| By Alex Carson |  | By 02-23-2013 |
Our server got hungry and ate some posts yesterday. That won't stop us from continuing this series of game previews. We'll cover the pertinent info for each day's game and toss in some news and notes on prospects and position battles.
The buzz of returning baseball quickly subsided yesterday when Mariners pitcher Hector Noesi couldn't command his pitches. Not even making it out of the first, Noesi gave up six runs, including four off a grand slam.
Noesi started off the first batter -- how else -- 0-2. The next pitch was lifted to left and Raul Ibanez floundered about before watching the ball deflect off his glove. Ah, yes. Mariners baseball. How little you've changed.
It was all part of a crazy first game of the spring after the long layoff, with the biggest highlight being Casper Wells launching a two run homer late in the contest. Oh, and Carlos Peguero had two walks. No, really.
The M's will again face their hated natural rivals -- the San Diego Padres -- in the middle game of this opening three game series in the desert.
Game time is 12:05 p.m. PT. You can tune in to 710 ESPN Seattle, your local Mariners Radio Network affiliate or online via MLB.com or the At Bat app at no charge during the spring schedule.
Pitching matchup
RHP Blake Beavan will climb the hill for the Mariners and face fellow righty Tyson Ross of the Padres.
Beavan right now is hoping to land the fifth spot in the Mariners rotation, but -- like Noesi -- will have to stave off competition from veterans Jon Garland and Jeremy Bonderman. Chances are that Beavan opens the year in Tacoma, but there's time and opportunity to earn that spot.
MLB.com's Greg Johns writes about Beavan altering his delivery this spring. We'll find out this afternoon if anything noticeable has changed.
Also available to pitch
Kameron Loe, Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, Bobby Lafromboise, Jhonny Nunez, Carson Smith and Jonathan Arias.
Lineup
8-R Gutierrez
9-R Wells
7-L Bay
3-S Smoak
2-R Shoppach
0-R Paulino
5-R Liddi
4-S Franklin
4-L Miller
Available on the bench
Left-handed: Mike Jacobs, Carlos Peguero, Eric Thames, Julio Morban
Right-handed: Carlos Triunfel, Vinnie Catricala, Francisco Martinez, Stefen Romero, Jesus Sucre, Mike Zunino, John Hicks, Jesus Montero
Other stuff
The always amazing Larry Stone of the Seattle Times sat down with Vinnie Catricala to talk about his 2012 struggles.
Catricala's words sound different from when I interviewed him in May of last year as his troubles were just beginning. Back then, Catricala sounded like he wasn't sure why he was struggling. He stated he felt good at the plate but that balls just weren't finding holes. Perhaps his psyche is in a better place now to improve.
Up Next: Sunday, 12:05 p.m. PT
Jeremy Bonderman gets the call and will be followed by Brandon Maurer, Andrew Carraway, Anthony Fernandez, D.J. Mitchell, Logan Bawcom, Chance Ruffin, Brian Moran and Danny Farquhar.
