Results tagged ‘ Jason Vargas ’
Jason Vargas Named AL July Pitcher of the Month
Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July, his first monthly honor and the 15th such honor for a Mariners pitcher.
- Major League Baseball Announces July Pitcher of the Month
- Mariners Jason Vargas Named AL Pitcher of the Month
During the award-winning month, Vargas was 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA (8 ER, 44.0 IP) with 26 strikeouts while allowing no more than three earned runs in any start, two-or-fewer in five starts and one-or-fewer in four of the six starts.
During July, the left-hander ranked 2nd in wins (5), 1st in ERA (1.64), 2nd in innings (44.0) to Felix Hernandez, 6th in opponents batting average (.206) and the Mariners won five of his six starts.
Vargas tied a Mariners record with five wins in a month, becoming the 20th player to do so and the first since Felix Hernandez won five in September of 2009. He also became the 14th pitcher to go 5-0 in a month.
Here’s a list of Mariners Pitchers of the Month:
June, 1982 Jim Beattie
Aug., 1987 Mark Langston
Sept., 1988 Mark Langston
June, 1990 Randy Johnson
July, 1991 Bill Krueger
Sept., 1995 Norm Charlton
June, 1997 Randy Johnson
Sept., 1997 Jeff Fassero
June, 2003 Freddy Garcia
June, 2007 J.J. Putz
June 2009 Felix Hernandez
July, 2009 Jarrod Washburn
Sept., 2009 Felix Hernandez
June, 2010 Cliff Lee
July 2012 Jason Vargas
International Men of Mound
Erasmo Ramirez (Nicaragua), Jason Vargas (United States), Hisashi Iwakuma (Japan), Felix Hernandez (Venezuela), Hector Noesi (Dominican Republic).
Over the next five games (starting tonight), the Mariners will send to the mound five different starting pitchers, all from different countries. Erasmo Ramirez (Nicaragua) will start things off and will be followed by Jason Vargas (United States) in the Sunday finale against the Boston Red Sox. The three pitchers who will face off against the Baltimore Orioles starting on Monday will be Hisashi Iwakuma (Japan), Felix Hernandez (Venezuela) and Hector Noesi (Dominican Republic).
That 5-day rotation leads us to ask, how many countries have been represented by Mariners pitchers? When you add in the left-hander from the bullpen Oliver Perez (Mexico), and of course the American-born players, the list grows to seven on the active roster.
Since the Mariners began playing in 1977, pitchers from 12 different coutries have toed the rubber for the team including the United States (271 pitchers), Australia (2), Canada (7), Columbia (1), Cuba (2), Dominican Republic (16), Japan (5), Mexico (5), Nicaragua (2), Puerto Rico (7), South Korea (1) and Venezuela (8).
Here’s a complete list of foreign-born Mariners pitchers:
Foreign-Born Mariners Pitchers.
Video Rewind – Vargas Notches Another 10 Strikeout Game
For the third time in four days, a Mariners starting pitcher recorded double-digits in strikeouts last night. Jason Vargas tied his career-high with 10 punchouts, joining rotation-mates Felix Hernandez (10 Saturday at SD) and Erasmo Ramirez (10 Monday vs. OAK).
How long had it been for the Mariners to record the baseball-rarity of back-to-back games with starting pitchers recording 10+ strikeouts? Well, the answer is almost 13 years! You have to go all the way back to Aug. 23-24, 1999 when Paul Abbott and Freddy Garcia notched consecutive starts with 12 strikeouts.
And here is another interesting note to put things in perspective. With Felix, Erasmo and Jason all recording 10 strikeouts in a 4-game stretch, the Mariners became the first team to have a trio of starters each with double-digits in strikeouts over a 4-game stretch since the Arizona Diamondbacks Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2003: Randy Johnson – 11 K, Brandon Webb – 11 K, Curt Schilling – 10 K.
