jakubauskas, 30, made the Mariners opening day roster after an impressive spring training. He went 6-7 while posting a 5.32 ERA, but managed to post a solid WHIP of 1.27. Jakubauskas is more of a groundball pitcher, as 45.2 percent of his batted balls have been hit on the ground, according to FanGraphs.

To open the room for Jakubauskas, the Pirates designated Jeff Karstens for assignment.

Manuel, 26, was acquired from the Reds for outfielder Wladimir Balentien. He only pitched 4.1 innings this year for the Reds, spending most of the season in the minor leagues.

Meanwhile, the Mariners made several roster moves, adding six players to their 40-man roster.

They added outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, pitchers Anthony Varvaro, Danny Cortez, Ricky Orta, Edwardo Paredes, JC Ramirez, and reinstated injured players Ryan Feierabend and Sean White to bring their 40-man roster to 37.

Infielder Josh Wilson was sent down to AAA Tacoma after clearing waivers.

Jack Wilson Staying in Seattle, Branyan Next?

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:05:03 -0500

According to mlbtraderumors.com , the Seattle Mariners signed SS Jack Wilson to a two-year, $10 million contract. Wilson is known as best defensive shortstop in the MLB as he posted best UZR among all shortstops, but his 2010 option was bit expensive($8.4 million) so the Mariners were trying to rework his contract.

This deal gives the Mariners a decent everyday shortstop as they played Yuniesky Betancourt on the opening day last year. The Mariners' already impressive defence looks even better with this move.

Wilson is back, now the Mariners will try to bring back Russell Branyan . He recently rejected the Mariners one-year offer, as Branyan is looking for multi-year deal. Branyan was lone Mariner to hit 30+ homer last season, but he missed all September and October because of herniated back. He will turn 34 this December so offering him a multi-year deal might be a bit risky. Let's see how Zduriencik works this out as the Mariners need him.

What the Seattle Mariners Should Do This Winter

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:18:01 -0500

The Hot Stove League has kicked off, and the Seattle Mariners have many things to do. Let's review what needs to be done this winter and candidates who can fill some holes.

Veteran backup catcher

Kenji Johjima left the Mariners this winter for more playing time. The Mariners now have two young catchers in the big leagues, Rob Johnson and Adam Moore, but it would be nice if they had a veteran catcher to platoon and teach them.

Some candidates are Rod Barajas, Jose Molina, Ivan Rodriguez (Type B), and Jason Varitek (Type B).

Varitek should be a good fit as he is an excellent catcher defensively and will be a good example for Johnson and Moore. The Red Sox already declined his club option as Victor Martinez will be their everyday catcher, so it all depends on whether he picks up his player option. If he doesn't, the Mariners should go after him.

Edit: Varitek picked up his player option so he is now off market.

Fourth outfielder

The Mariners should bring back either Endy Chavez or Ryan Langerhans. Both are decent defensively, as Chavez's UZR was 7.8 and Langerhans' was 5.5. Chavez looks better statistically, but the M's first need to know whether he's ready to come back or not after a nasty collision with Yuniesky Betancourt that ended his season.

Designated hitter

Ken Griffey, Jr. was our starting DH this year, but he wasn't sharp. He said he'd return, but Griffey is at best a backup DH at this point.

World Series MVP Hideki Matsui should be a nice addition for the Mariners, as he posted .274 BA/.367 OBP/.504 SLG/.876 OPS along with 28 HRs and 90 RBI. The Mariners have the worst offense in the league, so adding a guy like Matsui should help. Matsui slipped just short of being a Type B free agent, so there are not many reasons for the Yankees to offer him arbitration.

Other candidates are Vladimir Guerrero, Hank Blalock, and Jim Thome.

No. 2 (and No. 3 if possible) starter

The Mariners dealt Jarrod Washburn at the deadline and likely will let go Erik Bedard as well, so the Mariners are in need of a starter after Felix Hernandez. John Lackey and Randy Wolf are the top starting pitchers available this winter, but they're Type A, so signing them will cost a draft pick, which the Mariners don't want to do as they are still rebuilding.

Ben Sheets or/and Rich Harden (Type B) should be good additions to the rotation, but of course, both are injury risks just like Bedard.

Re-signing players

Russell Branyan and Jack Wilson are guys who should return next year. Branyan was a pleasant surprise, posting .251 BA/.347 OBP/.520 SLG/.867 OPS with 31 HRs. His back is a concern, but the Mariners lineup needs him.

Wilson, acquired from the Pirates at the deadline, is considered one of the best shortstops defensively. Wilson's UZR was at 14.0, best among all shortstops in MLB. His option is a bit expensive for a defensive-minded shortstop, but if the Mariners can rework his contract, he should help the Mariners' already impressive defense.

The Mariners recently offered both a contract, but both rejected the offer.

Extension

The Mariners must extend Felix Hernandez's contract immediately. Hernandez will become a free agent in two years, and many teams with bigger markets than the Mariners will try to sign him.

Teams like the Yankees can offer $200 million-plus for the young ace, and the Mariners won't be able to match that. So if the Mariners want King Felix to stay, offer him a big contract that he can't reject now.

There's a lot to do this winter. Can Jack Zduriencik do all of this? Well, this winter will be fun to watch.

Why the Seattle Mariners Shouldn't Bring Back Jarrod Washburn

Hayato Uwai — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:42:11 -0500

Almost four years ago, the Seattle Mariners signed left hander Jarrod Washburn to a four-year, $37.5 million contract. For the first three years, he posted 31-43 record with ERA never under 4.32, WHIP always over 1.35.

Every Mariner fans thought Washburn signing was another horrible mistake made by former GM Bill Bavasi.

On his contract year, Washburn went 8-6 with ERA of 2.64, WHIP of 1.07, BAA of .223, best year while his stay in Seattle. But that didn't last long as he was dealt to the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline for SP Luke French and RP Mauricio Robles.

Since moving over to Detroit, Washburn posted 1-3 record, ERA skyrocketed to 7.33, WHIP to 1.56, BAA of .300 for the Tigers, who missed the playoff. Washburn made only 8 starts as he was bothered by a knee injury.

