By the numbers, there is little doubt pitcher Erasmo Ramirez belongs in the Mariners injury-depleted rotation. First-year Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon, however, still has reservations.
Author: Adam Lewis
Adam Lewis
An alumnus of Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Lewis is a sports journalist working at Sportspress Northwest. He spent his first three years in Pullman at the school newspaper writing his weekly column "Backrow Banter" while covering the WSU baseball team. His opinion piece in the fall of 2011 on Cougars football, "The Campus That Cried Wulff" received attention from media outlets throughout the Northwest. The column called for the immediate dismissal of former WSU head coach Paul Wulff. With a family background in the newspaper industry, Lewis's passion for objective sports journalism wins out over passion for his favorite teams. Lewis graduated cum laude from WSU in May. His senior year on the Palouse was spent covering Mike Leach's tumultuous first year coaching the Cougars. At Sportspress Northwest, Lewis will help cover the Storm, Mariners and Seahawks before returning to Pullman in August to cover WSU football's fall camp.
Robinson Cano is raking despite two spring training hiatuses, Corey Hart is struggling after missing all of last season and Randy Wolf might crack the starting rotation despite being 37.
After missing the first five weeks of spring training with a strained middle finger on his throwing hand, Mariners No. 2 starter Hisashi Iwakuma was cleared to begin his throwing program Tuesday. The rehab plan is for Iwakuma to begin finger stretching/strength exercises this week, start throwing tennis balls Friday, continue through the weekend, then
The Mariners must decide if shortstop Nick Franklin should begin the season as a big-league utility infielder, a Triple-A starter or on another team.
By cutting four players Friday, including former top prospect Jesus Montero, the Mariners reduced the number of players in their major-league camp from 44 to 40.
In 17 Cactus League games, the Mariners have used five leadoff hitters. One has caught the attention of first-year manager Lloyd McClendon. Center fielder Abraham Almonte, owner of a .133 batting average (4-of-30) and .212 on-base percentage in 10 games, is making a push to be an opening day starter.
Mariners pitcher Scott Baker overcame some control problems in the first inning to help Seattle to another win in Cactus League play.
UW shooting guard C.J. Wilcox and coach Lorenzo weren’t pleased after learning Wilcox was selected to the All-Pac-12 second team for the second consecutive year.
In James Paxton, the Mariners have a solution to their rotation woes — so long as the changes to his delivery hold up in his first full big-league season.
“I’ve never seen C.J. (Wilcox ) pissed off,” said teammate Perris Blackwell. “Maybe he was a couple years ago. I’ve only known him for two years. He’s pretty even-keeled.”