Saturday, March 30, 2013 /  2 Days ‘til Opening Night (April 1 at Oakland) / 9 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle (April 8 vs. Houston)

Spring Mobile Ballpark.

Today’s Recap:
The Mariners set a new club record for wins in a spring, claiming their 22^nd victory 4-3 over the Colorado Rockies in Salt Lake City. The game was played before a sold out crowd of 15,411 fans. Seattle’s previous record was 21 wins, set in 1994. The Mariners broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Raul Ibanez drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly and Brad Miller followed with an RBI double to increase the lead to 4-2. Stephen Pryor (1-0) picked up the win with a perfect inning in relief and Brian Sweeny notched the save (#1). Full box score is here . 

The Spring of 58:
Kendrys Morales (#7 in the fourth inning) and Justin Smoak (#5 in the 5^th inning) each homered today. That increased the Mariners Major League leading total to 58 this spring; that’s the most by any team in spring play since 1999 (Cubs, 62).

The Record:
Today’s win improved Seattle’s Spring Training record to 22-11, the second-most wins in MLB (Kansas City, 25-7-2).

That’s a Wrap:
Today was the 32^nd, and final, exhibition game of 2013 Spring Training. Seattle had a record-setting spring, setting the club record for wins with 22 among other accomplishments. (The 1994 Mariners won 21 games). We’ll have a full recap of records/accomplishments tomorrow from Oakland.

Is That Eddie?:
Pregame featured a live eagle. The eagle was hanging out (so to speak) with his handlers before introductions and there were a lot of fascinated players. For the National Anthem the handler stood on home plate, and the eagle spread its wings.

Pregame guest: the Eagle.

Welcome Back:
Among the popular interview targets pre-game today (in addition to Jack Zduriencik and Eric Wedge) was Mike Brumley. Brum was the manager here from 2002-2004, and said today he loved his time here. Trainer Rob Nodine was re-telling tales of mammoth home runs he saw here while he was on the Tacoma staff, while Head Athletic Trainer Rick Griffin was busy saying hellos to friends and family in the stands. Rick is a native of Brigham City, Utah, which is just 60 miles from here. Rick was the unofficial champion in the “clubhouse ticket ask”. He left 29 tickets. Since each player and staff member gets two tickets, he had to borrow 27, which means he had to hit up nearly half the travelling party.

Hot Ticket:
The Salt Lake Bees staff told us that the game sold out in less than an hour when tickets were put on sale. The level of excitement in the ballpark reinforced that idea. The crowd was announced as a sellout at 15,411.

Fans lining up to get into the game.

#90 in Your Program:
Mike Zunino, who was reassigned to minor league camp a week ago, was in Salt Lake as an extra player. However, the number 5 jersey he wore all spring had already been packed. He wore number 90 in the game today, and contributed a solid hit-and-run single.

Meanwhile, Back in Seattle:
A reminder that fans are invited to check out all the changes in Safeco Field, including Edgar’s Cantina, the expanded bullpen market and the unbelievable new scoreboard, at the free Open House on Monday, April 1. Doors open at 6 pm, and the Mariners first game of the season versus the A’s will be on the new board at 7 pm. Opening Night at home, always one of the great sporting events on the Seattle calendar, is April 8. Good seats are still available for every game in the first homestand, including Opening Night. Tickets are available with no service charge at Safeco Field and Seattle Mariners team stores. Or, grab them on-line at www.mariners.com.

Tweet of the Day:

Spectacular! Good morning from SLC. Fans excited, tickets for #Mariners #Rockies sold out in 34 minutes. http://t.co/rStpnqkXT6—
Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 30, 2013

On Tap Tomorrow (Sunday, March 31):
The Mariners will work out in Oakland Coliseum beginning at 2 pm. It will be the final run through before Opening Day on Monday.

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Friday, March 29, 2013 /  2 Days ‘til Opening Night (April 1 at Oakland) / 9 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle (April 8 vs. Houston)

All that luggage needs to get into those trucks…

Pack It Up:
There was no workout or game in Peoria today, but still plenty of action. With the Mariners clubhouse staff (Ryan Stiles, Ted Walsh, Billy Sepich, Pete Fortune, Jeff Bopp and Chris DeWitt) doing the heavy lifting (literally) the Mariners equipment, luggage, medical supplies, and all other manner of stuff was packed into one of three trucks. There was equipment and luggage bound for Safeco Field, equipment headed to Salt Lake City (and eventually Oakland and Chicago) and luggage headed for the plane to Salt Lake City. While most of the team and staff did not need to arrive in Peoria until around noon, the clubhouse staff was hard at it early in the AM.

Oh Yeah, and Make Sure You Pack Everything Else, Too:
In addition to the normal end of Spring Training packing there was a lot of other action, as well. A full remodel will begin on the Mariners Peoria facility next week, so all of the team and office equipment, furniture and supplies that would normally remain in Arizona had to boxed and labeled for storage, as well. Movers will arrive tomorrow to begin emptying the offices. The Mariners extended spring group, rehabilitating players and, eventually, the Arizona Summer League team will move into the (very small) Peoria Stadium Clubhouse for the next 10 months. The weight room will be in a tent, and offices will be set up in the Stadium broadcast booths.