Washburn filed for free agency last Thursday, so any team can sign him. Should the Mariners go after him? I'd say no.

Washburn is a flyball pitcher, which makes many people worry. Why? Because high flyball rate generally means high homerun rate. Washburn gave up 11 homers in 133.0 innings in 09 for the Mariners, 12 homers in only 43.0 innings or the Tigers. Giving up more homeruns=giving up more runs=high ERA.

Also, Washburn has low strikeout rate, posting 5.35 while he was in Seattle. That got worse after moving to Detroit, posting 4.40. Moving back to Safeco, one of the friendliest ballpark for pitcher, might help but his first three years in Seattle was plain bad, so I don't expect another 2009 campaign.

The Mariners don't need to bring a pitcher like him, when they have chance to bring in a pitcher with better strikeout rate and lower flyball rate. I'd be surprised and take it as a bad move if the Mariners decides to bring him back. I'd much rather have guys like Erik Bedard, Rich Harden, or Ben Sheets even with their injury risk and cost to get them.

Is Hideki Matsui a Good Fit for Mariners DH?

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:53:40 -0500

The 2009 World Series has ended and 2009-2010 hot stove league has started. The Seattle Mariners are in need of a power hitter as they have one of the worst offenses in the league (OPS, OBP, BA, R, BB are league worst, HR ranked 11th in the league).

Who should they go after? Big free agents like Matt Holliday are probably untouchable as a big city team will offer him a huge contract the Mariners can't match.

So, the M's need to go after guys who have an injury history but still have upside. Is there a guy who fits that? Hideki Matsui is your answer.

The World Series MVP Matsui is hitting free agency. The Yankees probably won't bring him back, as they have other DH-type players like Jorge Posada, and too many outfielders in Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher, and soon-to-be called up Austin Jackson.

Matsui can't play defence as his knee condition is not looking good, but still, he is a decent hitter, posting .274 BA/.367 OBP/.509 SLG along with 28 HRs and 90 RBI.

He is projected as a Type B free agent, so signing him won't cost a draft pick.

Ken Griffey Jr., the Mariners starting DH this year, obviously wasn't sharp, although he stayed healthy throughout the year. The Kid is willing to return next year, but he is currently a backup DH at best.

Matsui probably won't be too expensive, as he will turn 36 next year and has an extensive injury history. Maybe a two-year, $12-14 million offer would bring Matsui from New York to Seattle?

Keep in mind that the M's are off the hook on players like Adrian Beltre, Miguel Batista, Kenji Johjima, Jarrod Washburn, and Erik Bedard, so they have some money to use to fill their need. Let the discussion begin.

Yusmeiro Petit Claimed by Mariners from Diamondbacks

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:48:56 -0500

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, the Seattle Mariners have claimed right-hander Yusmeiro Petit from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 24-year-old Petit went 3-10 with an ERA of 5.82 and a 1.52 WHIP in 89.2 innings (23 G/17 GS) last year.

Petit posted a solid K/9 rate of 7.43, but his BB/9 rate sat at 3.41, and he gave up 19 HRs.

Moving to pitcher-friendly Safeco Field and the Mariners' tough defense helps, but he needs to improve his fly ball rate (and home run rate) and walk rate to become a better pitcher.

He's still young, so if he can turn it around with Don Wakamatsu and Rick Adair, he may crack the rotation.

Another low-risk, high-reward move by Jack Zduriencik.

Discussion: Is Now a Right Time to Give Felix Hernandez an Extension?

Hayato Uwai — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 07:51:42 -0400

Another fantastic outing by the Mariners' young ace Felix Hernandez against Cleveland, allowing only two runs over eight innings, striking out eight. He is now 10-3 with ERA of 2.51 this season.

King Felix is getting better on every outing. Is now a right time to give Felix an extension?

Hernandez signed with the Mariners when he was only 16 years old. He rapidly climbed up the minors and made the debut in the big league when he was only 19. He has struggled for past three years, but this year he is different.

He started off the year nicely, but struggled badly in May. M's skipper Don Wakamatsu had a talk with Felix after giving up six runs against the Angels on May 19.

Since the talk, he has recorded a quality start on every outing to go along with five victories. His ERA improved from 4.13 to 2.51 and made the American League All-Star team for the first time in his career.

He is becoming the true ace of the Mariners now. I believe now is the right time to lock him up. He is only 25 when he become free agent (2011), so the majority of MLB teams should be interested in him, including teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, Dodgers and so on.

Those teams can give Felix a mega deal and the Mariners probably have no chance to bring him back. So why not lock him now?

But how much should the Mariners give? I think an Evan Longoria type of number is good enough. What's your thought? Let's get the discussion going.

Seattle Mariners Sign IF Alex Cintron to Minor League Contract

Hayato Uwai — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:37:01 -0400

The Seattle Mariners signed infielder Alex Cintron, who was designated for assignment by the Nationals on May 20, to a minor league contract today. Cintron will join Triple-A Tacoma.

Cintron, played in 21 games before getting designated for assignment. He mainly plays second base, shortstop, and third base. He should serve as a utility man if he gets called up to the big leagues.

He only hit .077 as a member of the Washington Nationals.

This should mean 2B/SS Josh Wilson will be leaving Seattle very soon. Cintron is more experienced as a utility man and Wilson has struggled thus far on his limited playing time.

Cintron is the fourth former Nationals brought in by Jack Zduriencik (Chad Cordero, Steven Shell, Ryan Langerhans and Cintron).

Seattle Mariners Acquire Outfielder Ryan Langerhans From Washington

Hayato Uwai — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:04:21 -0400

Seattle Mariners General Manager Jack Zduriencik announced today that the M's acquired outfielder Ryan Langerhans from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Mike Morse. He will most likely be on the 25-man roster as soon as third baseman Adrian Beltre hits the disabled list.

Since the M's lost leftfielder Endy Chavez for the season, they were looking to add depth in the outfield. Langerhans will likely be the team's fourth outfielder.

Langerhans, who was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1998, posted .278 batting average, nine home runs, and 40 RBIs for Triple-A Syracuse this season. He never got a call to the big league this year since the Nationals already had depth in the outfield.

