1,134

The number refers to the number of walks the Mariners are on pace for after collecting seven in the 5-2 Opening Day victory over the Rangers.

Seven walks!  Unbelievable!  Obviously the concept that you are able to accomplish more if you’re able to get on base was something that Mike Hargrove was unable to get across during the past few hack-tastic Mariner teams.  Being able to coax bases on balls, and then running on the base paths, generated most of the Mariners’ runs,  beating Kevin Millwood, even though the Rangers’ ace is now the early season ERA leader after allowing no earned runs over six innings.  A Michael Young error allowed the M’s to go ahead 2-1 in the sixth inning, allowing Millwood to pick up the loss despite an unblemished ERA.  Throw in a clutch two-run double by Jose Lopez an inning later- after a passed ball, wild pitch, and an intentional pass to Ichiro by Rangers’ reliever Kazuo Fukumori- as Lopez flashed the form that led to 58 first-half RBIs and an All Star berth in 2006 and that’s all she wrote.

And with the Angels dropping their Opening Day match-up to Livan Hernandez and the Minnesota Twins 3-2 (with Torii Hunter being held hitless in four at-bats), the M’s find themselves alone at the top of the standings.  While that first win is indeed satisfying, the realist needs to point out that the only thing it really means is that the M’s will not challenge the 1988 Baltimore Orioles’ record of dropping their first 21 games of the season.

While it was great to see the M’s defying expectations and demonstrating some patience at the plate, somebody should pass that memo to Jose Vidro who, in the eighth inning, after a four-pitch walk to Brad Wilkerson by Rangers reliever Esteban German immediately swung and miss at a pitch up and out of the zone.  *Sigh*  That’s the M’s designated hitter for you….

Erik Bedard did a serviceable enough job, battling a strike zone that was arguably squeezed by home plate umpire Jim Joyce.  Still, despite giving up that first-inning home run that I totally called (though it was a solo shot to Young rather than a three-run blast), and walking a tight rope as he went to a full-count on ten of the first eighteen batters, Bedard pitched well enough to give the M’s a chance to get back into the ballgame, allowing just three hits while striking out five in five innings.

With tomorrow’s match-up pitting Felix Hernandez against Vincente Padilla (is he really the Rangers’ number two man? really?)  you almost have to feel sorry for Rangers fans.  Padilla has never really capitalized on the potential he showed with back-to-back 14-win seasons he had with the Phillies a handful of seasons ago.  To say Padilla’s 2007 season was a disaster is putting it mildly.  His walk rate rose, his strikeout rate plummeted, and his offerings were absolutely hammered by opposing batters.  In three appearances against the M’s last year, Padilla lost the first two, allowing 15 hits and 13 runs over nine innings, before tossing six innings of one-run ball against the Mariners last August, the last time the M’s have seen the offerings of the Nicaraguan right-hander.   Ichiro has collected 12 hits in 23 at-bats against Padilla for a career 1.281 OPS, while Adrian Beltre may be held to a .240 average by Padilla, but four of his six hits have gone yard.  I’m calling a funk blast for Beltre tomorrow.

It’s almost unfair to pit Padilla against Felix, but that’s how the M’s rotation falls.  The consensus about Felix is that this season he should come into his own, cementing himself as one of the dominating starters in the game.  When you consider that the last time he made an official major league start, he came within an out of a complete-game win against the Rangers last September, holding Texas to four hits and two runs while striking out eight. It’s going to be interesting to see if Felix can top that.  With McLaren having to go to the bullpen four times on Opening Day, he will be looking to get as many innings out of Felix as he can.  Is it too much to expect a three-hit shutout?

Let’s temper the expectations a bit.  The Rangers will at least be able to put across a run, but putting up plural may be a problem.  I’m picking the M’s to win by a final score of 10-1.  Yes, it will be ugly.

Opening Day!

Currently 90 minutes (give or take) from Erik Bedard’s first fastball thrown at the friendly confines of Safeco Field, and of the M’s taking steps to prove that their pre-season hype to win the division is nothing more than just hype.

