Ok, so at
this point I am not even going to try and justify why Patrick and I haven’t
been writing much. Sorry I have a life and spend many weekends of my chasing a
piece of plastic. That part of my life is mostly over and my calendar has
opened up. So I am giving some of you readers who are still with us for some
reason, a slice of my newly discovered time. This also correlates with my trip
to Arizona to watch the Mariners. Due to some unfortunate scheduling, I will
only get to see one game and will not get to watch any practice. Such is life.
To be totally honest, this isn’t the first article I’ve tried to write on
Spring Training. I wrote one about a week and a half ago and sent it to
Patrick. Who didn’t post it. Probably because it was not very good. So this is
my second attempt to get people fired up for the Mariners in 2013. You fired up
yet?
These guys are fired up
This Spring
has been full of surprises and some things that were essentially already set.
Brandon Maurer has made the rotation, that’s a surprise. Mike Zunino did not,
shocker! As much as I would love to break down the roster and tell you whether
it will be Casper Wells or Jason Bay making the roster, I really don’t know. A
rejuvenated Jason Bay could get much more value at the trade deadline, but he
also has not been a productive player since 2009. Wells has his own issues and
did suffer an injury earlier in Spring Training, which cost him some games and
chances to prove himself. He’s the safe bet between the two, but Wedge rarely
thinks like I do and he could gamble on Bay figuring out his swing.
I’ll cover
the details of the rotation, offense and how Wedge plans on playing Montero,
Morales, Smoak, Morse and Ibanez all at once tomorrow or Friday. I really
haven’t looked at too much and it’s kind of a giant jumble of really big,
strong, slow baseball players. For now, you will have to settle with me
discussing Brandon Maurer, Joe Saunders and Blake Beavan. The new Three Amigos.
(Thank all things holy I don’t have to talk about Hector Noesi anymore.)
Blake Beavan
As much as I hate Blake Beavan and how boring he is, he
somehow managed to make the roster again. Although, if things break right (And
by right I mean badly for Beavan), he will be sent down to AAA and Erasmo
Ramirez will retake the spot he should have had locked up after last year and
this Spring. (I’m a little bitter). Beavan has made himself more interesting in
the off-season though. He went and worked with the pitching coach at University
of Texas who changed up his mechanics a little. The difference being that
Beavan now releases the ball higher in the air, giving it more of a downward
angle as it moves toward the batter. This makes it harder to hit the ball in
the air, and will absolutely make Beavan better. It also makes it harder to
pick out off-speed pitches, so Beavan might actually strike out some guys this
year. But I don’t see his changes benefitting him too much. A 1.36 HR/9 can
fall only so far and Beavan still does not have the stuff to be effective at
the MLB level. Ramirez, who I expect to handle AAA with ease, should replace
him within two months.
Brandon Maurer
The first thing you need to know with Brandon Maurer is that
he is awesome. Look at this beard. Look at it again. I really don’t care if he
pitches like Jeff Weaver, that beard is the greatest thing about this 2013 M’s
team. He also put up some awesome numbers in Spring Training, but those things
are just as important as the shower cap in hotel rooms. Everyone knows that
Maurer is the guy who beat out the Big 3 for Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
These are the three things you need to know about Maurer before he debuts with
the team.
I think I am lost in his eyes
1. He has an awesome beard.
2.
He played on the same high school baseball team
as Gerrit Cole, number one draft pick for the Pirates
3.
He is really good. Polished, smart and not
afraid to use his secondary stuff. Don’t be surprised if he goes Erasmo on us.
(I may be trying to get that word into everyday conversation)
Show me your mean face Joe
Joe Saunders
I first knew who Joe Saunders was when he was a young lefty
for the Angels who somehow outperformed and was a solid starter for my fantasy
baseball team. He is about 90% Jason Vargas and 10% Jarrod Washburn. If you are
jumping out of your chair in excitement, just wait, there’s more. There isn’t
more, sorry, Saunders is not very good. And I really don’t see him doing much
more than filling a spot until Hultzen is ready or losing his spot to Erasmo
Ramirez if Beavan suddenly Erasmo’s (That wasn’t forced right?). I think Joe
Saunders is this year’s Kevin Millwood. Damn.
There will be more content coming soon. I swear on the lack
of flexibility on our roster right now and the combined K percentage of Morse,
Morales and Smoak. And that right there is a promise.
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