Getting’ On a Jet Plane:
Friday marked the first true road trip of the season, as the Eric Wedge, the coaching staff, players, trainers, broadcasters and other front office staff loaded a pair of buses and headed for the airport. This Phoenix/Salt Lake City/Oakland/Chicago trip is the first of 12 road trips the team will take this season. The club will fly right around 50,000 miles while visiting the other 14 American League cities, as well as four National League sites.

Aaron Goldsmith seems to like the Mariners charter.

Hello Salt Lake City:
It was a beautiful afternoon to fly into Salt Lake City; clear and warm. The team had a postcard view of the amazing mountains surrounding the city. The Mariners AAA affiliate was in SLC from 1982-84 and, separately, Mariners coach Mike Brumley was manager here from 2002-2004. Having said that, for a large portion of the travelling party, this is their first trip into Salt Lake.

Meanwhile, Back in Seattle:
A reminder that fans are invited to check out all the changes in Safeco Field, including Edgar’s Cantina, the expanded bullpen market and the unbelievable new scoreboard, at the free Open House on Monday, April 1. Doors open at 6 pm, and the Mariners first game of the season versus the A’s will be on the new board at 7 pm. Opening Night at home, always one of the great sporting events on the Seattle calendar, is April 8. Good seats are still available for every game in the first homestand, including Opening Night. Tickets are available with no service charge at Safeco Field and Seattle Mariners team stores. Or, grab them on-line at www.mariners.com.

Tweet of the Day:

As #MarinersST winds down, here's a great fan photo of @charliefurbush recently sent to us by Margaret Powell. http://t.co/WA5PZkgPVm—
Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 30, 2013

On Tap Tomorrow (Saturday, March 30):

The Mariners play their final exhibition game of the 2013 Spring Training season, taking on the Colorado Rockies in Salt Lake City. First pitch at 12:05 pm (PT). The game will be broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners radio network and televised by ROOT Sports..

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The new video screen can show live or recorded HD video across the entire surface of the screen.

The Mariners unveiled Safeco Field’s new HD video screen for the media, and as Mariners Vice President of Marketing Kevin Martinez said, “Fans will never watch Mariners baseball at Safeco Field the same way again.”

The screen is big, 11,425 square feet, the biggest of its kind in Major League Baseball. And it’s crystal clear with 4,147,200 pixels (that’s more than the Cowboy’s Stadium HD video screen). The resolution is better than what you can get on your HD TV at home.

Graphics, animation, video and more in depth stats are displayed in exceptional clarity from any angle, even in sunlight.

Pictures don’t do it justice. Fans will have their first chance to see it on Monday, April 1, at the free Safeco Field Open House. Parking in the Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field garages is free. Gates open at 6pm. The Mariners vs. Oakland A’s game will be shown live on the HD MarinersVision, and there will be $5 beer, pizza and hot dogs. And if you register in advance, you’ll get a free True to the Blue t-shirt.

Come on out on Monday and see MarinersVision for yourself.

Good seats are still available for Opening Night on April 8, when the Mariners meet the Houston Astros.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013 /  6 Days ‘til Opening Night (April 1 at Oakland) / 13 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle (April 8 vs. Houston)

Beautiful Peoria Stadium.

Game Recap:
Michael Morse was 3-for-4 and homered over the 40-foot hitters backdrop in straightaway center field, and Franklin Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with a double and a homer, but Seattle could not overcome a six-run KC fifth inning, and dropped an 11-6 decision to the Royals Tuesday at Peoria Stadium. Jeremy Bonderman (2-1) started and took the loss. He was very strong through the first four innings but was undone by wind and a couple of big hits as the Royals erased a 4-1 deficit with six runs in the fifth inning. Dustin Ackley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI on the day. The full box score and recap is available here.

The Big Show:
A familiar face showed up in a different place today, as former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren dropped by camp. Coach Holmgren brought his grandchildren to the game today, but stopped by the clubhouse to chat with players and staff. Holmgren worked with Mariners visiting clubhouse manager Ted Walsh when both Holmgren and Walsh were with the San Francisco 49ers.

Gold’n Nuggets:
New Mariners radio voice Aaron Goldsmith checks in from the clubhouse:

If you’re reading this from Seattle, odds are you haven’t had a chance to see 22-year-old Brandon Maurer pitch this spring — but you’ve heard the hype. Monday in Goodyear, the right-hander worked five scoreless innings against the Reds to lower his earned run average to a Cactus League-best 0.90.

“It sounds generic, but what stands out the most about Brandon is that he competes,” said pitching coach Carl Willis. “His maturity is beyond his experience on the mound and he has four quality Major League pitches.”