Morse, drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2000, posted .312 batting average for Triple-A Tacoma and was a candidate to replace injured Beltre.

Ichiro Suzuki Just ahead of Josh Hamilton in All-Star Voting

Hayato Uwai — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:07:34 -0400

It's looking like Ichiro will go to his ninth All-Star game in his major league career.

With less than 10 days left to vote, Ichiro is now in second place for American League outfielders, just ahead of Texas' Josh Hamilton. Ichiro's teammate, Ken Griffey Jr., dropped to eighth place, trailing the third place Hamilton by 375,628 votes, so he can still bounce back.

Boston's Jason Bay is leading the outfield voting with 2,077,504 votes, followed by Ichiro with 1,455,266 votes.

Here are the leaders at each position:

C Joe Mauer (Minnesota), 1B Mark Teixeira (New York), 2B Ian Kinsler (Texas), 3B Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay), SS Derek Jeter (New York), OF Jason Bay (Boston), Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle), Josh Hamilton (Texas).

You can vote until July 2, at 11:59 PM EST, so let's vote and help Ichiro and Griffey play on the All-Star team!

Endy Chavez Gone for Season: Will he Return Next Year?

Hayato Uwai — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:09:16 -0400

You have probably heard it, but Seattle Mariners' left fielder, Endy Chavez, will miss the remainder of 2009 season after colliding with SS Yuniesky Betancourt trying to catch a pop fly. It's a big blow to the Mariners—Chavez provided stellar defence in left field for the M's.

But here's a question: Will he return to the Mariners next year?

Chavez was acquired by the Mariners from the Mets in a 12-player deal, which also sent SP Jason Vargas, 1B Mike Carp, CF Franklin Gutierrez, and several minor league players to the Mariners.

Chavez started off this season hitting over .300 to fill in for Ichiro Suzuki, who missed the first eight games of the season. He cooled down, but he still provided defence to help the Mariners' pitching staff, the best in the American League.

A guy like Jarrod Washburn was helped a lot by Chavez, since Washburn is more of a fly-ball pitcher. Washburn is having a great year, posting ERA of 3.24.

So let's get back to the topic. Chavez is under contract for this season only, meaning he will be a free agent after this season. It is expected that he will miss the spring training and maybe the first few months in the season. Should the Mariners keep him? I think they should, at least to a minor league contract.

Chavez fits Jack Zduriencik and Don Wakamatsu's game: small ball. Chavez can bunt well, he is an aggressive runner, and he can also swipe many bases. If he can recover from this injury fully, then I think he is worth giving a spot on the roster. It should be a low-risk, high-reward contract.

Another thing: Chavez won't block the path of young prospects. Although Chavez is a good player, he is not a star player like Ichiro. So he won't block the path of young prospects coming up, like Wladimir Balentien or Michael Saunders.

Chavez will be a reserve if those guys get more playing time, but should give good influence to Balentien and Saunders.

So what do you think? Do you think the Mariners will keep him or let him go? Give me some ideas.

All About the Seattle Mariners: Grading Mariners' Top 3 Draft Picks

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:08:16 -0400

The Mariners drafted five players last night, including the best hitter available in this draft, Dustin Ackley. Let's grade their top three selections.

First Round, Pick Two: Dustin Ackley, UNC, CF/1B
As expected, the Washington Nationals, who picked ahead of the Mariners, drafted prized pitcher Stephen Strasburg, so the Mariners picked up Ackley, rated as the best hitter available in this year's draft.

Ackley mainly played first base because of the Tommy John surgery, but he is more comfortable playing in center field. He has great bat control and bat speed, giving him consistent contact. He has above average speed, so he should be a nicer fit in center field than at first base.

First Round, Pick 27: Nick Franklin, Lake Brantley HS, SS
He doesn't have one tool that stands out, but has a solid tool set and does little bit of everything according to MLB.com. The Mariners have Carlos Triunfel at same position coming up, but I guess Zduriencik saw something impressive out of Franklin. Maybe Franklin will be converting to second base?

Supplemental, Pick 33: Steven Baron, John A. Ferguson School, C
Baron is more of a defensive catcher with excellent throwing skills and catching. Offensively, he has some problem at the plate, but he has good bat speed with potential to hit for power.

Jeff Clement and Rob Johnson aren't playing up to their potential so Baron may get a shot starting in few years. Problem is, he is committed to education. Zduriencik must do good job to convince him.

Overall

Ackley and Baron are the one the Mariners needed, but I don't know with Franklin since the Mariners have Triunfel already. Still, Zduriencik did nice job on first night, picking up players who can crack the majors very soon.

I'd call this a "B" work for the Mariners. Good pickups, but no steals included.

Seattle Mariners Update: Nice Start for Ichiro and Griffey in the Ballot

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:15:56 -0400

First 2009 American League All-Star ballots was released Wednesday, and from the Mariners, Ichiro Suzuki and Ken Griffey are in top five outfield voting.

Interesting.

Ichiro made the All-Star team eight straight years since coming to the big league and he is going for ninth straight. So far in the season, he has .343 batting average and is on pace for hitting 200+ hits for nine straight years even he missed eight games due to a blood ulcer.

He received 306,453 votes and ranked third behind Boston's Jason Bay and Texas' Josh Hamilton.

Griffey returned to where he started his career this season. He has .218 batting average, 5 homers with 12 RBI, but the fans want to see him play in the All-Star game because this might be his last. He received 305,046 votes and ranked fourth behind his teammate Ichiro.

Stand up, M's fans. Let's start them on the All-Star game!

All About the Seattle Mariners: Grading All New Mariners

Hayato Uwai — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:20:04 -0400

After coming off one of the worst seasons in their franchise history, the Mariners started off the 2009 season with 18-22 record. Although they are under .500, the M's are playing much better this year, compared to last season. What made the Mariners to get better? Well, new players, like Russell Branyan, are really helping them. Let's grade their work thus far.