Still, although the Safe can hopefully nullify the Rangers’ prodigious offense, fingers need to be crossed that Bedard’s debut in a Mariners’ uniform is successful.  Of course we have to ignore Bedard’s 9.50 spring training ERA (at the risk of overlooking the microscopic 0.95 mark he posted in last year’s spring), but some of the numbers don’t add up in Bedard’s favor.  The confines of the Safe have proven to be less-than-friendly for Bedard so far in his career.  Considering the small sample size, in nearly 23 career innings at the Safe, Bedard has allowed 36 base runners (2-1 hit-to-walk ratio) which led to an ERA a notch below 6.00.  Still, Bedard has won four of the six starts pitched against Texas, with 45 strikeouts against the swing-happy Rangers, allowing 32 hits and a 2.50 ERA in nearly 40 innings, allowing no home runs against the Ranger starting line-up.  (So don’t be surprised if a three-run blast is given up on the top half of the first inning.)

Texas starter Kevin Millwood also has a winning record against the Mariners, but in a far less dominating fashion, compiling a 7-6 record in 15 starts, allowing 139 base runners (119 hits)  in ninety-five innings.  Raul Ibanez has been a particular thorn in Millwood’s side, hitting Millwood at a .359 clip with five extra base hits in 39 at-bats.  Adrian Beltre has also demonstrated extra-base prowess against Millwood’s offerings, picking up six in 59 at-bats, while Richie Sexson has five, including three funk blasts, in forty-nine at-bats.

Although no set opening day line-up has been announced, manager John McLaren’s projected line-up, according to the M’s home page:

CF Ichiro

2B Lopez

LF Ibanez

1B Sexson

3B Beltre

RF Wilkerson

DH Vidro

C Johjima

SS Betancourt

Though the M’s may not blow the Rangers out of the water on Opening Day, they should pull out a close win, barring any dramatic implosion by the team’s bullpen.

Jeremy Reed’s days with the Mariners numbered?

One of the Mariners’ final roster moves of the spring may not involve adding a player to a roster, but instead shipping one to an entire different team.  The chances of Jeremy Reed- the former can’t miss prospect who, unfortunately, missed with the Mariners- claiming a roster spot as the club begins to head north for Opening Day as all but nil, as it makes little sense for the M’s to add the left-handed Reed to accompany their triumvirate of lefties patrolling the outfield in Raul Ibanez, Ichiro, and Brad Wilkerson.

The M’s all ready have a bench currently comprised of organizational fave Willie Bloomquist, back-up catcher Jamie Burke, and roster-hog Miguel Cairo, so one of the final questions manager John McLaren must address as the M’s make their final last-minute roster adjustments is whether to add one more bat to his bench, or two.  McLaren does have two options available to add a right-handed back-up outfielder to the bench in Mike Morse, whose utility experience allows him to play at first base besides the corner outfield spots, and Charlton Jimerson, who has shown the ability to contribute both speed and power.  As both Morse and Jimerson have run out of options, if McLaren opts not to keep either, they would certainly be claimed off waivers.

Faced with such stiff competition in the outfield and on the bench, if the Mariners decide to keep Reed- who does still have options remaining- Jeremy would spend another year batting against Triple A pitching that he is continually aging (well) against, a situation that does nothing positive either for him or for the M’s, who would sacrifice a starting outfield spot that could go for a young, developing prospect in exchange for a veteran minor leaguer who really has little to prove against Triple A pitching.

So the trade rumors are in full bloom, with the reports being that the M’s have been in discussion with two teams, the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Bay Rays, regarding deals to send Reed their way, both of whom could make immediate use of a part-time or even a starting center fielder with outstanding defensive skills and good strike zone judgment.  The Padres are pinning a lot of hope that gimpy 37-year old Jim Edmonds can overcome his injury-riddled history to wield a productive bat, and San Diego could definitely use Reed as a reliable back-up.  But the Rays may identify Reed as a player that can join their promising youth movement, especially as erstwhile starting center fielder Rocco Baldelli is suffering from a rare illness that leaves his muscles incredibly fatigued even after the slightest workout.  Baldelli is slated to start the season on the 15-day DL, but the once-promising Rays outfielder may be resigned to the scrap heap of players who were never able to capitalize on their potential due to injuries.  Plus, the Rays have been remarkably adept at developing solid young pitching, which the M’s could acquire in a deal, as the chances of obtaining left-handed power in exchange for Reed is non-existent.

