Mariners Spring Training Update
Thursday, February 27, 2014 / 32 Days ‘til Opening Night (March 31 at Los Angeles Angeles) / 41 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle (April 8 vs. Angels).
Setting the Scene:
With the first game today vs. the Padres, the Mariners began workout at 9:30 am and were off the field by 11:30 am in preparations for the 1:05 pm start time.
Take a look at some of the photos from today’s morning workouts courtesy of Mariners photographer Ben VanHouten.
Beginning of workouts.
Cano taking BP.
Hitting Coach Howard Johnson talking with Nick Franklin.
Logan Morrison taking BP.
Manager Lloyd McClendon hitting ground balls to the infielders.
Logan Morrison taking ground balls at first base.
Corey Hart and Michael Saunders.
The Start of Spring Training:
The Mariners began their 38th spring training with the Cactus League opener today against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium. Today’s lid-lifter opened the 33-game Cactus League schedule for the Mariners that will conclude March 28-29 with a pair of exhibition games vs. the Rockies in Arizona. The Mariners are 18-22-1 all-time in “official” Cactus League openers, including a 9-3 loss vs. the Padres last spring. Opened spring play three times with split-squad action (‘02, ‘01, ‘03) and have won 4 of last 7 spring openers.
Manager Lloyd McClendon in his first spring training game as the skipper.
Game 1 in the books:
The Mariners opened Cactus League play with a 7-1 win over the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon in front of 4,868 fans at Peoria Stadium.
Seattle jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as Kyle Seager reached on a fielder’s choice, Robinson Cano singled to put runners on first and third and Logan Morrison plated the first run with a sacrifice fly. Cano then scored from first on a double by Justin Smoak. In the second, Dustin Ackley led off with a double and eventually scored on a Mike Zunino sacrifice fly to center.
Seattle extended their lead with a three-run sixth inning, scoring two unearned runs on a rally that included hits by Morrison, Xavier Avery, Humberto Quintero and Cole Gillespie to go along with two Padres errors. Seattle scored its final run in the seventh as Carlos Triunfel singled to start the frame and scored after the left fielder bobbled a double down the left field line by Burt Reynolds.
Cano finished his Mariners debut by going 1×1 with a walk and a run scored in two plate appearances. Morrison collected Seattle’s only multi-hit effort and recorded an RBI.
Seattle pitching stifled the Padres offense by keeping them scoreless through the first seven frames as Erasmo Ramirez (2.0 IP), Blake Beavan (2.0), Logan Kensing (1.0), Lucas Luetge (1.0) and Tom Wilhelmsen (1.0) each posted scoreless outings while allowing just four hits.
Danny Farquhar closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth inning to give the Mariners their first win of the Cactus League schedule.
Robinson Cano singled up the middle in his first at-bat in his Spring Training debut with the Mariners.
Robinson Cano in the dugout after scoring on a double by Justin Smoak in the first inning.
Catcher Mike Zunino hitting a sacrifice fly scoring Dustin Ackley in the first inning.
Brad Miller making a defensive web gem at shortstop.
Logan Morrison went 2×2 at the plate and knocked in a run in the Mariners win.
About today’s Charity game:
Today was the 21st Annual Charity Game between the Mariners and Padres to kick off the season with all proceeds being donated to the Peoria Diamond Club. This annual charity game has allowed the Peoria Diamond Club to distribute in excess of $1,400,000 in grants over the past 21 years. The children’s groups they serve and have funded include special needs, under privileged, educational, leadership, athletic programs and more. Today they are distributing $15,000 to several local charities, including: Jobs For Arizona Graduates, Peoria Baseball Sluggers Booster Club, Southwest Center for HIV/Aids, Science Engineering and Technology K-12 Program, Basis Science Program, Peoria Police Chiefs Club and PUSD Scholarship Fund.
The Moose is on the Loose:
The Mariners Moose made a rare visit to sunny Peoria, Arizona today for the start of Spring Training. The Moose was entertaining the fans throughout the game and helped lead the team to victory.
