Random ST Ramblings

[MarinersFan87]

Foppert isn't going to the pen. With Meche out he may be the guy to beat for the 5th spot in the rotation. If not he'll go to Tacoma to start.

[Porter]

SEATTLE (7) AT SAN DIEGO (13)

 SEATTLE          AB  R  H BI  SAN DIEGO        AB  R  H BI
 Y Betancourt ss   3  0  0  0  E Young lf        2  0  0  0
 O Navarro 2b      2  1  1  0  R Meaux p         0  0  0  0
 K Johjima c       3  0  0  0  J Barfield 2b     2  2  2  4
 R Rivera c        2  1  2  2  K Greene ss       3  1  1  0
 R Ibanez lf       3  0  0  0  J Leone 3b        2  0  1  0
 S Choo lf         2  0  0  0  M Bellhorn 2b     3  1  1  2
 R Sexson 1b       3  1  2  0  G Kottaras c      2  0  0  0
 T Sears 1b        1  0  1  1  C Young 1b        5  1  1  0
 M Lawton rf       3  1  2  0  D Mirabelli c     3  0  2  0
 M Morse rf        0  0  0  1  F Guzman cf       1  1  1  0
 G Dobbs 3b        1  1  0  0  B Johnson cf      2  2  1  0
 W Bloomquist ss   2  0  1  0  T Hoffman p       0  0  0  0
 J Lopez 2b        2  0  0  0  J Cust lf         2  0  1  0
 C Ransom 3b       2  0  0  0  B Hill 3b         1  1  0  1
 T Bohn cf         4  1  2  1  M Bush ss         1  0  0  0
 J Washburn p      0  0  0  0  E Valent rf       4  2  2  2
 R Lampe ph        1  0  0  0  D Brazelton p     1  0  0  0
 F Cruceta p       0  0  0  0  S Etherton p      0  0  0  0
 R Petagine ph     1  0  1  2  C Carrillo p      0  0  0  0
 R Cortez p        0  0  0  0  P McAnulty lf     2  2  1  2
 J Clement ph      1  0  0  0  S Linebrink p     0  0  0  0
 J Heaverlo p      0  0  0  0  C Hensley p       0  0  0  0
 S Green p         0  0  0  0
 A Cabrera ph      1  1  1  0
 TOTALS           37  7 13  7  TOTALS           36 13 14 11

 SEATTLE                   000 030 022 --  7
 SAN DIEGO                 010 024 60x -- 13

 DP--SEATTLE 2, SAN DIEGO 1. LOB--SEATTLE 5, SAN
 DIEGO 6. 2B--J Barfield 2, K Greene, P McAnulty, R
 Rivera 2. HR--M Bellhorn 1 (1) (off R Cortez).
 S--B Hill. SF--M Morse.
                                   IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR
  SEATTLE
 J Washburn                         2   2   1   1   2   2   0
 F Cruceta                          2   1   0   0   1   2   0
 R Cortez (L,0-1)                   2   4   6   6   2   2   1
 J Heaverlo                       2-3   6   6   5   0   0   0
 S Green                        1 1-3   1   0   0   0   0   0
  SAN DIEGO
 D Brazelton                        2   0   0   0   0   1   0
 S Etherton                         2   0   0   0   0   0   0
 C Carrillo                         1   4   3   3   1   1   0
 R Meaux (W,1-0)                    1   2   0   0   0   0   0
 T Hoffman                          1   0   0   0   0   0   0
 S Linebrink                        1   4   2   2   0   0   0
 C Hensley                          1   3   2   2   0   2   0

 WP--R Cortez 2, S Green. HBP--F Guzman by S
 Green. SO--SEA: R Sexson, S Choo, J Lopez, O
 Navarro. SDG: D Mirabelli, E Valent, D Brazelton,
 B Johnson, C Young, J Leone. BB--SEA: G Dobbs.
 SDG: B Hill 2, E Young, B Johnson, P McAnulty.
 T--2:40. A--5,708.

Well make that 45 runs in 3 games. We are really mowing them down.

[Providence A's]

M's taking it easy with Felix:

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASA...ives&fext=.jsp

When you've got Secretariat in your stable, you have to let him run. Not just because it's good for business, but because you have a responsibility to the sport to put that kind of talent on public display.

What you don't do is run the horse ragged, which brings us to the 2006 Seattle Mariners. They appear to have a once-in-a-lifetime horse on their hands, too, and how they handle him -- and how he handles their handling -- is going to be one of the team's most compelling story lines of the season.

What we know thus far of Felix Hernandez suggests that he has the kind of right arm that makes scouting directors, managers and pitching coaches look like geniuses, while making opposing hitters look like they'd rather be gargling wet cement.

We know he throws a fastball that clocks in the mid to high 90s, with bat-breaking movement, and he complements that heat with what scouts call a "plus" changeup and a PlayStation curveball.

We know that Seattle fans, having absorbed the majesty of Hernandez's splashy 12-game coming out party late last season, are already calling him "King Felix." (Hernandez knows this, too; he celebrated his ascendancy this offseason by buying himself a Shih Tzu and naming it "King.")

It's good for Mariners fans to see that they aren't going to overwork Felix.

[Porter]

Thats pretty much old news Prov. They will probably be like that until he turns 20-21 i believe.

[Providence A's]

I think they'll be "cautious" with him for a year or two...not letting him throw too many pitches and innings for the year.

[Providence A's]

M's interested in Jack Wilson?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06080/673880.stm

Because the Boston Red Sox sent right-hander Bronson Arroyo to Cincinnati for outfielder Wily Mo Pena -- and signed Juan Gonzalez -- Craig Wilson going to the Red Sox would seem a moot point.

"The rumors were wrong," Wilson said. "Apparently it was just what it was -- a rumor."

That doesn't mean Wilson won't go somewhere. Atlanta, Cleveland, Toronto, San Diego and Seattle could still have some interest in the first baseman/outfielder.

What do you guys think about acquiring Wilson as a possibility?

[Porter]

its Craig Wilson, Prov. And i dont think it would be a big thing to trade for him personally. Still hasnt shown if hes a 1 year wonder yet.

[Providence A's]

oops, my bad...they've been trying to trade Jack Wilson before, too. :ohwell:

[Providence A's]

It appears Betancourt is getting a shot to hit 2nd in the order, what do you guys think about that?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/baseba...36_mbok23.html

Admittedly, part of using Betancourt as the No. 2 hitter has been the need to compensate in the leadoff spot while Ichiro was playing for champion Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

In that case, however, anybody could have batted second. Why Betancourt? Because Hargrove needs to see if his shortstop has the stuff to hit in the top third of the lineup.

"Part of this has been because of Ichiro, but part has been because Betancourt has some of the tools you like to see in a No. 2 hitter," Hargrove said. "He brings speed to the top of the batting order, and he's a good fastball hitter.

"And I'm anticipating that Ichiro will be on first base a lot, so opposing pitchers are going to want to throw whoever bats second a lot of fastballs."

[MarinersFan87]

Betancourt/Johijma/Reed whoever is hitting the best at the time is cool by me.

[Fishercat]

So, who doesn't want Craig Wilson at this point? Do the Pirates have 29 Craig Wilsons to go around?

As for the M's order, they just need someone, anyone to get on base and force Ichiro over a base. Sexson and Beltre, if he performs well, can drive them in, but they could really use a solid #2 guy.

[Porter]

Id want a leadoff hitter so someone can move Ichiro to the 3 hole.

[Providence A's]

I don't think you'll be getting one at this point.

[Porter]

i know but i can dream cant i.

[Providence A's]

if you could acquire someone, realistically, who would you prefer?