Seattle, WA
Drayer’s Mariners Observations: 3 things from big day in Mesa
A fast examine in from chilly and windy Mesa, Ariz., with an replace on Wednesday morning’s Mariners pocket book. There was certainly loads to look at search for.
Mariners’ Servais: How depth past MLB roster is shining for Seattle
Let’s return by some issues I discussed earlier than Wednesday’s recreation and comply with up with what occurred in opposition to the Cubs, a contest that had loads of optimistic moments for Seattle though Chicago gained 5-3.
New Mariners 1-2 punch?
• From Wednesday morning: (Julio) Rodríguez and (Jarred) Kelenic at 1-2, dare to dream. As I’ve mentioned a number of occasions on the radio, far too quickly on Kelenic – the true solutions will come when he faces pitchers in-season – however what we now have seen in Peoria is encouraging.
The dream lives. Once more, that is spring coaching and the true solutions with Kelenic will come within the common season, however man, watching Julio and Kelenic batting 1-2 within the lineup, how are you going to not dare to dream just a bit bit with back-to-back dwelling runs in opposition to former Mariners pitcher Roenis Elías within the fifth inning?
Watch movies of Julio and Kelenic’s back-to-back homers right here
It was Rodríguez’s first dwelling run of the spring, the third for Kelenic. And whereas it’s good to see the outcomes, even higher to see the method, in response to Mariners supervisor Scott Servais after the sport.
“I assumed Kelenic once more swung the bat rather well,” he mentioned. “The strategy is basically good. He’s very calm. It doesn’t appear like he will get ticked off each time he will get his pitch and fouls it again or perhaps he will get a foul name in opposition to him. Issues he doesn’t let get in the way in which of ending off the at-bat or turning the following at-bat right into a optimistic. Actually good indicators. His swing’s in a great spot proper now, he’s in a extremely great place mentally as effectively.”
Ray’s huge day
• On the hill Wednesday, we get our second have a look at Robbie Ray this spring. Will probably be fascinating to see if the 2021 American League Cy Younger Award winner throws his new splitter extra.
In his first outing of the spring, Ray threw the brand new splitter simply as soon as as catcher Tom Murphy deliberate to name it provided that the scenario warranted in an look the place he would get simply two innings. Wednesday, Murphy acquired the chance to name the pitch extra.
“I threw the whole lot,” mentioned Ray. “The four-seam was actually good, threw some actually good splitters and my slider was nearly as good because it’s ever been. Fairly proud of the whole lot.”
Ray admitted that he’s nonetheless getting accustomed to when to throw the splitter as he hasn’t had a pitch like that previously. Because it seems like a pitch he’ll be capable to take into the season, he’ll get with the coaches and catchers to determine when to make use of it. It’s a pitch he’s excited to pair along with his slider that was notably good in opposition to Chicago.
“Immediately I felt like I might have thrown it in any rely and it was a swing and miss,” he mentioned. “My slider is getting extra depth than it has in years previous so these two pitches, if I can play them off one another going to reverse sides of the plate, that’s going to be actually good.”
Ray struck out 5, all in a row, in his three innings and hit 95 mph with the fastball a number of occasions within the first inning. That’s velocity he didn’t have early on final season. An encouraging signal.
Depart on a very good notice
• With Staff Italy enjoying its video games in Taiwan, (Matt) Festa will depart for the World Baseball Basic on Thursday.
Festa threw a 1-2-3 fifth inning, putting out one for the Mariners. His reward? A 15-hour flight Thursday.
Up subsequent: Logan Gilbert’s spring debut Thursday because the Mariners host the Padres again in Peoria.
Julio Rodríguez on 2023 Mariners: “I don’t wish to set limits for any of us”