Cactus League Game 1, Mariners at A’s
After four long and agonizing games of the Mariners beating themselves, we get the beginning of the Cactus League season and a return to baseball on the radio. Someone could argue that because the Mariners will be facing the A’s today and will also be facing the A’s to start the regular season in Japan, this is a preview of sorts for opening day. This better not be a preview of opening day. Oh man, if this ended up being a preview of opening day…
SS Kawasaki
3B Seager
LF Wells
C Montero
RF Peguero
DH Catricala
1B Liddi
CF Saunders
2B Rodriguez
P Beavan
What’s funny about this is that they’re carrying with them a sixteen-man bench. This was still the best that they could manage. If they are going to pull these shenanigans, it might as well be now, when we’re all hungry and bleary-eyed.
There are things that are going to be of some interest in this, of course. Saunders will be in center. There’s a decent chance that ends up being a real thing to start the season. Catricala gets an opportunity to do something other than try to hit Mariners pitchers. Though Ryan is not in so bad a shape, Rodriguez and Kawasaki are effectively competing for the backup infielder position. And, of course, there’s Montero, who will be catching Beavan, who will be throwing mostly fastballs.
Baseball?
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Oh, how I missed you game threads. This lineup actually has some decent pop in the middle, should they make contact.
Deciding on buying At Bat or getting a little dock that has an AM/FM tuner.
Baseball!
Yeah, I was just as surprised with this line-up. Peguero in the outfield? Liddi at 1st? Really?! Interesting to see Kawasaki leading off and Catricala at DH though.
Anyway, thanks for posting the game thread Jay!
If there existed a radio or TV broadcast for this bizarro festival of a game I would tune in. That’s how desperate I am for Mariners baseball.
When I was first looking at this lineup, I was wondering if it technically violated that rule I hear about regarding the need for x number of regulars in any Cactus League game. It would probably be safe to speculate that no one on that infield aside from Montero starts for us. Wells and Saunders both have a shot in the outfield, but I don’t know at this point if either of them would be starting for us in a few weeks.
@Sports: RADIO
Shannon Dreyer says this: “The Mariners, coming off the off day, have few regulars in the lineup as Eric Wedge wanted to give them two days off of game activities. The game could be interesting because of weather conditions, with the forecast saying that winds could get up to 30 mph.”
I had the same thoughts Jay. Only Montero is a real lock. I can’t imagine Wells and Saunders both starting, unless Montero somehow bombed, and Carp was used as the DH. Rodriguez, Liddi, Peguero, and Catricala, aren’t likely to make the 25 man roster.
If the weather is expected to be bad, it starts to make a little more sense. I’ll be listening on 710 espn
I stand corrected, I’ll be listening somewhere else!
I wonder why the radio streams have been taken down. Too windy? At least gameday is working.
Peggy swings through three straight pitches. Weird.
Does MLB.com have a webcast of the game? I got an email from them regarding my expiring radio subscription but haven’t done anything with it yet.
Maybe none of the pitches were in the dirt, or in on his hands though?!
Liddi hit a double. Rizzs was surprisingly subdued.
CONDORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Condor!
Good to see Saunders start things off with a bang!
I realize Spring Training doesn’t really mean anything, but I’ll be really happy if Condor doesn’t struggle through it.
I can’t seem to get the KIRO feed through MLB.com – it keeps switching to the A’s feed.
^You’re having better luck than me! I can’t get any feed. I wonder if they shut down due to the wind?
Shut-down the Mariners broadcast, that is. I heard just a few minutes of Rick Rizzs before losing it.
It’s also odd because when I tried to purchase MLB Audio, it told me there was a problem… but it’s letting me listen now.
Peggy!
Peggy has seen and swung at four pitches. One K, one dinger. Typical game for him.
^No broken bats yet though! He needs at least one for a typical game.
Perhaps I’m unnecessarily pessimistic, but the fact that Peguero hit a home run takes some of the shine off of Saunders’ home run for me.
I’m just glad to see Saunders swinging. Seems like he took a lot of called 3rd strikes last year.
nevermind.
Haha, okay THAT certainly took the shine off Saunders’ homer!
Never before have Mariners home runs made me so very sad.
I suppose this makes Kawasaki’s debut look even worse.
Is the shine off Montero’s homer? hehe
Ah, good to see Montero do something!
Part of me wonders if it’s bad pitching, the wind, or both, but at least our hitters are doing what they’re suppose to do! Hopefully that puts a little glimmer back into play;)
Ugh, Peggy.
So much for Peguero’s patience, eh? I’d love to see him walk on 4-6 pitches just once.
What’s up with all the shots to center?
This is one small step removed from having a batting practice thread. At least it is a step in the right direction, though … And the commenters appear to be in mid-season form .
Peguero’s what?
😉
In all seriousness… I have really missed these game threads.
haha, there was an article I read (forget the source, probably on yahoo), where he recognized his need for a more patient approach, and that he would be working on it. I’m not holding my breath!
Dingers are so awesome.
So, for those of you as stumped as I was about the game not being on the radio, it turns out MLB pulled the plug. They own the rights to the tv and radio feeds online. So the game is on 710, you just have to use a real radio.
Victory is ours! Cactus League supremecy, here we come!
We are invincible because of our mighty dingers! Don’t even think of trying to vince us, as your dreams will be crushed.
The Anaheim Pujols and Texas Rangers are crossing their fingers that they can keep up with our outstanding power lineup!!!!!!
(Either that, or maybe– Quick! Trade everybody that hit a homerun today, they’re ALL at the height of their season right now.)
***In all seriousness, I CAN’T WAIT for highlights tonight… Feels like real baseball once there’s an opposing team– no matter what lineup we run out there.***
Was Montero’s homer to the opposite field?
>Was Montero’s homer to the opposite field?<
Yes, to right center.