Although Reed may very well end up patrolling center field in Cheney Stadium for another season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him pop up in another uniform before the summer is through, and ending up in the American League East, where he would face off against former Tacoma teammate Adam Jones, is the most likeliest destination.

Bedard: Running out of prep time

After the Twins traded Johann Santana and the Red Sox’ Josh Beckett’s back recently started to flare up, many thought that the Mariners had pulled off the biggest coup of the off-season when they traded for Erik Bedard.  By near unanimous opinion, Bedard was being cited as the best pitcher in the American league heading into the 2008 season.

However, Bedard has put up troubling numbers this spring that belie the notion that the M’s ace has arrived: over 24 innings Bedard allowed 23 runs, nine home runs, eight walks, and ten strikeouts.  As Tim Brown points out on Yahoo!, Bedard needs to get his ‘game on’- STAT!  Brown points out that with the trade, Bedard went from a developing ace in a hitter’s ballpark on a non-contending team to an ace in a pitcher’s park on a contending team.  Considering what the M’s gave up for last year’s American League leader in strikeouts- future superstar Adam Jones and unhittable left-handed reliever George Sherrill- if Bedard fails to deliver on his high expectations, it could be the type of trade that could cripple the Mariners franchise and all but guarantee Bill Bavasi and the rest of the front office the loss of their jobs.

The first step towards the conclusion of this high-stakes gamble will happen in four days…

Spiezio update: Arraignment rescheduled for April 7

The cabdriver-assaulting scumbag Scott Spiezio, who had all of an .064 average in 47 at-bats for the M’s in 2005, is scheduled for an arraignment in Newport Beach on April 7 to address charges of driving under the influence, hit and run, and aggravated assault and battery.  According to the AP report, “On Dec. 30, Spiezio crashed his car, fled from the scene and then beat up a friend who tried to help him, police said.”

That Scott Spiezio.  Sure is a class act.  I’m sure he’ll probably get probation along with some fines to pay.  But it sure would be nice if the legal system made it so I wouldn’t have to look at his stupid, ugly red-goateed mug for some time.

Harden’s back

Instead of walking off the mound holding his elbow in agony yesterday, all Rich Harden did was simply manhandle to line-up of the defending World Champion Red Sox, holding Boston to three hits in six innings while striking out nine as the A’s topped the Red Sox in Japan by a 5-1 score.

So Harden’s back.  And healthy.  And dominating.  Crap.

With his three-run home run off Jon Lester in the third inning, Emil Brown has taken the early-season lead in RBIs with four.  Perhaps we can anoint the Kansas City Royal cast-off “Mr. March.”  What a topsy turvy beginning to the 2008 season!

Now its back to spring training for both teams, with the regular season really getting under way next week.

Miguel Cairo, tutor for younger Mariners?

Sure, maybe Matt Tuiasosopo needed a bit more minor-league seasoning, but having Miguel Cairo of all people providing guidance wasn’t going to help him make the cut to the major league roster.

A’s lose 6-5 in extra innings in Japan; M’s tied for first place

In the Far East, a Brandon Moss ninth-inning home run, Huston Street allowing a two-run double by Manny Ramirez in extra innings, and poor base running by Emil Brown kicked off the 2008 season with the A’s dropping to the Red Sox by a 6-5 score.  Jon Lester will face off against little Dickie Harden in today’s (tomorrow’s?) game.  Over/under on Harden getting a season-ending injury by the fifth inning?

With the A’s loss, the M’s find themselves tied for first place without even playing a game.  Don’t be surprised to see this team at the top of the standings at the end of the season.  And Mariners fans should know better to doubt this team’s chances.

