Today we’ll follow-up yesterday’s post with links to the articles on all of the major league news that came out of the Mariners Pre-Spring Training Media Luncheon yesterday.
But before we start with that, some good news just broke on Twitter: former Rainiers infielder/outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo has signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets, and he’ll go to spring training and try to win a spot on their roster.
I have long held the opinion that Tuiasosopo is a better fit in the National League. His ability to play nearly every position on the diamond makes him a good candidate to win a major league bench spot in the NL, where the bench is used more frequently due to the pinch-hitting for the pitcher and the double-switches that result from that.
We’ll be rooting for Tui to have a big spring and make the Mets.
On another subject, the Mariners have signed veteran right-hander Brian Sweeney to a minor league contract. If Sweeney makes the Rainiers, this will be his third go-around with Tacoma. He pitched for the Rainiers from 1999-2003, and 2010. He’s spent a lot of time in Japan.
Personally, I’m excited about this. Sweeney is a great guy to have on the club and he also is a broadcaster’s dream: he works quickly and throws strikes.
Links:
- John McGrath focused his column on Franklin Gutierrez, who apparently is over the stomach issues that have plagued him for two years.
- Larry Stone of the Seattle Times writes that the Mariners believe in their young core of players, while also being realists.
- It’s looking more and more like Ichiro won’t be batting leadoff this year, Stone writes.
- Will Ichiro bat .300? I voted “yes.”
- On his blog, Stone has ten bullet points from yesterday’s event.
- The Mariners invited Jeff Sullivan to the event, which turned out to not be as exclusive as he had anticipated.
- Shannon Drayer was there, and she posted her thoughts on her blog.
- While Five Guys definitely brings the goods, I agree with Sue Kidd that the local independent joints are better.
- Jesus Montero has been making the media rounds all week; here is a story with lots of quotes from MLB.com.
- Greg Johns wrote about Michael Saunders competing for an outfield job, and other notes.
- Jerry Crasnick, senior baseball writer for ESPN.com, filed this report on the Mariners.
- Also at ESPN, Dave Cameron wrote that the Mariners shouldn’t count themselves out just because they are rebuilding.
- Baseball America released it’s Top-10 Mariners Prospects list. They are the veterans in this field: here is the free list with an overview, and here are the complete scouting reports for subscribers. They chatted about it, too.
- Dave Cameron wrote about Baseball America’s list.
- The Mariners have five prospects who rank among the Top 100 in the game, according to MLB.com’s John Mayo.
- The Mariners FanFest is this weekend – here are all of the details.
- You have to be a Baseball Prospectus subscriber to access this, but Jason Parks continued his “what could go wrong?” series with a look at what could go wrong the Mariners top five prospects.
- Tacoma baseball Hall Of Famer Tom Kelly is having his uniform number retired by the Minnesota Twins.
- Things are always just a little bit different in New Orleans: the Zephyrs held their “annual cocktail reception” with their fans last night.
- Two former Rainiers pitchers who are now free agents have been hit with 50-game suspensions: Chaz Roe and Steven Shell.
- This has nothing to do with baseball, but I think it’s pretty awesome that former NFL quarterback John Kitna is returning to Tacoma’s Lincoln High School to teach math and be the football coach.
Have a great weekend, and try to hit FanFest if you can!
Go Tui
Mets seem to be a mess but maybe that’s why of the three teams said to have interest in Tui that’s the best fit.
Tui Nation will be watching! Best of luck!
(Thanks for the info Mike)