Russell Branyan-FA Sign from Milwaukee, A+

Finally getting a full time job, Branyan is pounding the ball well. Everyone knew that he has power, but he is not known for consistency. But thus far, he is hitting .310, 10 homers with 20 RBI. You still say he is not for real?

Ken Griffey Jr.-FA Sign from the Chicago White Sox, B-

The Mariners brought "The Kid" back to Seattle. He is bringing fans to the stadium and staying healthy so far. He is not hitting well, but what he is doing is worth about "B-."

Franklin Gutierrez-Acquired in a trade with Cleveland, B

He is hitting around .260, but he brings excellent defence to the Mariners' outfield. His average was over .300, earlier this month and in April. So, he should bring his average up later in the season.

Endy Chavez-Acquired in a trade with the New York Mets, B-

Same with Gutierrez, great defence in the outfield. He was hitting .300, but recently slowed down, and his average is now at .274. Well, he is known for his defence so his work so far is "B-."

Ronny Cedeno-Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, C

Cedeno is taking a role as a utility player, just like Willie Bloomquist was last year, so his playing time is limited. When one of the infielders gets hurt, he should be there as a replacement.

Mike Sweeney-FA Sign from Oakland, C-

Sweeney declined significantly since his days in Kansas City, so he is used as a backup of Branyan.

David Aardsma-Acquired in a trade with Boston, A

Aardsma is now closing for the Mariners in place of the struggling Brandon Morrow. He is 4-for-4 in saves, six holds, 1.45 ERA, pretty much the top reliever in the bullpen. Considering the fact that the Mariners acquired him for cheap, what Zduriencik has done for the team is just amazing.

Chris Jakubauskas-Minor League Free Agent, D

Strong spring training brought the 30-year-old rookie to the big league. But so far he has a 2-4 record, 7.13 ERA, and might lose his spot in the rotation. Next start might be the last chance for him to stay in the major.

Shawn Kelley-Call up from the minor, C+

Just like Jakubauskas, he also made the opening day with strong spring training, and he proved it with 1-1 record and 1.54 ERA. But unfortunately, he strained his left oblique and was placed on DL. The team says he is ahead of schedule, but it'll take him about three more weeks before he can start his pitching program. His stats is "A" work, but his injury brought the grade down.

Garrett Olson-Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, C-

If someone is to replace Jakubauskas in the rotation, Olson should take that role. His ERA is at 4.85, but much better than Jakubauskas. He might just make the rotation.

Jason Vargas-Acquired in a trade with the New York Mets, B

Vargas was called up to the Mariners, when Carlos Silva went on to the DL. Surprisingly, he has 1.29 ERA with 1-0 record in 14 innings including two starts. If Silva's injury will take him awhile to heal, Vargas should be able to stay in the rotation.

Carlos Silva's Shoulder Troubles Won't Set Back the Seattle Mariners

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:10:30 -0400

It looks like Seattle pitcher Carlos Silva's injury is serious.

An MRI revealed an internal impingement and fraying of the labrum and rotator cuff, according to MLB.com's Jim Street. Silva is seeking a second opinion this week, but he'll most likely need surgery to repair the damage.

Unfortunately, he will just keep disappointing Mariners fans. First, a terrible record, and now an injury. What was the point of signing him to four years and $48 million?

I definitely don't know. Nobody knows except former GM Bill Bavasi.

This means that Jason Vargas, who's taking Silva's place in the rotation, will get more starts—probably a good thing for the club. Vargas has been excellent with 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings. The Mariners acquired him in the trade with the Mets this past offseason and fans are currently watching it pay off.

Silva's injury is actually good for Vargas and the Mariners—more playing time for Vargas, and more wins for the Mariners.

Another, more troubling injury has surfaced at Triple-A Tacoma. Matt Tuiasosopo underwent surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs.

The good news is that the injury isn't serious as Don Wakamatsu originally said. Instead, "he will start his rehab immediately and shouldn't miss a lot of time."

Tuiasosopo missed the opening-day roster even after his hot spring training stint. He was limited to the designated hitter role in Tacoma because of elbow discomfort. Now, he should be able to play at full strength.

If the Mariners are looking to trade Adrian Beltre somewhere at the trade deadline, it's important for Tuiasosopo to get back in form quickly.

All About the Seattle Mariners: Yuniesky Betancourt in Trade Talk

Hayato Uwai — Tue, 19 May 2009 04:15:44 -0400

According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the Mariners are discussing a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates involving their starting shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt.

The Mariners would get SS Jack Wilson in the deal.

Yeah, I like it, but how about you?

You might say this is a terrible deal for the Mariners because Wilson is 31 and owed $6.2 mil, comparing to Betancourt, who is 27, and owed much less in a same period.

But here's the thing: Is Betancourt worth keeping?

Betancourt has .258 batting average, with .284 on base percentage. He only took five walks thus far in 128 at-bats. Not only his hitting is in trouble, but his defence is lacking . He already has six errors in 35 games. Skipper Don Wakamatsu benched him earlier this month because of his struggle.

This isn't the first time Betancourt struggled like this. He is known for inconsistency all through his career, and that got worse this year. Also, many people thought that Betancourt's defence is similar to what Omar Vizquel has, but so far, he is probably the worst defensive shortstop in the entire MLB.

On the bench, utility player Ronny Cedeno is proving that he can play better than Betancourt. Why bench a guy who is overplaying the starter? This trade will give Cedeno, a time as a starting shortstop.

Another thing. Carlos Triunfel, the Mariners' top infield prospect is preparing for his debut to the big league in few years. If Betancourt is there to block his path, it won't be good for both him and the Mariners. I want to see the Mariners creating a situation like the Rangers did with Elvis Andrus.

Jack Wilson won't do a lot for the Mariners because Cedeno would start in place for Betancourt. But Wilson is a good player to have as a utility player. He can play solid defence, and can hit for average.

Pirates would love to dump Wilson and get younger shortstop like Betancourt. Maybe they might add another player in the deal to fill the salary differential. Now, this all depends on Zduriencik. Trigger it? Or hold it? Go and trigger it, Dr. Z. You won't regret this move.