The Mariner Moose made his debut on April 13, 1990, during the Mariners home opener in front of a sell-out crowd at the Kingdome. The Moose was selected as the Seattle Mariners’ first-ever mascot after a contest in which more than 2,500 entries were submitted by children 14 and under from throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ammon Spiller, a fifth grader from Central Elementary School in Ferndale, WA, came up with the winning idea: “I chose the Moose because they are funny, neat and friendly. The Moose would show that the Mariners enjoy playing and that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. It shows they’re having fun no matter what the situation.”
Since his introduction more than two decades ago, the Mariner Moose has become one of the most recognized mascots in sports, entertaining millions of fans throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to entertaining Mariners fans, young and old, the Moose is proud to be a wonderful symbol of the great Northwest.
The Mariners Moose giving a fan at the Peoria Stadium a high-five.
Updated Player Signings:
The Mariners today issued the following signings update for players that have agreed to contracts for the 2014 season: Bobby LaFromboise (LHP), Lucas Luetge (LHP), Brandon Maurer (RHP), Hector Noesi (RHP), Stephen Pryor (RHP), Erasmo Ramirez (RHP), Taijuan Walker (RHP), Jesus Sucre (C), Brad Miller (INF), Jesus Montero (INF) and Carlos Triunfel (INF). All players on the 40-man roster are signed to contracts for the 2014 season.
ESPN Deportes:
Felix Hernandez, Fernando Rodney and Robinson Cano sat down with Guillermo Celis of ESPN Deportes/Beisbol Esta Noche (Baseball Tonight) this morning at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Felix during the ESPN Deportes interview.
Congratulations Joe:
In news from Seattle…Joe Myhra, who served as Director of Maintenance for Safeco Field since 2008, has been named Vice President, Ballpark Operations by the Seattle Mariners. Myhra succeeds Scott Jenkins, who left the Mariners this month to become General Manager of the new Atlanta Stadium being built by the NFL Atlanta Falcons. Myhra is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He served five years on active duty and attained the rank of Captain. His active duty service included a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Myhra was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he was Chief of Maintenance Engineering, prior to joining the Mariners six years ago. As Vice President, Ballpark Operations, Myhra will oversee all Safeco Field maintenance, operations and capital projects, as well as security, game day, grounds keeping and sustainability operations.
Single Game Tickets on Sale March 8:
Single-game tickets for the 2014 Seattle Mariners season go on sale to the public at 10am on Saturday, March 8. Highlights of the 81-game home schedule include Opening Night (Tuesday, April 8 vs. Los Angeles Angels), Beard Hat Night, Turn Back The Clock Night, Bat Night, Lou Piniella’s induction into the Mariners Hall of Fame, three postgame fireworks shows, and a host of other special events and giveaways (available at this link mariners.com/promotions).
Tickets will be available without a service charge at the Safeco Field Box Office and Seattle Mariners Team Stores. They’re also available at mariners.com, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers and by phone at 1-888-SEA-HITS (service charges apply). Fans can register for a special online pre-sale opportunity to buy tickets on March 6, two days before they go on sale to the general public. Sign up at mariners.com/register. Pre-sale registration closes at 11:59pm on March 3.
Weather:
Temperature at first pitch today in sunny Peoria, Arizona was 74 degrees, which would be 28 degrees warmer than the temperature in Seattle (46 degrees).
Quote of the Day:
“I’m not going to lie. It feels a little different. You look around and all you see is different faces. I’m here now and I had in my mind already that I’m a Mariner and I just can’t wait for the season to start so we can go out and do a pretty good job this year.”
Robinson Cano said after making his Spring Training debut for the Mariners today.
Robinson Cano debuting in a Spring Training game in a Mariners uniform.
Tweet of the Day:
Kyle and @williebloom at the hot corner. #MarinersST vine.co/v/MKid7trjv5p—
Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 27, 2014
On Tap Tomorrow (Feb. 28):
The Mariners and Padres will face off once again tomorrow at Peoria Stadium, but this time with San Diego as the home team. The Mariners will continue to work out in the morning beginning at 9:30 am with first pitch at 1:05 pm (12:05 PT).