Against the Reds, Maurer’s curveball looked especially sharp (a pitch that he said earlier in camp was one that he needed to be able to throw for a strike). At other times this spring, it’s been Maurer’s slider or changeup that has been his go-to secondary pitch.

While Willis or Eric Wedge may not be as surprised by Maurer’s success in Peoria, others would have more likely expected to be talking about one of the “Big  Three”: Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton. Although each are very talented and have a bright future, all are now pitching in minor league camp.

“We kind of had an idea that it was possible that Brandon could press the envelope a little bit and be in the position that he’s in,” said Willis. “It’s not that surprising.”

Glove Love:
Bullpen catcher Jason Phillips’ 12-year-old son (also Jason) has been in camp for the past week, following his dad around, working as a bat boy, and generally having the time of his life. Today while he was eating breakfast, Felix Hernandez walked in and dropped a shiny gold box on the table in front of him, said “for you” and walked out. Inside was a custom made baseball glove, inscribed to Felix to honor his perfect game last season. It is fair to say that young Jason was pretty excited about the gift.

Seems like it should count for more than one:
Michael Morse hit an epic home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, crushing a solo shot to center field OVER the 40-foot hitters backdrop. The base of that wall is more than 410-feet away. For most of the observers in the press box it was the first ball they’d ever seen hit over the backdrop.

Cy Young vs. Cy Younger:
Fans in Peoria can see a pretty epic pitching match-up tomorrow as Felix Hernandez, the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner pitches for Seattle. The Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw to the hill. Kershaw won the 2011 Cy Young Award in the National League.

Pack it Up:
The Mariners offices are currently littered with packing boxes, tape guns, bubble wrap and multi colored labels. The last few days of spring are always a packing frenzy, but this year is more extreme than ever. In addition to getting all of the team gear back to Seattle or ready to go on the opening road trip, and all of the office stuff back to Seattle, with the Mariners Peoria offices being remodeled this year every piece of furniture, equipment and Spring Training material has to be boxed to be moved off site. By the end of the first week of April, demolition will begin on the Mariners current spring facility, making way for an expanded building that will be ready for Spring of 2014.

Sign Here Please:

Today was autograph day in Peoria Stadium. The Mariners roster, manager Eric Wedge and the coaching staff all came over to the ballpark 15 minutes early and spent the extra time signing autographs for early arriving fans.

Felix Hernandez signs pre-game.

Closing out Spring Training:
Spring Training is quickly drawing to a close. The Mariners final home game is tomorrow, Wednesday March 27, in Peoria Stadium, as Seattle hosts the Dodgers at 1:05 pm. On Thursday, Seattle travels to HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa to take on the Cubs at a special 12:05 start time. Friday the team will fly to Salt Lake, and the club plays its final exhibition game on Saturday, taking on the Colorado Rockies in Salt Lake City

Happy Birthday Brendan!:
Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan is celebrating his 31^st birthday today..

Meanwhile, Back in Seattle:
A reminder that fans are invited to check out all the changes in Safeco Field, including Edgar’s Cantina, the expanded bullpen market and the unbelievable new scoreboard, at the free Open House on Monday, April 1. Doors open at 6 pm, and the Mariners first game of the season versus the A’s will be on the new board at 7 pm. Opening Night at home, always one of the great sporting events on the Seattle calendar, is April 8. Good seats are still available for every game in the first homestand, including Opening Night. Tickets are available with no service charge at Safeco Field and Seattle Mariners team stores. Or, grab them on-line at www.mariners.com.

Tweet of the Day:

I use really good moisturizer // RT @RajanSinghal1: @aaronmgoldsmith you look like your 15, but sound like you 115. #6DaysTillOpeningDay—
Aaron Goldsmith (@aaronmgoldsmith) March 26, 2013

On Tap Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 27):
The Mariners play their final home game of the 2013 Spring Training season, hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers at Peoria Stadium at 1:05. The game will be broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners radio network. In a match-up of former Cy Young Award winners, Felix Hernandez will start for Seattle, taking on Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers.

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There’s been a fair amount of chatter on social media today about the announcement that the U.S. Men’s National Team and Panama will play a FIFA World Cup Qualifier match at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday, June 11, at the same time the Mariners are hosting the Houston Astros.

The news release announcing the match stated that attendance will be capped at 42,000 “in consideration of traffic and parking concerns.” (Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer addresses that here.)

The attendance threshold is part of long-standing (since 1996) City of Seattle guidelines in place to help lessen the impact on the SODO neighborhood –and fans—when there are “dual events” at CenturyLink and Safeco Field.

The Mariners have not imposed any restrictions on the soccer game attendance and we were not asked to change the start time of our game to accommodate the soccer match. The City of Seattle would have to grant a waiver for the Mariners to play a day game because we are limited to six midweek day games per season. There are now seven on this year’s schedule, with the seventh granted by the City to accommodate a CONCACAF Gold Cup match on July 11.

The Mariners are excited to have our beautiful city showcased to the world on June 11, and we will be cheering on the U.S. team along with the rest of the nation.