spring-training-game-2-preview
Comments
The following 16 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: short on 02-23-2013 09:51:20 Checking out minor league splits on MinorLeagueCentral.com I noticed that Catricala had a big home-road split. At home he triple-slashed just .193/.264/.269, on the road a respectable .261/.319/.410. Granted a .729 OPS in AAA is still not going to get a call up unless a player is outstanding with the glove. In the Larry Stone piece he said he was pressing, and perhaps he was psyching himself out more at home than on the road. With the way Seager played last year at third, and the fact that we're pretty much set for middle infield one way or another, Vinnie is probably going to have to play outfield to get a shot and hit well enough for a corner. Seems like a long shot at this point. |
| 2. By: Paul Martin on 02-23-2013 09:56:00 I know Morse and Morales are not in the lineup, it is spring training, and just the 2nd game, BUT: I don't like seeing Smoak batting 4th (cleanup). He failed miserably in the middle of the lineup last year. His best chance to succeed is in a less pressure spot at the bottom of the lineup, maybe right ahead of Ryan or Andino. I am really hoping for a turn around and Mariner career saving season from him, and just think Wedge should put him in the best possible position to succeed. If Morse AND Morales have to have the day off, then why not just give Smoak the day off too if they feel obligated to bat him cleanup??? |
| 3. By: Boy9988 on 02-23-2013 10:47:23 "You can tune in to 710 ESPN Seattle, your local Mariners Radio Network affiliate or online via MLB.com or the At Bat app at no charge during the spring schedule." How do you get that for free? I went to mlb.com and the at-bat app and both require that I purchase. |
| 4. By: maqman on 02-23-2013 11:30:54 Peguero walked twice? That must be it for him for this season. Noesi's future appears to be behind him. Cat the Bat sucked last season in Tacoma and the first half of the AFL but then snapped out of it in the last half of the AFL and produced like he did the year before. Hopefully he remembers what finally worked for him. I'd rather see Beavan and MoMo Ramirez beat out Garland and Bonderman for the 4th and 5th starter roles as they are under team control for several more years. If the vets prevail they will probably head to greener pastures next year, or ramp up the cost of our rotation. |
| 5. By: Mackie on 02-23-2013 11:47:29 I just want to see them give spots to the 25 players who do the best job in spring training. If Garland and Bonderman do a better job, then let's see the Mariners bring them north regardless. |
| 6. By: Alex Carson on 02-23-2013 11:57:52 @Paul - More than anything, Smoak's spot in the lineup today is to ensure he gets 2-3 ABs. @Boy9988 - Hmm. It's just loading for me. |
| 7. By: outfieldgrass on 02-23-2013 12:38:28 When do we get to see a video feed of the Mariners? |
| 8. By: rjfrik on 02-23-2013 14:21:33 I think Wells has a huge spring and finds regular playing time this year. It just feels like this is his year. Espn insider ranked the toughest schedules to start the year. The Ms have the third toughest schedule in the league. If we somehow can tread water around .500 through the first 40 games the Ms could be players for a playoff birth. |
| 9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 02-23-2013 16:03:27 outfieldgrass, video feed, as in the spring games? Most of the Cactus League games will NOT be on any sort of TV. Some will... first one is March 4 on Root. |
| 10. By: Edman on 02-23-2013 19:06:32 Paul, really, you're worried about Smoak getting a start as the clean-up hitter in the second spring training game? Spring training games are about testing. It serves no purpose to not put him, or any player, in "safe" positions. Lots of players will be shuffled in and out. Spring games aren't about trying to win every game, as much as they are about trying to find player strength and weakness. Of course, if he wasn't in the line-up, he wouldn't have hit that homerun. |
| 11. By: Wishhiker on 02-23-2013 19:07:26 rjfrik: The schedule gets tough again in August and if the division remains strong that will continue through the end. |
| 12. By: Paul Martin on 02-23-2013 19:14:43 @10 easy to post your comment AFTER the game. I think it's funny because after I made the comment, the thought did cross my mind, "now watch Smoak hit a home run." Hey. I am happy for Smoak and hope he can keep it going. I think my logic and why it wasn't the best spot for him to be batting is still sound and justified. And if you thought it was so flawed you should have said something before the game. |
| 13. By: Bookbook on 02-23-2013 21:08:46 Catricala's best chance is now, and probably was last year, to force himself into the picture at first base. His upside is higher than Carp's, and he ought to be able to field there. |
| 14. By: Bookbook on 02-23-2013 21:10:08 Wells' best chance is to have a monster spring, and then be traded to a team that might play him. (Oakland, Detroit, Tampa). |
| 15. By: maqman on 02-24-2013 11:23:31 If Wells is the 4th OF then the only thing between him and regular playing time is Guti's good health. However first he has to wait for Bay to re-lose his swing. |
| 16. By: outfieldgrass on 02-24-2013 12:53:45 @Jason I just picked up the MLB.tv and they have had about 3-4 video feeds each of the last 2 days. Figure that was not the norm but hoping they would show a Mariners game or two soon. Right now I am watching the Angels/A's and Yankees/Blue Jays. Great to watch baseball. |
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