Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners Odds & Ends: MLB The Show ratings, uni notes
When it comes to following the Seattle Mariners, there’s more than just what happens on the field and in the box scores. Some fans like to play as the Mariners in video games, or maybe they’re more into keeping up on the latest uniform changes and official hats.
If that piques your interest, well, this notebook is for you.
Morosi on Mariners: Why Ryan Bliss is potential rookie to watch
Here’s a look at some of those odd and ends concerning the Mariners as we get ready for the 2024 MLB season.
Seattle Mariners’ top MLB The Show ratings
On Thursday, a ratings reveal stream was aired on the MLB The Show Twitch channel, and we got our first look at how the Mariners’ top players will be rated for the annual video game (the 2024 version is set to be released March 19).
A quick breakdown of how the ratings work: 85 or higher is in the diamond tier, 80-84 is considered gold, 75-79 is silver, 60-74 is bronze, and anything below is considered common. So how do the Mariners shake out? Only their five highest-rated players were revealed, and they have three diamonds and two golds just on the cusp on the highest level. Not too shabby.
Leading the list is no surprise: Julio Rodríguez, Seattle’s superstar center fielder, is one of the best players in the game with a 93 overall rating.
JULIOOOOOO! 🔱@Mariners @MLBDominicana
https://t.co/vGJG5kjolU#MLBTheShow pic.twitter.com/uIl39lWtAX— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) March 7, 2024
Next up is ace Luis Castillo at 87, but he’s not the only diamond starting pitcher for the M’s. Fellow 2023 Mariners All-Star George Kirby is an 85 overall.
As for the golds, both catcher Cal Raleigh and relief pitcher Andrés Muñoz are 84 ratings.
Raleigh actually appeared on the stream as he was asked him what he thought his ratings are. True to his down to earth personality, he guessed low.
Big Dumper overall! 😂@Mariners https://t.co/vGJG5kjolU#MLBTheShow pic.twitter.com/EYv2tRrFHr
— MLB The Show (@MLBTheShow) March 7, 2024
You can find the Mariners portion of the MLB The Show Twitch stream around the two-hour, 34-minute mark at this link.
What the M’s are wearing
You’ve probably seen all the uproar about the new Nike-designed, Fanatics-produced jerseys and pants around MLB this season, so we won’t dive into that here. For more info, though, check out either of the two articles linked below.
Fanatics founder: Company unfairly blamed | Players miffed at unis, relaying concerns
As for Mariners-specific updates, there are a few, though nothing is earth-shattering.
First, the navy jerseys that have become the regular choice for road games will have the same font for the nameplate on the back as all the other M’s jerseys. Uni Watch covered that in detail here, and it’s safe to say this change will make a lot of fans happy.
Next, there is an interesting bit of speculation entering the second year of Seattle’s City Connect uniforms. On Wednesday, this picture of Rodríguez caught some attention because it shows him wearing the blue City Connect jersey and hat with white pants – not the controversial black pants they were paired with in 2023. Whether or not this is a sign of things to come in 2024, it does make for a pleasing, clean look (I’d still flip the hat’s logo in a direction that isn’t associated with bad luck, but I digress).
Speaking of hat logos, the Mariners have a pretty sharp new batting practice cap.
The 2024 Batting Practice cap has arrived! This cap brings the iconic “S” of the ‘80s to the color scheme of the ‘90s.
Visit https://t.co/lM0TOmoNU8 for store locations and hours. Can’t make it in? Call us at 206.346.4287 to place an order. pic.twitter.com/MYxdQvENai
— Mariners Team Store (@MarinersStore) February 20, 2024
This utilizes the ‘S’ logo from 1987-92 but in the team’s current color scheme of Northwest green, navy and white. I can’t remember an official M’s cap ever using a white front panel (save for an All-Star Game), and let me just say, that’s a great move.
The Mariners have also been wearing new spring training caps. This one is maybe even more of a departure as the primary color is mint, so it’s not quite the same shade as the Northwest Green jerseys it has been paired with. I’m never mad any time the compass logo gets to shine on its own (remember these bad boys in the late 90s?), so another good offering for the hat enthusiasts out there.