Here is a video look at the three 10-strikeout games:
Felix Dominates San Diego:
Erasmo Strikes Out 10 A’s:
Vargas Ties Career-High with 10 Strikeouts:
- JE
Spring Game #3 – Mariners vs. Padres
The Mariners and Padres meet today in Cactus League play at 1:05 pm MT/12:05 pm PT. There are a number of ways to follow the action of today’s game (and the rest of the spring games), including the following:
Pitching Matchup: Jason Vargas vs. Anthony Bass
Start Time: 1:05 p.m. MT/12:05 PT
Radio: 710 ESPN Seattle
- You can listen to Rick Rizzs and Dave Sims call today’s game on 710 ESPN Seattle and select stations on the Mariners Radio Network in the Northwest. The game will also be carried live online at Mariners.com (subscription based).
- All of the games Mariners spring games will feature batter by batter updates via MLB.com’s Gameday.
- Game Notes, Lineups and a Travel Roster are available for download for today’s game vs. the Padres.
- Mariners.com beat writer Greg Johns has a bunch of stories posted that will catch you up to date on everything in Mariners camp. You can follow all of his articles via the Mariners.com RSS feed.
- We will also be tweeting some game highlights on @Mariners. A full recap and box score will be available on Mariners.com shortly following the game.
- JE
Mariners Spring Training Update – Day 5
Day 5 / Thursday, February 16, 2012 / 40 Days ‘til Opening Night in Tokyo / 56 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle
Weather: Not a cloud in the sky during workouts as the temperatures hovered in the lower to mid-60’s.
Quote of the Day: “Heads Up!” – Players and coaches yelled to General Manager Jack Zduriencik warning him after infielder Vinnie Catricala hit a scorching line drive that nearly hit the golf cart Jack was riding in. This following a shot down the line that almost took out a group of photographers.
Vinnie Catricala
The Day: Day 5 was very similar to day 4, with pitchers taking PFP (Pitcher’s Fielding Practice), while half the pitchers had a throwing session in the bullpen. Starters Felix Hernandez, Jason Vargas and Blake Beavan threw their third bullpen session, while a crowd of coaches and media stayed and watched pitchers Stephen Pryor, Erasmo Ramirez, Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton throw in the bullpen as well.
So far 60 of the 66 players invited to Major League camp have been spotted around the complex. The position players will officially report tomorrow for physicals, while the first full squad workout is on Saturday.
Infielder Vinnie Catricala impressed many of the coaches during his BP session this afternoon. Besides nearly taking of the GM and half the photographers watching, he was hitting the ball all over field. Looks like he is picking up exactly where he left off at the end of last year. Catricala was named the Mariners Minor League Player of the Year in 2011, after hitting .349 (182×521) with 101 runs scored, 77 extra-base (2B – 48, 3B – 4, HR – 25) and 106 RBI in 133 games combined between A High Desert and AA Jackson. Among full season minor leaguers he ranked 2nd in extra-base hits, 3rd in hits, T3rd in doubles, T4th in batting average and T9th in RBI.
Tweet of the Day:
Man it feels good to be back on the field. Its #baseball season. #mariners. It was a lil chilly today but.Otherwise perfect. Weather
— Vinnie Catricala (@VinnieCatricala) February 15, 2012
Carlos Peguero wins the award for longest drive of the day. He launched a mammoth shot that hit the 32-foot-high batter’s eye in center field 410-feet away to highlight BP. Not sure if the ball bounced back to the field or got stuck in the chain-link fence.
A group of 35 of the Mariners top Minor League players are in camp today for physicals to take part in the team’s annual mini camp for many of top lower-level prospects. The first workout for mini-camp players is tomorrow and workouts will run through March 1. Mini-camp is an opportunity for players to receive one-on-one instruction from the coaching staff and work on improvement plans for Spring Training and the rest of the 2012 season. Among players taking part in the mini camp are highly regarded prospects right-handed pitchers Victor Sanchez and Carter Capps, catcher Marcus Littlewood, infielders Brad Miller and Cavan Cohoes and outfielders Guillermo Pimentel, Phillips Castillo and Jabari Blash.
