2010 MLB Spring Training: Seattle Mariners News and Notes

Is it me, or are the Seattle Mariners either doing something or have something going on that makes headlines every day?

I woke up this morning and there they were again. I guess if you notice a team’s news and notes on a regular basis, it means they are relevant—and the Mariners will certainly be relevant in 2010.

Since the Mariners had a couple of relevant stories going on, I decided to include them  in one post.

Cliff Lee has an abdominal strain

This really hasn’t been the start with the Mariners Lee had envisioned. First, he had minor surgery on his foot, then he was suspended for five games for throwing at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Snyder. And now he has suffered an abdominal strain.

Lee is currently suffering from a right abdominal strain, which manager Don Wakamatsu believes Lee suffered when he collided with Snyder on Monday. Lee visited the Mariners’ team doctor yesterday and was given an ultrasound exam and a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection.

Lee will be re-evaluated in seven days, but it is quite possible he could miss his first start of the season.

Jose Lopez and Chone Figgins flip-flopping

When the Mariners signed Chone Figgins this offseason, it was assumed he was signed to play third to replace the departed Adrian Beltre. Now it doesn’t look like that will be the case.

According to the Seattle Times, Wakamatsu is “leaning towards” playing Figgins at second and Lopez at third. While I appreciate the Mariners trying to create flexibility, I don’t really understand it.

Lopez is not Dan Uggla at second base and has been an above average defender at the position for the majority of his career (only really poor season was in 2008). Figgins is a superior defensive third baseman and hasn’t played second on a semi-regular basis since 2005.

Figgins has played 113 career games at second and has a career UZR of minus-4.7. While I think this is great for fantasy owners because it will make Figgins and Lopez eligible at multiple positions, I am not sure I agree with this move if it is done on a regular basis.

Milton Bradley gets ejected from the game

For the second time in three days, Bradley was ejected from a spring training game for arguing balls and strikes. Wow, this didn’t take long.

Hopefully Bradley is getting everything out of his system in spring training because this won’t fly for too long in the great Northwest. Lost in all this is the fact that the Mariners really, really need Bradley to stay on the field.

If Bradley doesn’t pan out, the Mariners’ offense becomes worse than it already is.

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