2024 Spring Training caps are here and they are 🔥! Get yours today at our @TMobilePark or Downtown Seattle Team Stores. We open at 11am, see you then! 😎 pic.twitter.com/8uFDZf8vx6
— Mariners Team Store (@MarinersStore) February 5, 2024
Promotions
There are a ton of fun giveaways in the first month alone of the M’s season at T-Mobile Park.
For example, three straight nights of Julio Rodríguez “No Fly Zone” bobbleheads from April 1-3 against the Guardians. Or a similar three-game series against Cincinnati from April 15-17 where the promotion is a Ken Griffey Jr. “Home Run Robbery” bobblehead.
If Julio says it’s 🔥, then it’s 🔥
Get your @JRODshow44 bobblehead when we take on the Guardians, April 1-3.
🎟️ https://t.co/LvQDOOEjIN pic.twitter.com/AN7V23qDGP
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 1, 2024
On April 26 against Arizona will be Mariners Turn Ahead the Clock Jersey Night, with the first 15,000 fans receiving the sleeveless black-and-red gem (sorry, the M’s themselves will not be wearing those uniforms against the D-backs).
Click here to go through the full list of promotions, including additional bobbleheads, Funkos, themed jerseys, hats and more.
Until the M’s return to Seattle to begin the regular season on March 28 against the Boston Red Sox, don’t forget that every radio broadcast from spring training is live on the Seattle Sports app. For more details plus a schedule, click here.
Mariners coverage from Seattle Sports
• Mariners Notebook: Some standouts plus a tip of cap to Zunino
• Former Mariners catcher Mike Zunino retires after 11 MLB seasons
• Mariners Notebook: Gilbert’s outing, highlights and more
• How Mariners’ Matt Brash feels as he resumes throwing
• ESPN’s Olney: Seattle Mariners have many thinking they can win AL West
Seattle, WA
5 Things to Know for Auburn’s NIT Clash with Seattle
Looking to extend the country’s longest non-conference home win streak to 66, Auburn (18-16) hosts Seattle U (21-13) Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and the Auburn Sports Network (106.7 FM), where Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will describe the action for listeners.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW:
- Auburn’s win over South Alabama extended the Tigers’ nation-best non-conference home winning streak to 65 straight games. It’s a streak that dates back to the 2016-17 season.
- The Tigers made a season high 16 3-pointers against South Alabama and tied a school record with 44 3-point attempts.
- Kevin Overton made seven 3-pointers (all in the second half) against South Alabama and now has 80 triples this season. He is four 3-pointers away from cracking the top 10 for single-season 3-pointers at Auburn.
- With 636 points this season, Keyshawn Hall is ninth on Auburn’s single-season scoring list. Hall notched his 18th game of scoring 20 or more points against South Alabama with 21 points against the Jags.
- Led by Will Heimbrodt’s 86 blocks this season, Seattle U ranks 12th nationally in blocks per game (4.9) and is also top 25 in scoring defense (66.6 – 23rd) and turnovers forced (14.94 – 21st). Heimbrodt is the WCC Defensive Player of the Year.
There’s nothing mid-major about Seattle U’s defense.
Auburn’s second-round NIT opponent, the Redhawks, rank No. 23 in the country in scoring defense, allowing fewer than 67 points per game.
“One of the better defensive teams we’ll have gone against all year,” Auburn coach Steven Pearl said. “Incredibly active, they really fly around and make what you do really difficult.”
After defeating South Alabama 78-67 on Tuesday in the opening round of the NIT, Auburn hosts Seattle U on Sunday. The Redhawks advanced to round two by defeating St. Thomas (MN) 67-52.
“Our guys are going to have to show up and be excited about playing because if we don’t, this is a team that is capable, defensively, of making you look bad,” Pearl said.
Seattle U ranks No. 12 nationally in forcing turnovers, causing nearly 15 per game while blocking almost five shots per game (No. 21) and holding teams to 41.5-percent shooting (No. 42).
“They play hard, and that makes your defense so much better when you give multiple efforts like that at all five positions,” Pearl said.
Against the Jaguars’ zone defense in round one, Auburn hit a season-high 16 3-pointers, with Kevin Overton swishing seven.