Mariners Make Changes: Morrow Gone From Closing, Olson to Start

Hayato Uwai — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:45:15 -0400

Once again, Brandon Morrow was pulled from closing.

First time, he went to the DL so he was pulled. But this time, he struggled to get a save in two consecutive days. Now, he is pulled from closing.

Since coming off the DL, Morrow gave up six runs in only 1.2 innings. On the first game, he was able to get a save even giving up a run.

But in the second game against the Rangers, he gave up a walk-off two run double to Hank Blalock. And finally, he gave up walk-off two run homer to Chris Davis to lose his closing job.

Enough is enough.

If Morrow was able to close the door, the M's should have taken two games from the Rangers. But instead, they got swept by the Rangers, which dropped the M's to 16-19 record.

David Aardsma will take over the closing role. He was able to shut the Red Sox down in the ninth tonight to notch his fourth save of the season.

This might be the last time for Morrow to close since the M's already have Chad Cordero and Joshua Fields unless Aardsma struggles.

Another thing. Garrett Olson will make his first start as a Mariner tomorrow against the Red Sox (Josh Beckett starting for them). He has experience as a starter when he was on the Orioles but he was inconsistent.

But so far, the left hander has 2.57 ERA in 7 innings pitched. His ERA is good, but he has 1.86 WHIP, which concerns me. He doesn't walk many batters, but he do get hit hard (his career BAA is .313).

If he can't keep the ball down, it will be a long day for him and the Mariners. Though, it is very interesting to see Olson starting for the M's.

A Look At the Seattle Mariners' Starting Rotation: So Far, So Good

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:01:28 -0400

Although Seattle has lost two in a row against division rival Texas, the M's are still in first place with 15-12 record.

But some of their hitters, like Adrian Beltre, keep struggling, and Endy Chavez, who had a hot start, is cooling off.

Also, the M's were without All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki for first eight games. So what has helped this team to come all the way from second-worst team in baseball to the division leader?

It's pitching, especially their starters.

Here's the Mariners rotation: Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn, Carlos Silva, and Chris Jakubauskas.

Not too awe inspiring. But look at their stats.

Bedard went on to the DL twice last season and finished 6-4; Washburn had a losing season; Silva's ERA went all the way to 6.46; and nobody knows Jakubauskas at all.

So what has happened?

Felix Hernadez: 4-1, 3.38 ERA, 45 K (Second Best in AL), 1.18 WHIP

Erik Bedard; 2-1, 2.37 ERA (Second Best in AL), 39 K, 1.05 WHIP

Jarrod Washburn: 3-1, 2.97 ERA, 23 K, 1.08 WHIP

Carlos Silva: 1-2, 7.36 ERA, 10 K, 1.48 WHIP

Chris Jakubauskas: 1-3, 5.76 ERA, 11K's, 1.28 WHIP

Bedard is finally healthy, as he went through April without an issue; Hernandez is pitching as usual, but his WHIP rate is the best in last four years; Washburn is enjoying a good start to his contract year.

Silva is off to a terrible start, but he will get better as the season goes. Jakubauskas has an ERA over five, but his WHIP is way better than CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.

This impressive start for the rotation has carried the M's while their hitters struggling. If Silve and Jakubauska can bounce back, the Mariners are team to watch out for come September and...October?

Winners and Losers: Sweeney, Jakubauskas, Kelley Won, Six Down

Hayato Uwai — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:18:01 -0400

2009 MLB regular season is less than a week away as the Mariners made the final moves to set their opening day 25 men roster. From the non-roster invitees, Mike Sweeney, Chris Jakubauskas, and Shawn Kelley made the opening day roster.

Winners

Sweeney, who beat Chris Shelton in the back-up first baseman race, had nice spring training, hitting over .400. Although Shelton had better spring training, general manager Jack Zduriencik liked what he saw out of Sweeney. He is a true club house guy, and would make the messed M's club house better along with Ken Griffey Jr. He will back-up Russell Branyan.

Jakubauskas, who never made the major league in his career, showed that he is major league ready. His pitching in the spring training made the roster cut decision tougher. He was consistent all spring, and should help the M's from the bullpen. May be another R.A. Dickey? Who knows.

Kelley will come into the game from the bullpen as well. Don Wakamatsu may try him closing if Brandon Morrow is unavailable. He impressed Zduriencik and Wakamatsu enough to bring him all the way here. Good pitcher, only needs to show he can pitch in the big league.

Losers

Randy Messanger (Minor League Camp): Had good ERA for first six games, after that, he started to fell apart. Reassigned to the minor league camp in the end.

Chris Shelton (Minor League Camp): Terrific spring training, could made the roster, but the M's took Sweeney.

Mike Morse (Outright to AAA Tacoma): Out of option, so he cleared the waiver first. The M's have too many OF'ers so everyone knew it was coming.

Garrett Olson (Optioned to AAA Tacoma): Acquired from the Cubs during the off-season. He wasn't going to make the starting rotation anyway, so keeping him in Tacoma should help. Can make the M's in mid season.

Jose Lugo (Returned to the Twins): Left handed reliever, which the M's needed, but the M's decided to return him to Minnesota(because he was drafted in the Rule 5 Draft). Did pitched solid, but not enough to make the roster.

Cesar Jimenez (15 Day DL): Always gets hurt. He missed most of last season. Should help if he stays healthy.

Is Mike Sweeney Over Chris Shelton Really True?

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:55:39 -0400

The Mariners today announced that Chris Shelton was reassigned to the minor league camp. This move means that Mike Sweeney will be the Mariners' first baseman, backing up Russell Branyan.

But Shelton was having monster spring training. Is Sweeney, who will turn 36 in July, better than Shelton? Maybe no as a major league player at this point, but definitely yes as a clubhouse guy.

Sweeney started to age when he was playing for the Royals in 2006. After that, he started to get hurt badly, and can't even play over 74 games.

Then, how did he beat Shelton?

There is an answer.

Sweeney is a clubhouse guy.

The Mariners were having real problem with their clubhouse. Some player tried to beat up the Mariners' top player, Ichiro Suzuki. This showed that the M's team chemistry is very low. So new GM Jack Zduriencik decided to change the clubhouse.