- KM
Greetings from Peoria, Arizona
It feels like the 2011 season just ended, but here we are having landed in Phoenix, AZ, and arrived at the Mariners side of the Peoria Sports Complex today for the start of another great year of baseball. When the Mariners have their first official workout of the spring on Sunday, we’ll be the only Cactus League team, or Major League team for that matter, to be open for camp.
Seattle Mariners Administrative Offices in Peoria Arizona
A few players have already arrived including RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, LHP Jason Vargas, INF Alex Liddi and C Adam Moore and many more will be trickling in before their scheduled physicals on Saturday.
Carlos Guillen, Dustin Ackley, Brendan Ryan, Kyle Seager, Justin Smoak and Mike Carp have their lockers ready for camp.
The fields are not completely empty. The Doosan Bears, a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea, have been working out at the complex and will continue to work out here until February 19 in preparation for their regular season.
The Doosan Bears, a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea, will be practicing at the Peoria Sports Complex ahead of their regular season.
It should be an interesting first few days being the only team in the Cactus League. With RHP Hisashi Iwakuma and INF Munenori Kawasaki joining Ichiro on the Mariners and with RHP Yu Darvish joining the Texas Rangers just down the road, we expect to have a higher-than-normal influx of Japanese media.
Here’s a quick run-down of what the schedule looks like for the Mariners in the next few days.
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Important Spring Training Dates |
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Fri. |
Feb 10 |
Major League Camp Coaches Meeting |
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Sat. |
Feb 11 |
Major League Staff Meeting / Pitchers/Catchers Physicals |
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Sun. |
Feb 12 |
First Workout – Pitchers/Catchers |
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Wed. |
Feb 15 |
Minor League Mini Camp players report (more on this next week) |
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Thurs. |
Feb 16 |
Mini Camp Physicals |
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Fri. |
Feb 17 |
Physicals Position Players / First Mini Camp Workout |
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Sat. |
Feb 18 |
First Full Squad Workout |
- FA
FanFest Photo Gallery – Day 1
Photo Credits: Ben VanHouten/Seattle Mariners
Mariners FanFest Social Media Central
We’ve got a new way to experience FanFest this year — online.
Visit the Mariners FanFest Social Media Schedule online to view timings of live Facebook Chats and Twitter Takeovers that will originate from on top of the visitor’s dugout at Safeco Field this weekend. Fans at the ballpark can participate with their smartphones and tablets, and it’s a fun way for our fans across the Northwest to login from home and join the conversation.
Follow @Mariners on Twitter, and use hashtag #MarinersFF, like us on Facebook, and check the blog for updates on what’s happening behind the scenes. We’ll update frequently.
We’ll also be live streaming the Dugout Dialogue sessions from FanFest all day Saturday and Sunday on Mariners.com.
Saturday – Social Media Schedule:
| Time | Personnel | Event |
| 11:10 a.m. | Mike Carp (@carpusmaximus20) | Twitter Takeover |
| 12:00 p.m. | James Paxton (@James_Paxton) | Facebook Chat |
| 12:00 p.m. | Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) | Twitter Takeover |
| 1:00 p.m. | Miguel Olivo | Facebook Chat |
| 1:45 p.m. | Brandon League | Twitter Takeover |
| 2:30 p.m. | Jack Zduriencik | Facebook Chat |
Sunday – Social Media Schedule
| Time | Personnel | Event |
| 11:30 a.m. | Trayvon Robinson | Facebook Chat |
| 12:00 p.m. | James Paxton (@James_Paxton) | Twitter Takeover |
| 12:30 p.m. | Vinnie Catricala | Facebook Chat |
| 1:00 p.m. | Brendan Ryan | Twitter Takeover |
| 1:30 p.m. | Jesus Montero | Facebook Chat |
| 1:45 p.m. | Jason Vargas | Twitter Takeover |
| 2:00 p.m. | Danny Hultzen | Facebook Chat |
| 2:30 p.m. | Casper Wells (@UpstateBaller) | Twitter Takeover |
- RH
Mariners Avoid Arbitration With League, Vargas, Kelley
It has been a busy day in Mariners land this morning. There was the announcement with Dan Wilson and Randy Johnson being inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame this morning, the following news about three players avoiding arbitration, and of course talk of all the snow that is in the forecast for the Puget Sound region.
