Mariners Insider

Millwood’s pitching, Liddi’s slam & Figgins’ future

Larry Larue — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:12:22 +0000

The Seattle Mariners rode six shutout innings from Kevin Millwood and a grand slam for rookie Alex Liddi today to a 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers, allowing them to take two games in their three-game set.

Now come the Los Angeles Angels and the battle to get or stay out of the American League West cellar.

The more intriguing aspect of this weekend may be the return of veteran catcher Miguel Olivo, which requires someone be taken off the 25-man roster.

The candidates: rookie Liddi, outfielder Casper Wells and 25^thman-on-the-roster Chone Figgins.

When Liddi mangled a fly ball …

On fences, Gutierrez, Olivo & Mariners lineup

Larry Larue — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:29:03 +0000

A pre-game chat with Eric Wedge touched on a number of topics this morning, from Safeco Field dimensions to players coming and going and not quite ready for prime time.

Franklin Gutierrez tested is ailing right heel running in the outfield and came off without a limp, a major step for a player who has been on the disabled list all season. The plan now: Gutierrez will work out with the team this home stand, spend at least five days playing in extended spring training in Arizona and then begin a 20-game minor league rehab assigments. Was Wedge pleased? “I’ll

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Rangers 3, Mariners 1 — postgame notes, quotes, boxscore and video

Ryan Divish — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:56:08 +0000

I’m not going to get into a major debate about moving in the fences at Safeco Field tonight. That’s for another day. But maybe if the fences were just a few feet shorter, or if Josh Hamilton wasn’t quite as good of a player, the Seattle Mariners might have extended their winning streak to five games.

But on a crisp May night with temperatures in the 50s when the ball simply doesn’t travel at Safeco Field, a pair of hard hit flyballs simply didn’t have enough distance to carry over the fence or at least out …

A few pregame links … Brendan Ryan on defense, Nick Franklin is heating up, meet Byron Buxton

Ryan Divish — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:42:26 +0000

Your browser does not support iframes.

Figured I’d post a few links that you might find interesting that pertain to the Mariners.

The first is a link to a Q and A that Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan did with Fangraphs’ David Laurila about his defense. It’s candid and interesting.

From the interview …

DL: The Fielding Bible rates you as the top defensive shortstop in baseball. Does that make up for not winning a Gold Glove?

BR: It’s definitely been a little bit frustrating. I don’t know that I

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Pregame notes: Gutierrez making strides toward return and Eric Wedge video

Ryan Divish — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:09:15 +0000

A familiar face was in the Mariners clubhouse on Tuesday and dressed in full uniform. Oft-injured center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, who has yet to play a game this season, dressed out and took batting practice with the team.

Gutierrez has been in Seattle for the past few weeks, getting treatment on his injured heel and doing some hitting in the cage. But the next few days represent a huge step for him. He will take BP on the field with the team. And tomorrow, he will try running for the first time and some agility drills. …

Tuesday’s line-up vs. the Rangers

Ryan Divish — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:22:26 +0000

At this point in the season, no lineup that Eric Wedge rolls out there should you surprise … well, unless he had the speedy Jesus Montero batting lead-off. Thanks to injuries, underperforming players and the need to find offense any way he can, Wedge has used a variety of different lineups to try and find success.

This isn’t a completely unfamiliar look. Dustin Ackley has gotten “days off” at DH and Alex Liddi has batted second this season. Casper Wells get the start in left field instead of Mike Carp with lefty Matt Harrison on the mound. A lefty also …

Video: Felix Hernandez and Adrian Beltre have a little fun

Ryan Divish — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:47:21 +0000

Mariners 6, Rangers 1: postgame notes, quotes, boxscore and video

Ryan Divish — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:12:02 +0000

That’s a pretty solid win for the Seattle Mariners. They got a strong pitching performance from Felix Hernandez, who snapped a personal two-game losing streak, by throwing eight innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out seven while walking two. Against a lineup that features Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz and about two other hitters the Mariners would gladly take, that’s a solid outing.

Before the game, Mariners manager Eric Wedge was confident that Hernandez would be solid. And he didn’t disappoint.

“That’s just him,” Wedge said. “A great …

Pregame notes and Eric Wedge video — Jaso to catch Felix for the first time this season

Ryan Divish — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:25:19 +0000

A few quick notes from the pregame media session and open clubhouse with the Mariners.

First of all, it’s important to note that John Jaso will be catching Felix Hernandez for the first time in a regular season game. Prior to that, Jaso has only caught Hernandez during one spring training game and a couple bullpen sessions.

We all know how much every one of Felix’s pitches move. It’s caused problems for any person that’s caught him in the past, particularly Kenji Johjima, Rob Johnson, Miguel Olivo and Jesus Montero (none of whom would be confused …

A pair of aces: Yu Darvish vs. Felix Hernandez

Ryan Divish — Mon, 21 May 2012 22:18:51 +0000

Greetings from Safeco Field where the roof is closed thanks to a rainy gray day here in the Northwest. It’s not often that the national spotlight in baseball fall on Seattle …. well unless the Mariners get no-hit. But tonight, this is the marquee game on the lineup thanks to a pitching matchup featuring Yu Darvish and Felix Hernandez.

If you look back at the previous Darvish (no relation) starts, you will see the Mariners were the only team to score more than three earned runs against him this season. If you recall that was mostly in the …