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Archives: Feb. 2009

Feb.
26th

Felix gets through two innings and leaves with a lead


Felix Hernandez made his first start of spring training look like … well … most any first start of any spring.

Two innings, one a 1-2-3 breeze and the other a labored effort in which he allowed a two-run home run to Padres catcher Henry Blanco.


Still, Hernandez left the game with a 3-2 lead because of the Mariners again played small ball well.

In a three-run second inning, Chris Shelton homered, Mike Wilson and Chris Woodward doubled back-to-back and, after Woodward stole third, he scored on an error.

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Feb.
26th

And the first Cactus League lineup is posted

The Cactus League begins today for the Mariners, and manager Don Wakamatsu is going to do everything in his power to win it.

Well, not really.


Wakamatsu is taking precautions with veterans, easing them into games. So today, no Griffey, no Sweeny, no Branyan, no Gutierrez.

Instead, a lot of other players in camp are going to get the chance to play – and try to prove they can play.


Today’s lineup:

Endy Chavez CF

Jeff Clement DH

Mike Morse 3B

Chris Shelton 1B

Greg Halman LF

Mike Wilson RF
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Feb.
26th

Junior an outfielder or a DH? Neither, this week


Ken Griffey Jr. is healhy and happy, back in a Seattle uniform and trying to talk his way into the Mariners lineup.

Keep talking, Junior.


Manager Don Wakamatsu and his staff had discussed this before Griffey’s signature was on a contract – their goal is to have him ready to play on opening day, not Feb. 26.


So Griffey won’t play this week.


“We’re going to give him work and make sure his legs are strong and his body is ready,” Wakamatsu said. “He won’t play until after

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Feb.
25th

Mariners lose two players before their first game


Before the first official pitch of spring, the Seattle Mariners lost two players to injury – left-hander Ryan Feierabend and outfielder Freddy Guzman.

Feirabend, 23, will meet with Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles on March 3 and will likely undergo ‘Tommy John’ surgery the following day to rebuild his left elbow. He will miss the 2009 season.



“I tried to pitch through it but I felt a small pop in the bullpen,” Feieraend said. “It’s a surgery with a high success rate, and guys who have it

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Feb.
25th

Let the games begin! The first lineup is in


The annual charity gamed in Peoria – Mariners vs. Padres – doesn’t count in the Cactus League standings, but any game matters to new manager Don Wakamatsu.

And not just winning and losing. For the foreseeable future, he won’t have anything resembling a regular lineup.

Today, for instance, neither Yuniesky Betancourt (hamstring) nor Jose Lopez (back) are available. Adrian Beltre is still being held back as he rebounds from surgery.

Ichiro and Kenji are in Japan. Ken Griffey Jr. isn’t ready to test his legs yet.


So here’s the

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Feb.
25th

Beltre’s decision is … to play before deciding

Adrian Beltre wants more evidence before he decides whether to go to the World Baseball Classic.


That means the Mariners third baseman wants to play in a few games with Seattle before determining whether to join the Dominican Republic team or not.

The Mariners don’t want him to play in the WBC, Beltre badly wants to, but he knows coming off surgery to his left shoulder and thumb he may not yet be ready.


So, he’s asked the team to help him decide by letting him play.

He’s not in the lineup today. He might play

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Feb.
24th

Final rosters set for 2009 WBC

Here’s the rosters for all 16 teams


As Larry posted earlier, the Mariners have several players that will participate. But besides the seven players that would be on the 25-man roster: Adrian Beltre (Dominican Republic); Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima (Japan); Felix Hernandez, Carlos Silva, Endy Chavez and Jose Lopez, there are also several minor leaguers participating ..


P Phillippe Aumont, Canada

IF Alex Liddi, Italy

OF Greg Halman, Netherlands

P Manuel Campos, Panama

IF Anthohy Phillips, South Africa


There are also some former Mariners players or farmhands playing including closer

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Feb.
24th

Beltre on WBC roster, but will he play?


The Seattle Mariners made it clear to third baseman Adrian Beltre that the decision whether to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic was all his – though they had their preference.

On Tuesday, Beltre was placed on the 28-man roster for the Dominican team, but the Mariners still hadn’t heard Beltre’s decision. Being on the roster doesn’t necessarily mean the player has agreed to play.


"We give them our opinion, and we’ve discouraged him that from a health standpoint to make sure he’s 100 per cent," manager

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