“He knows that every time he shoots the ball, we think it’s going in,” Pearl said. “We can’t change what we do a ton because what we do has been effective, offensively, but we also have to understand that this is a really good defensive team, and we have to be disciplined in a lot of things we’re doing.”
Redhawks No Stranger to Big Names
Like Auburn, which earned high-profile victories this season over Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, and St. John’s, Seattle U also has brag-worthy wins at Stanford and at home against Washington, Washington State, and Oregon State.
Representing the West Coast Conference, Seattle U would like nothing better than to end the season for a Southeastern Conference opponent on Auburn’s home court.
“I know this is going to be an important one for them,” Pearl said. “It’s an important one for us as well. Our guys, once we show them the film, they’re going to realize pretty quickly how real and how legit these guys are.”
“This game is an important one for both groups,” Pearl said. “We’re going to have to play well to beat them. It’s another great opportunity to compete against a really good team from a great conference.”
What happens next for the Auburn Tigers? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Auburn Tigers news delivered to your inbox daily!
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer
Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners re-assign 3 players to minor league camp
The Seattle Mariners re-assigned outfielder Brennan Davis, right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning and left-handed pitcher Jhonathan Díaz to minor league camp on Friday.
Gilbert’s final spring start features surprises from Raleigh
Seattle’s spring training roster is now at 38 players, with 33 from the 40-man roster, four non-roster invitees and one player on the 60-day injured list.
Davis, 26, had been one of the Mariners’ surprise standouts during camp after arriving on a minor league contract. The former top prospect went 12 for 34 over 15 games while producing a .353/.450/.824 slash line with a 1.274 OPS, four homers, four doubles, six RBIs and five walks to 11 strikeouts.
Dunning, 31, was also in camp on a minor league deal. He allowed four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out four over 6 1/3 innings in three appearances. The right-hander also pitched for South Korea during the World Baseball Classic, surrendering two runs over three innings in three apperances.
Díaz, 29, was a non-roster invitee to spring training. He pitched three scoreless innings, struck out two and didn’t allow any hits or walks in two spring outings. The left-hander was on World Baseball Classic champion Venezuela’s roster but did not appear in a game. Díaz made one appearance for the M’s last season, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Three standouts from Seattle Mariners’ Spring Breakout game
• Callis: Seattle Mariners have MLB’s best pitching prospect duo
• Seattle Mariners’ lineup vs Guardians has interesting wrinkle at SS
• Raleigh, Arozarena both help Seattle Mariners in 6-run inning
• Mariners’ Hancock showing new weapon during strong spring
Seattle, WA
Cal, Randy team up in Seattle Mariners’ 6-run inning – Seattle Sports
Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena are officially Seattle Mariners teammates again, and if you need proof, just look at the box score.
Seattle Mariners name Logan Gilbert opening day starter
The two players who were at the center of a controversy last week during the World Baseball Classic both drove in runs as the Mariners put up a six-spot on the Athletics on Thursday night in Cactus League play.
Arozarena came off the bench with runners on second and third with one out in the top of the seventh inning, and he reached on an infield single that gave Seattle its first run of the game, cutting the A’s lead to 3-1.
And Arozarena, who hit his first homer of the spring on Wednesday, wasn’t done. He then stole second, which allowed him to score the second of two runs on a Ryan Bliss single that tied the game.
AL West Preview: Mariners projected to repeat as division champs
A few batters later, after a Brock Rodden single and Luke Raley hit by pitch loaded the bases, it was Big Dumper’s turn, and he delivered with a bases-clearing double off the tall wall in center field at the Athletics’ spring home, Hohokam Stadium in Mesa.
That capped the inning and the scoring for Seattle in a 6-4 victory.
Perhaps it’s a sign that the handshake that never happened when Arozarena stepped to the plate for Mexico with Raleigh catching for the USA is behind the two Mariners All-Stars. As they say, winning cures everything.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• All Mariners back from World Baseball Classic
• Mariners’ Hancock showing new weapon during strong spring
• Former Mariners UT Dylan Moore triggers opt-out clause
• Salk: Difficult to see Emerson making Mariners’ opening day roster
• Seattle Mariners’ Luke Raley showing he’s worth keeping an eye on
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