The latest bit of news was that closer Brandon League, starting pitcher Jason Vargas and relief pitcher Shawn Kelley all agreed to one-year contracts for the 2012 season, avoiding the arbitration process. What is arbitration you ask? Here is one of the best definitions that we have come across:
A player with less than 6 years of Major League service time is eligible for salary arbitration if he:
- is without a contract for the next season, AND
- has been tendered a contract offer by his current team by the tender deadline, AND
- cannot agree with his current team on a new contract, AND
- meets one of the conditions below:
- has been on a major league roster or disabled list for at least three years, OR
- has at least two years of major league service but less than three, AND is among the top 17 percent for cumulative playing time in the majors in this class of players, AND was on an active major-league roster for at least 86 days in the previous season.
What this basically means, is that the services of League, Vargas and Kelley are secured for the 2012 season. All three pitchers will be key contributors for the Mariners in 2012. More information on the three players is available in the official news release:
MARINERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH BRANDON LEAGUE, SHAWN KELLEY, JASON VARGAS
Mariners agree to one-year contracts on all three players avoiding arbitration.
SEATTLE, Wash. (Jan. 17, 2012) — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the club has agreed to terms with right-handed pitchers Brandon League and Shawn Kelley, and left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas on one-year contracts for the 2012 season. Per club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
By agreeing to terms with the three players, the Mariners have no remaining arbitration-eligible players.
League, 28, ranked 3rd in the American League last season posting 37 saves and was selected to play in his first All-Star Game. He went 1-5 with a 2.79 ERA (19 ER, 61.1 IP) in a team-high 65 appearances. His 37 saves were 4th-most in single-season club history, and his save percentage (88.1%, 37-for-42) was 6th-highest.
In two seasons with the Mariners, League is 10-12 with a 3.14 ERA (49 ER, 140.1 IP) and 43 saves in 135 appearances. His 135 appearances over the last two seasons are tied for 7th-most in the American League.
In eight Major League seasons with the Blue Jays (2004-09) and Mariners (2010-11), League has compiled a 17-22 record with a 3.70 ERA (141 ER, 342.2 IP) in 303 relief appearances. He was acquired from Toronto on Dec. 23, 2009 along with minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow. The Blue Jays originally selected him in the 2nd round (59th overall) out of Hawai’i’s St. Louis High School in 2001.
Vargas, 28, went 10-13 with a 4.25 ERA (95 ER, 201.0 IP) in 32 starts in 2011. The lefty set career highs in strikeouts (131), wins (10), innings (201.0) and starts (32). He ranked tied for 3rd in the AL with three shutouts and was tied for 4th with 4 complete games.
In three seasons with the Mariners, Vargas is 22-31 with a 4.19 ERA (226 ER, 485.1 IP) in 86 appearances (77 starts). He was acquired from the New York Mets as part of a 12-player trade also involving the Cleveland Indians on Dec. 10, 2008. He was originally selected by the Florida Marlins in the 2nd round (68th overall) in the 2004 June draft out of Long Beach State University.
Kelley, 27, saw limited action last season after coming back from partial Tommy John surgery performed on Sept. 1, 2010. In 10 Major League games, Kelley did not allow a run and scattered 7 hits in 12.2 innings. In 15 minor league appearances with AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma, Kelley went 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA (3 ER, 17.2 IP).
Originally selected in the 13th round of the 2006 June draft, Kelley made his Major League debut in 2009. In three seasons with the Mariners he has appeared in 73 games (all in relief), recording an 8-5 record with a 3.66 ERA (34 ER, 83.2 IP).
Brandon League, Jason Vargas and Shawn Kelley
- JE