First, by trading away closer J.J. Putz, who apparently had been a problem in the clubhouse. Then, he brought in Sweeney and Ken Griffey, both great clubhouse players to boost team morale.

But Sweeney had to battle for the roster spot because he signed a minor league contract.

Sweeney won it. With his personality.

Good teams have great team chemistry. Now, the M's are going that way. Better club-house, better team chemistry, better team. The M's will be that, in few years.

Seattle Mariners Make Some Moves Before Camp Ends

Hayato Uwai — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:09:27 -0400

Brandon Morrow will close for the Mariners.

And now, this guy leaves the Mariners: Tyler Walker.

The Mariners signed Walker to an one-year contract in January and was one of the Mariners' closer candidate. But now with Morrow likely closing, Walker is useless. He gave up three runs in 5.2 innings pitched in the spring training games. The Mariners decided to release him.

Although I don't think it's great idea to release Walker, Morrow being a new closer for the M's is a great news. Morrow showed he can be consistent as a closer when J.J. Putz went down. None of the M's closer candidates pitched well during the spring, so using Morrow is a wise move.

Another move came soon after Walker was released. The Mariners acquired Chris Burke from the Padres for cash.

Burke was told by the team that he won't make the opening day roster on Saturday, he was traded by the team.

It's also unlikely for Burke to make the roster for the Mariners, Burke can be a utility man in place for Reegie Corona, if the Mariners decides not to keep him on the roster for a year. Burke can play both infield and the outfield.

Final move of the day, the Mariners optioned catcher Jeff Clement to AAA Tacoma. Clement was battling for the spot as a backup catcher, but it looks like Rob Johnson won the spot.

More moves should come as the opening day nears.

Rate Every Player on the Seattle Mariners' (Projected) Opening-Day Roster

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:15:39 -0400

Thanks to Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners looks like they are better team than they looked at the end of last season. Zduriencik is clearly leading this team to right direction.

Team chemistry looks good with the returning of Ken Griffey Jr. and every players are looking fine in the spring training games. Let's take a look at the players, who will be most likely be on the active roster for the Mariners on the opening day.

Pitchers

Felix Hernandez

King Felix looks to lead the M's rotation as the ace of this team. Felix dominated the WBC as a member of the Venezuelan team, but his team lost in the semifinal against Korea.

He only won nine games last season but that's because the M's had one of the worst season in the franchise history.

Although he only won nine games, his ERA was decent for a last team pitcher, recording 3.45 with 175 strike outs. Very good number for a 22-year-old guy.

Erik Bedard

Yeah, thanks for disappointing all the M's fans. 6-4 record, 3.67 ERA? Really? Is Bedard worth giving up Adam Jones, George Sherill, Chris Tillman, and two more prospects? No, at least for now. Bedard looks to rebound from last year's struggle to prove that he was worth paying those five players. He has everything, but he needs to stay healthy.

Carlos Silva

Another disappointment last year, but he looked decent in WBC (not including the last game against Korea though). The M's overpaid on him, but he can win 10+ games, with ERA around 3.40. He can be very good with the Mariners tough defence.

Jarrod Washburn

Always having a losing season as a Mariner. He can be good sometimes, but he can be real bad in the other time. He will most likely leave Seattle on either free agency or get traded. Let's see if he does well on his contract year.

Brandon Morrow

Our bright pitching star. On a first MLB start, he almost no hit the Yankees. He has great fastball, some commands, so he can be a decent starter. Only issue is that he lacks stamina.

As a starter, stamina is very important in order to pitch well into late in the game. He might not be ready for the opener because of the on going injury.

Ryan Rowland-Smith

He decided not to pitch in the WBC, which was good decision because if this guy gets hurt, the M's would lose decent spot starter and a reliever. His pitching form confuses many hitters, and he has decent fastball, good commands to be our guy.

If Morrow won't be ready by the opener, Rowland-Smith would start in place for him.

David Aardsma

Acquired from the Red Sox. He is a flame thrower, clocking 94 mph on average. He was a consistent reliever for the Sox until he got hurt. Aardsma would be our seventh-inning guy most likely.

Tyler Walker

Free agent signed from the Giants. He is a veteran reliever, and posts solid number. He has only one year of experience in the American League, so he may struggle against the American League hitters. But facing a new hitter might help him be consistent.

Miguel Batista

He is still a closer candidate for the Mariners. As far as what the fans saw out of him last year, he is better at relieving than starting.

Garrett Olson

Used to be a top prospect for the Orioles. He was traded to the Cubs first, then traded again to the Mariners. On a first year, he struggled but the new environment may help him to get back to what he looked like several years ago.

Mark Lowe

He won't be like he used to be when he made a debut. He is known to be the top candidate to become the closer, but I don't think he will be good. He struggled when he replaced J.J. Putz last season.

Roy Corcoran

Probably the most consistent reliever the Mariners had last season. He should continue that this season, maybe the Mariners' eighth-inning guy.

Catcher

Kenji Johjima

Struggled last season, but another guy who played well in the WBC. He can play defence, but he needs to improve offensively.

Jeff Clement

Total opposite of Johjima. He can hit hard, but he lacks defence. Only way for the Mariners to play him is DH or backup catcher.

Infielder

Russell Branyan

Free agent signed from the Brewers. He is having a monster spring training, but he is known for inconsistency. He will platoon with Chris Shelton at first.

Jose Lopez

Chosen as WBC All Star Second Baseman. He made the AL All-Star team last season. He can hit for average, knocks in runs, and plays solid defence. He will be one of the top second baseman in the entire MLB in near future.

Yuniesky Betancourt

He is great defender, but where is offence? Low batting average, can't steal bases, now he really needs to prove that he is the M's starting shortstop because Ronny Cedeno is having amazing spring training so far.

Adrian Beltre

He is on a contract year. Provides gold grove defence at third, can hit 25+ homers, should be better this year. The Mariners would try to trade him, and there should be a team wanting Beltre.

Ronny Cedeno

Acquired from the Cubs in order to push Betancourt, but Cedeno might just win a starting job. Cedeno used to be one of the top prospect for the Cubs.

