Prospect Insider

19 Days

By Rick Randall

By 01-25-2011

There are 19 days between now and the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training on February 13 - the rest of the squad will report no later than February 18 with the first full-squad workout slated for the day after.

The M's first spring game is the annual charity game versus the San Diego on the 27th with their first Cactus League matchup the following day against the same Padres.
Minor leaguers won't report until the second week of March, though these dates are more of a deadline than the day most players show up for camp.

In any case, we'll be here daily to round up the thoughts and ideas as the club heads closer to the 2011 season; lending you all anything you might need to get yourself ready.

BBWAA Awards Dinner
The 88th annual Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner was held over the weekend in the Hilton New York, and there was a little Seattle Mariners flavor on the menu. Felix Hernandez was acknowledged for his American League Cy Young Award win, and took the opportunity to show again that he is quickly growing into the leader of this Mariners team. One of the least offensively supported pitchers in recent history, Felix made a point to thank his teammates saying, "My teammates were great this year, unbelievable. They not only supported me offensively, but emotionally, they were there all the time."

Felix has really grown over the past few years in Seattle, as a pitcher and as a person, and we are very lucky to have the player and the person Felix Hernandez as part of our hometown nine.

Another player with ties here was also acknowledged at the dinner, as former M's pitcher R.A. Dickey was awarded with the "You Gotta Have Heart Award". Dickey is all about heart, having reinvented himself from a run-of-the-mill middle reliever in the Rangers organization just a few short years ago, to one of the most pleasant surprises in all of baseball last season in the Mets' rotation. Dickey, who doesn't have the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm (strange, but true), called playing baseball, "a great gift".

You can see a full list of the honorees from Saturday night here.

All Vernon Wells, all the time
We don't want to beat a dead horse here, but this trade deserves to be talked about still. Today on Fangraphs, Dave Cameron took a look at what the shift to LF may do to Wells' WAR over the next four seasons. Dave says that if you think he is a plus defender in a corner OF -- like Nick Markakis -- then it is possible that Wells can earn that pile of cash headed his way. He also points out that Wells has really only had four of nine seasons in his career that make that contract not seem like a bad deal. Odds that he can pull off four in a row now? Slim to none.

Makeover at the Safe
For all you center field landing area lady hunters, Greg Johns blogged today that the Bullpen Market area is getting reworked for the 2011 season. More good food, more open, more inviting ... likely more police presence. And if things go as planned, sounds like it will be more kid and family friendly. So be careful down there.

Spring Training
I got confirmation last night that my planned trip to Spring Training is 100% go. I'm very excited to be making the trip down, and it sounds like the stars may align just perfectly and that Jason, Chris and I will have our visits overlap. What that means is that if any PI readers are planning on going down, the odds of getting one of us (Jason) to pick up your drink tab and also maybe slide you some inside info is three times greater now. So do what you need to do with your finances and/or your spouse or significant other and make it happen -- the weather will be better than it is in Washington, guaranteed, the experience sounds like it is baseball nirvana (I'll be a rookie myself this time) and the company of the PI trio is top notch, if I do say so myself.

So come on down and join us ... and bring bail money.

19-days

Comments
The following 5 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: eastcoastmariner on 01-25-2011 13:27:08
If you dont mind me asking, when are you guys going to be down there? I'm still trying to figure out when I'm going to head down myself.

Only asking so I can figure out ahead of time whose drink tab I'm picking up!

2. By: Jason A. Churchill on 01-25-2011 13:32:41
Looks like for a day or two at least, all three of us will be down there at the same time.

I'm planning on the week of March 14 -- perhaps heading down as late as March 16 -- and returning the following week.

3. By: Rick Randall on 01-25-2011 13:32:45
Jason has said somewhere during the week of 3/14 is when he is heading down. It looks like I'm leaving Seattle either late that Friday night or early Saturday morning and I'll be there for 3 days, 2 nights (3 nights if I do a late night flight out).

Jason plans on staying longer than me...not sure of Chris' schedule, but from talks Jason and I have had, sounds like he'll be there at some point during those 2 weeks.

Please find us if you go -- Jason may even feel like giving out some direct contact info so we can plan something.

4. By: Rick Randall on 01-25-2011 13:35:12
JINX!

5. By: eastcoastmariner on 01-26-2011 17:43:39
That sounds great guys. Appreciate your feedback as always!

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