Mariners Analysis

Monday, February 14, 2005

Pitchers and catchers report



Training Camp Site: Peoria Stadium
Location: Peoria, Ariz.
Pitchers/catchers: Feb. 16/17
Position players: Feb. 22
First full workout: Feb. 22

We are getting close now- the only time of the year Arizona and its strip malls have any appeal. Almost time to start making predictions for this team, start really going over lineups and deciding who should make this team.

After all, it's hard to come up with a 25 man roster when we still have so many questions. Can Pineiro pitch? What about Eddy? Is Bucky's knee as bad as Bavasi and the FO want us to believe? Until we see these guys play, we simply won't know.

Of course that won't stop us from over-analyzing everything! Part of the fun is seeing what works, and then getting all worked up when something broke that we just knew wasn't going to work.

Should Nelson or Sele make this team? Absolutely not. If both make this team, then we know something went really, really bad during Spring Training. I'll be upset if this happens, but I won't worry about it now- I don't have a problem inviting guys to Spring Training.

Projected Lineup:
1. Ichiro Suzuki RF
2. Jeremy Reed CF
3. Adrian Beltre 3B
4. Richie Sexson 1B
5. Bret Boone 2B
6. Raul Ibanez DH
7. Randy Winn LF
8. Miguel Olivo C
9. Pokey Reese SS

We can look at this lineup before Opening day and see what, if any changes/surprises have taken place. I'd say the above is as good a conservative guess as to what Hargrove might pencil in for Opening Day as you'll find.

The biggest questions for this club is pitching, pitching and pitching. The health of Sexson is also on the radar, but will have far less affect on the win column.