Reegie Corona

He needs to be on the MLB roster for one year since he was acquired via Rule V Draft. He will be a utility player to fill Willie Bloomquist, who signed with the Royals.

Chris Shelton

He will platoon with Branyan at first. Solid hitter, but he is known for inconsistency. He is having great spring training. Hitting well, now he needs to stay consistent.

Outfield

Ichiro Suzuki

Had a terrible WBC until he had 4 for 6 night against Korea in the final. Everyone thought he started to age, but looks like he is okay still. If Zduriencik gets good deal out of Ichiro, maybe Zduriencik might trade him. His high salary might be a problem.

Franklin Gutierrez

Acquired from the Indians. Great defender, has potential offensively, he will be our starting center fielder.

Endy Chavez

Another good defender. He will play left field. Had a decent time in WBC. Can he continue that into the season?

Ken Griffey Jr.

"The Kid" finally returned to the Mariners. He is aging, but he can hit 20+ homers, 70+ RBI, should play both DH and left field. Maybe this is his final year playing in the big league.

Seattle Mariners' Position Race: Starting Rotation

Hayato Uwai — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:08:44 -0400

The Mariners have way too many starters. It includes young guys (Felix Hernandez, Brandon Morrow, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Garrett Olson) and veterans (Jarrod Washburn, Carlos Silva, Erik Bedard). Also, non-roster invitees like Chris Jakubauskas are also in the contension. But there are only five spots on the rotation. Who will make it?

Winner for sure: Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard

Hernandez pitched very well for Team Venezuela in the WBC. He is considered as the Mariners' ace, only at the age of 22. He has fastball well over 93 mph, good commands, but he still needs to prove that he is the Mariner ace.

Bedard, acquired from the Orioles last offseason, had 6-4 record with 3.67 ERA. He can be very productive if he can stay healthy. He looks to rebound from last season's struggle in his contract year.

Likely to win: Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn

Silva also pitched for the Venezuelan team. He also pitched fine, except for the last game against Korea. He started off last season going 3-0, but struggled after that. His four-year contract was definitely overpaying, but he can win double digits, and keep his ERA down. He is a fly ball pitcher, meaning that the defense is the key for Silva to be productive. The Mariners added some defensive players, which helps.

Washburn is now on his contract year. He has been disappointing all the M's fans with his record, ERA and everything. He is also a fly ball pitcher, so the new M's defense would definitely help him.

Final Spot Battle: Brandon Morrow, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Garrett Olson, Chris Jakubauskas

Morrow became a starter at the end of last season, and almost no hit the Yankees on his first career MLB start. His fastball tops 98 mph along with a great slider. He may miss the first week of the regular season with the injury, but the injury is not serious. He is leading the final spot race.

Rowland-Smith has everything. Good fastball, good commands and his unique pitching form confuses many hitters. He may start several games in place for injured Morrow if needed at the beginning of the season. But he will be a spot starter and a reliever.

Olson, acquired from the Cubs, was once a top pitching prospect for the Orioles. Although it's unlikely for him to make the rotation this year, he can be a very good starter for the Mariners. As soon as Washburn leaves Seattle, he and Rowland-Smith will get a chance to make the rotation.

Jakubauskas was invited to spring training, and has been solid. It's unlikely for him to make the rotation, he may make the opening day roster like R.A. Dickey did last season. He has no major league experience.

So the M's rotation would look something like this:
Hernandez
Bedard
Silva
Washburn
Morrow(or Rowland-Smith)

Three right-handed, two left-handed starters, which is well balanced. Bedard and Washburn are in contract year, so we can expect good stats out of them this year. Hernandez and Silva pitched very well in the WBC, proving that they are ready to continue that into the season. The M's fans finally have something to cheer on.

Seattle Mariners' To-Do List: Get Rid of These Four Players

Hayato Uwai — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:14:37 -0400

The Mariners have a lot to do to rebuild their team. Jack Zduriencik, our new GM, started by bringing some young talents like Mike Carp, Jesus Delgado, Garrett Olson and so on.

But the M's have a few things to do rather quickly, which is to get rid of some players who do nothing and eat up money. So here are the players:

Jarrod Washburn

He was a solid starter, but he isn't worth the money the Mariners are paying him. He has never had a winning season as a Mariner and continues to struggle at Safeco Field, which is surprising because Safeco Field is known as a pitcher's park.

His four-year contract signed back in 2005 expires after this season, and it's unlikely that the Mariners will bring him back in 2010. Zduriencik will hopefully try to trade him if possible to get something in return because Washburn won't be a "Type A" or "Type B" free agent.

Carlos Silva

Also another pitcher that used to be a solid starter, but again isn't worth the contract that was signed. We all know that this signing was a terrible move by the Mariners organization.

That's one of the reasons why the M's fans hate Bill Bavasi. Anyways, he started off well last season by winning three in a row, but he began to struggle after that. It would be tough to move him, but if Zduriencik can find a bargain like he did with Aaron Heilman, he should trigger a trade.

Ichiro Suzuki

You might say "why?" Yes, he is one of the top hitters in the entire Major League Baseball and he provides gold grove defense in right field and last year as the center fielder, But he will turn 36 after this season.

Ichiro still has three years of his contract left and at at $18 million per year for the next three years for a singles hitter isn't worth it. He won't be "Type A" or "Type B" free agent when his contract expires, meaning that the Mariners would get nothing out of this guy.

Why not just trade him elsewhere and get some decent prospects in return?

He can still hit for well over .300, can steal over 30 bases per year, and has the gold glove defense. There should be a team, which needs that. Keeping Ichiro in Seattle means keeping the Mariners from rebuilding their team.

Hopefully, Zduriencik will try to trade him at the trade deadline this year.

Kenji Johjima

Jeff Clement, Rob Johnson, and Adam Moore developing rapidly. Now, Johjima needs to get out of here. His 2008 season was terrible, only hit bit over .200, he can't throw runners out, and lost his starting job.

Don Wakamatsu said that he would start Johjima on the opening day, but before Johjima struggles again, get someone in return for him.