Sure, the offense leaves much to be desired.  But look at the competition.  The Angels are forced to turn to subsidize their pitching staff with untested prospects due to their top two starters missing the first two months of the season, the Rangers don’t have the pitching to ride Josh Hamilton’s bat to the top of the standings, and the A’s are even more of a glorified Triple-A team now that Eric Chavez is shelved indefinitely.  All the Mariners have is the best starting pitcher (despite the horrid spring stats), best closer, and best center fielder in the game.  Yeah, they’ll really have a problem winning the AL West this year.

Supposedly, M’s fans have been taking Geoff Baker to task as he dared to state that the M’s will finish the season atop the standings.  Geoff, you will get no such contention here!

No room on M’s roster for Clement’s bat

The prospect of Jeff Clement laying claim to a roster spot as an extra bat off the bench and backing up Kenji Johjima at catcher has been rendered moot, as Clement was one of six players sent by the M’s to the minor leagues.

Clement was never able to find a groove this spring, batting .158 with two RBI in 11 games.  Thus, the left-handed hitting backstop with the short, compact power storke will once again don the tools of ignorance at Triple-A Tacoma, where he racked up nearly 60 extra base hits in 455 at-bats last season.  Despite impressing in a brief cup of coffee at the end of last season- including a dramatic game-winning home-run against the Rangers two days after tying a game against the Indians with a similar blast- the likelihood that the 24-year old former first round pick was going to win a spot on the roster was slim, especially with the numbers he posted this spring.  Still, Clement has shown little triple with Triple-A pitching, and he should be suiting up in Mariners’ teal-and-blue at the first signs of trouble from either Joh or back-up catcher Jamie Burke.

Also demoted was reliever Cesar Jimenez, allowing Eric O’Flaherty to lay claim to the situational left-hander spot in the bullpen, as Arthur Rhodes is being kept on a short leash due to his Tommy John recovery.  Others not making the addition to the big league roster include Jon Huber, who posted a scintillating 1.06 ERA over 16 appearances with the M’s in 2006 before losing playing time in 2007 to a forearm injury, Sean White, Matt Tuiasosopo, and non-roster invitee Phillip Barzilla.

The M’s roster is taking shape as the days count down to Opening Day.

Secrets of Ichiro- Revealed!

Thanks to bilingual journalist Bred Lefton, and a popular Japanese TV show called “Secrets of the Ultimate Professional” us mere mortals finally get an understanding of what makes Ichiro tick.

To begin with, most importantly, according to Dr. Kenichiro Mogi, the host of the program, Ichiro has a “very fine prefontal cotex.” Supposedly, this assists Ichiro in discovering the sensations that allow him to become such an expert hitter, such as the angle of the bat or the placement of his feet.

Other Ichiro secrets revealed is his pre-night game lunch ritual, which involves eating his wife’s homemade Japanese curry before each home night game, and eating cheese pizza- light on sauce, with fluffy crust- before each game on the road. Ichiro’s routine is very similar to batting champ from yesteryear Wade Bogg’s noted penchant for eating a bucket of fried chicken before each game. What is it with batting champions and their rigid eating routine? If anything, it creates a degree of comfortability, one that translates with Ichiro flicking with ease a soft liner over the shortstop’s head into left field. The eating routines make much more sense than Ted Williams infamously hoodwinking a Boston reporter that he “didn’t read” as to avoid eye-strain.

But perhaps the information that is the most eye-opening and appetite-whetting for Mariners fans are Ichiro’s revelations that his accomplishments playing major league baseball have disappointed him, as his accomplishments have been achieved from what he perceives as a diminished state. Ichiro also stated that he’s closer to feeling 100 percent than ever before, a statement that I’m sure causes every major league pitcher to collectively gasp in disbelief. It’s hard enough to get Ichiro out when he’s not feeling at the top of his game, what results can be expected from a self-declared “near 100 percent” Ichiro? Will he surpass his own record of 262 hits? Is 270 hits even a possibility?  Can it be that Ichiro will post the first .400 batting average baseball’s seen in four decades?

Ichiro’s poor spring might temper any high expectations, but let’s repeat in unison everybody: “It’s just spring.”  And it’s better that Ichiro gets those kinks out of his system sooner rather than later.