Split Squad Cactus League Games 10, 11. Or 10a/10b.

marc w · March 8, 2011 at 8:34 am · Filed Under Mariners 

Head vs. heart, nature vs. nurture, man vs. wild, blue vs. gray, and now this – the first split squad game of the spring. How will the A team react to not having dozens and dozens of teammates cheer them on? How will the B team react to being labeled ‘the B team?’

The A game features Jason Vargas making his Cactus League debut and a line-up that looks like so:
1: Josh Wilson
2: Brendan Ryan
3: Justin Smoak
4: Jack Cust
5: Ryan Langerhans (CF)
6: Michael Saunders (DH)
7: Gabe Gross
8: Matt Mangini
9: Adam Moore

The B game’s noteworthy in that the M’s are trying Milton Bradley in CF.
1: Dustin Ackley
2: Adam Kennedy
3: Milton Bradley
4: Mike Carp (DH)
5: Tui (1B)
6: Mike Wilson
7: Alex Liddi
8: Luis Rodriguez
9: Steve Baron
SP: Luke French

(Line-ups via Larry Stone)

Comments

16 Responses to “Split Squad Cactus League Games 10, 11. Or 10a/10b.”

  1. marc w on March 8th, 2011 9:17 am

    B game at 10:00am, A game at noon.

    The A game’s the only one on the MLB scoreboard, so when they say ‘B’ game, they mean it.. no radio, no gameday, no broadcast, I’d guess.

  2. MrZDevotee on March 8th, 2011 10:29 am

    Don’t suppose anyone knows which regulars are at which game? (ie- are Figgins, Guty, Ichiro, etc., expected to play in the “a” game today– or is it a day off for those guys…?)

    I was gonna listen to the noon game, but after seeing the lineups (nothing wrong with them, mind you, just not really an “a” lineup), I might just focus on work instead.

    Also, doesn’t look like Bard is getting any extra work, so I’m assuming Moore is back to the starting backstop role until Olivo is healthy?

  3. MedicineHat on March 8th, 2011 11:39 am

    I’m not sure the M’s have enough Major League talent to label their best lineup as a “A” squad. Seriously, will this team be bad (90 losses), Really bad (100 losses) or epic bad (110 losses)?

  4. Paul B on March 8th, 2011 11:44 am

    According to Greg Johns via Twitter,

    Mariners beat Dodgers 6-1 in 6 inning B game at Glendale. 3-run HR for Ackley and solo shots for Bradley, Liddi.

  5. georgmi on March 8th, 2011 11:50 am

    3-run HR for Ackley

    So as long as we keep him off camera and off radio and in games that people don’t go to, Ackley’s going to be awesome.

    (Insert snide comment about Safeco attendance after a 100-loss season.)

  6. Westside guy on March 8th, 2011 12:04 pm

    Milton Bradley – in center.

    I know Wedge likes to talk about “different looks” and “flexibility”, but I suspect his real plan is to get Bradley on the DL as quickly as possible.

  7. Paul B on March 8th, 2011 12:29 pm

    oh, FYI, the next radio broadcast by the Mariner crew will be on Friday.

    See here for the broadcast schedule.

  8. marc w on March 8th, 2011 1:00 pm

    Ryan Vogelsong now has 3 Ks and 1 hit allowed in 3 scoreless innings. Spring training stats don’t have a lot of predictive power, but I think we can state that the M’s aren’t going to be scoring a lot of runs.

  9. joser on March 8th, 2011 1:05 pm

    I know Wedge likes to talk about “different looks” and “flexibility”, but I suspect his real plan is to get Bradley on the DL as quickly as possible.

    Well, I’d rather have a healthy (in all respects) and productive Bradley, but I wouldn’t mind a clever, devious, and scheming manager, either.

  10. marc w on March 8th, 2011 1:48 pm

    Tom Wilhelmsen had a great 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts. Touched 95 and showed a big curveball at ~ 75-76 MPH. Spring training, sure, but I’m glad one of the pile of righty guys getting looked at as bullpen options has some stuff.

  11. marc w on March 8th, 2011 2:20 pm

    Manny Delcarmen still sitting at 88MPH. The same gun had Robles unusually low, but it had Wilhelmsen and Vargas where they ‘should’ be.

    Tentative conclusion: Do not bother looking for rental housing in Seattle, Manny. And you may want to get a second opinion on your elbow.

  12. Paul B on March 8th, 2011 2:41 pm

    The Mariners won 1-0, getting exactly 3 hits.

    I suspect the Giants were in a hurry to get to In and Out Burger, or something.

  13. Westside guy on March 8th, 2011 2:55 pm

    Well, I’d rather have a healthy (in all respects) and productive Bradley

    I’m in complete agreement – I just think running him out into the field significantly lowers the probability of that happening (from whatever low number it was at pre-spring-training).

  14. spankystout on March 8th, 2011 3:08 pm

    I don’t understand Bradley in CF as well. His legs will not hold up.

    Do the M’s get insurance to pay for players on the DL?

  15. Carson on March 8th, 2011 3:50 pm

    What should we expect of Wilhelmsen, realistically Marc?

    Will he be fast tracked now due to his age after the layoff, or is he still a year+ away?

  16. marc w on March 8th, 2011 4:19 pm

    That’s a big question this spring, and something Jay’s been asking as well. I think he can be of some use to the bullpen right now, but that’s perhaps not saying much.

    He was a starter last year, and I think they could push him to AA as a starter right now. That’s a way to maximize what you’ve got, but considering his age, they could move him to the ‘pen and put him in AAA and call him up as needed. For 2011, I think he could add a half win or a touch more. The question is, would you rather have some chance at a 2-WAR starter in 2012? I think I would, but Z’s in a better position to gauge Wilhelmsen’s ability to go 150 IP this year, the competition amongst righties in the ‘pen this year and his own willingness to maximize WAR in 2011 even if doing so had some slight (negative) impact on potential WAR for 2012.

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