For example, acquire Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins for Johjima and if not maybe Moore or Johnson for Hermida. It is more than unlikely, but the Marlins did want either Moore or Johnson for Hermida, meaning that they really are trying for a catcher.

Maybe give it a shot if the Marlins show some interest on Johjima, Moore or Johnson for Hermida? The Mariners can start from there.

Tell me who else the Mariners should get rid of, but I believe these four players are the ones who are overrated, paid way too much, and don't actually help the team but in actuality hinder the team.

Seattle Mariners' Surprises This Spring: Messanger, Cedeno, Tuiasosopo, Branyan

Hayato Uwai — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:17:39 -0400

The Mariners started to fall apart, after going 4-0 in the first four spring training games, now 7-8 after losing to the White Sox. If you are an M's fan (like me), you should be mad at this point, saying what's wrong with this team.

Yeah, WBC pulled all those good players from us like Ichiro and Felix, but some guys are actually benefited by this tournament. Those guys are surprising everyone. The guys named Randy Messanger, Ronny Cedeno, Matt Tuiasosopo and Russell Branyan are just few of them.

Randy Messanger

Messanger joined the Mariners last year, signing minor league contract. He did made the majors but he was, saying in one word, garbage. He signed another minor-league contract with the Mariners and now look at him. Decent reliever.

He finally gave up a run against the White Sox, but his ERA is still impressive 1.13. Can we say he is a garbage now? Probably not. Now, Messanger might just join the closer race, and win it.

Ronny Cedeno

Traded by the Cubs in Aaron Heilman deal along with Garrett Olson, who gave up seven runs against the White Sox in 1.2 innings. Cedeno has been hot in the training, hitting .314 average with a homer and five runs batted in. You might say he lacks power, but what do you say with Yuniesky Betancourt?

He can hit hard, sometimes, but he is very inconsistent hitter. Why not just use Cedeno this season? It might help both Cedeno and Betancourt in many ways.

Matt Tuiasosopo

What's wrong with this man who's brother is a QB for the Oakland Raiders? He is ready to play in the majors. He has two homers, seven RBI, and is hitting .500. Adrian Beltre will be our third baseman, for sure, but Zduriencik can look to trade Beltre more easily.

Tuiasosopo is there for you. Let's see how he'll end the training. That probably decides either he will make the opening day roster or start the season in Tacoma. I'd love to see Tuiasosopo soon in Safeco though.

Russell Branyan

I used to think that Branyan is the guy who is inconsistent. But this spring training has been different for him. Signed a one-year contract, the former Brewers already hit three homers, knocked in nine runs and hitting .323.

He will most likely be the starting first baseman against right handed starter(Chris Shelton against lefties). All he needs to do is stay out of injury and just hit hard.

I'm not saying that these guys will have impact because they're having amazing spring training, but if players are getting to the form quickly and showing that they can play well for the team, you should be excited about it. Look out for these players in April.

Seattle Mariners Position Race: Catcher

Hayato Uwai — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:49:23 -0400

Our starting catcher, Kenji Johjima, struggled real bad last season, which was a huge disappointment after signing him to a three-year extension, former GM Bill Bavasi's last TERRIBLE move.

Now with Jeff Clement and Rob Johnson proving that they are major league ready, who will be catching?

Here are the candidates.

Kenji Johjima: The Mariners' starting catcher since 2006 after long-time catcher Dan Wilson retired. He knows how to play defense, but he tends to rush himself, and goes sidearm on a throw to gun down the runner. He fixed that in 2007, but he went back to his old form in 2008. He struggled offensively last season, losing his starting job to Jeff Clement. Now he looks to rebound. He is currently playing for Team Japan in WBC.

Jeff Clement: Unlike Johjima, Clement can hit hard. He has power, and I think he can be like Mike Piazza minus defense. Yes, MINUS defence. Clement is still at the level of learning how to play defense. He still isn't major league ready defensively, so he has work to do. He can't disappoint fans because of the fact that he was third overall selection in the 2005 MLB Draft.

Rob Johnson: This guy has nothing more to prove in the minors. He can hit for average and can play solid defense. Probably good for backup catcher, but never known as a starter. But if Johjima struggles again, and Clement can't play defense, I think Johnson will get some time starting; and if he succeeds, he can be our guy.

Adam Moore: Unlikely to get called up in the majors any time soon, but he has been a surprise in the organization, hitting and playing defense well. He is a well-balanced catcher. Problem is where to play him. DH will be Clement if he can't prove he is major league ready defensively and Johnson will start if Johjima struggles (or gets out of Seattle). So only place for Moore to play is backup, which is a waste of a talent. Look for the Mariners to trade one of Clement, Johnson, or Moore in few years.

Our new skipper, Don Wakamatsu, said that he will start Johjima. But if Johjima continues to struggle at the MLB level, fans might see him get out of Seattle real soon, meaning Clement and Johnson will have a chance. I'd like to see that happen personally because Johjima is already past his prime, and not playing prospects like Clement and Johnson is terrible.

Come on Don, let them play.

Seattle Mariners' Successful Off-season Continues as M's Ink Chad Cordero

Hayato Uwai — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:45:36 -0400

Jack Zduriencik continues his quest to rebuild the Mariners, as he inked former Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero to a minor-league contract.

Cordero will continue to rehab from the surgery to repair a labrum tear. Cordero will compete for the closer job once he gets healthy again, but Zduriencik wants to give Cordero enough time to recover. Zduriencik is optimistic that Cordero will help the Mariners this season.

Although Cordero might not help the Mariners this season, this deal would give the Mariners a solid closer or better. After trading away J.J. Putz to the New York Mets, the Mariners needed a closer.

Mark Lowe will most likely be the Mariners closer at the start of the season, but he won't be a long term answer because he can't stay consistent.

So as soon as Cordero recovers fully, he will take over the job. Cordero will turn 27 next week, so he still has years left. Cordero posted 128 saves in six years of MLB service for the Montreal Expos and the Nationals.

Hope Cordero recovers fully from the injury to help the Mariners, because Seattle needs a solid closer until promising prospect Josh Fields shows that he is better.