Mariners Insider

It’s spring training – and fun begins

Not 15 minutes after Eric Wedge gave the Seattle Mariners pitchers and catchers the state of the union address, those playeers took the field – and pitching coach Carl Willis delivered the line of the day.

Explaining to his 35 pitchers which of the four fields they would be using, he rolled out name after name, then tried to simplify for one specific group.

“If you’re left-handed, you’re on Field Four,” Willis deadpanned. I”f you’re not sure you’re left-handed, talk to me.”

Somehow, it all worked out. Now for an hour or so of fielding drills and a bullpen session for …

Smoak changes his shape, perhaps future

The final day of the 2011 season, Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge challenged first baseman Justin Smoak for a commitment to a winter of hard work, a call the 25-year-old answered.

“I weighed 225 at the end of last season, I weigh anywhere between 220-225 now,” the Seattle Mariners first baseman said.

Smoak looks leaner, stronger, more athletic.

“I gave up bread, ate almost entirely meat and vegetables – and working out two hours a day, four days a week didn’t hurt,” Smoak said. “My wife loved it, because she always ate well and worked out.

“I’ve been here three …

Thirty-five pitchers, 39 days for Mariners

As Mariners pitchers and catchers go through their physicals today, the Seattle spring roster includes 35 pitchers – the largest group pitching coach Carl Willis has ever worked with – and will have only 39 days before flying to Japan.

“It’s going to be a challenge to see everybody,” the pitching coach said. “We’ve already set up three intra-squad games and they’ll each be eight or nine innings – and we might add a fourth game.

“Once we get through the first bullpen sessions and they each throw in batting practice, I’m going to tell them: ‘Be ready.’

“Whether it’s …

Welcome to Mariners spring training

Blue skies, cool morning – mid-50s and rising – and the locals in Peoria, Ariz. are wearing coats and sweatshirts. Seriously!

Meanwhile, as Seattle Mariners pitchers and catchers report today and take their physicals, Mariners position players are trickling in, working out together and hitting in cages. Like who?

Well, Justin Smoak, Mike Carp, Alex Liddi, Dustin Ackley, Munenori Kawasaki were here before 9 a.m.

Eric Wedge and his coaching staff are huddling this morning, going over last-minute details on the daily routines they’ve set up for the next 40 days or so. Pitching coach Carl Willis swears he could name …

Mariners Camp 2012 – Come along for the ride

Catching an early flight tomorrow, headed for the Seattle Mariners spring training, and starting Sunday this space will begin producing stories, photos and – yikes! – video on what should be an eventful 40 days.

That’s about the time the Mariners will have between the first pitchers-and-catchers workout Sunday and the time they fly to Japan for a few exhibition games and the two-game season-opening series agains Oakland in Tokyo. Given the issues this team has to deal with, that’s not a lot of time.

What to expect from Camp ’12? First-looks at Mariners rookies from Jesus Montero to …

Eric Wedge and another Top Prospects list

There’s another Top 15 Seattle Mariners Prospect list out worth visiting, and anecdotal evidence that Eric Wedge, the Mariners manager, remains very much his own man.

First, Mr. Wedge.

In a piece by freelancer Brad Lefton, who speaks Japanese and was writing from Tokyo, new Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma talked about how the team courted him this winter, including this quote about Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik:

“I found him a funny and engaging guy, easy to talk to,” Iwakuma said. “He told me the team was opening the season in Japan and he’d like to see me start one of …

How to interpret Mariners February signings

Six days before their pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the Seattle Mariners signed two veteran free agent relievers to big-league contracts, and if you didn’t take particular notice, be assured of one thing – the team’s young relievers did.

Shawn Camp and lefty Hong-Chih Kuo could have been signed in November, but the fact they were signed Monday is likely a strong indicator that general manager Jack Zduriencik and manager Eric Wedge didn’t like the only options in the bullpen being young. So Zduriencik gave Wedge two more options.

The move could be viewed as adding competition to …

Mariners minor leaguer handed 50-game suspension

Seattle Mariners minor league catcher Christian Carmichael has been suspended 50 games for a positive drug test.

Reynolds was penalized Monday under baseball’s minor league program for testing positive for Methylhexaneamine.

He hit .182 last year in 11 at-bats for the Mariners of the Arizona Rookie League and is on the roster of Class A Clinton.

Ten players have been suspended this year under the minor league program.

Mariners sign veteran relievers Camp, Kuo

From the Associated Press:

The Mariners have agreed to one-year contracts with pitchers Shawn Camp and Hong-Chih Kuo in an attempt to add bullpen depth.

Kuo was an All-Star in 2010 with the Dodgers but struggled last season with a back problem early in the season and missed a month with anxiety disorder. During his standout 2010 season, Kuo as 3-2 with 12 saves in 13 chances and a 1.20 ERA.

Camp led Toronto with 67 appearances last year and was 6-3 with a 4.21 ERA. The right-hander has appeared in 432 games all in relief, with Kansas City, Tampa …

What do the Mariners do with Ichiro in 2012?

When manager Eric Wedge was in Japan two weeks ago, promoting the opening-day visit this March of the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, his first press conference drew nearly 200 members of the Japanese media – and their first question was whether he was serious about moving Ichiro Suzuki from the leadoff role.

Wedge said he was, and there was an audible gasp.

Yes, Ichiro remains an icon in his homeland, and 11 years into his major league career, he is coming off the first season in which he didn’t hit .300 or better (.272), collect 200 or more hits …