It's opening day baseball fans!

[davidsoc]

didn't really play with any big names....I think Joel Piniero was on one of the AA teams i played on....but no huge stars or anything

i think your probably right about Morales and Morse providing some real threat for the teams offense. And thank you for the names of the pitchers, Hultzen is who i was thinking of. I did watch the game last night. Montero looked serviceable, but him being a backup when Zunino comes up is some of the problem i see with these guys. Montero and Smoak were supposed to be building blocks, and they are looking like backups or solid pieces but not they types of players to build around. Like i said, the team intrigues me, and i think they could be very good, but i cannot see them grabbing a WC this year. Like i said a couple years, maybe even next year when guys like saunders are number 4 in the rotation i think they will be much better.

 

[GrimTuesday]

Seattle, and SD. Been a few years...

I can see Seattle playing very well this year, they do intrigue me as a team of very solid young players...and i love King Felix. But some of the guys that were supposed to be it really need to prove it at the ML level. Montero is a DH at best, Smoak needs to step up in a big way. I love Morse, and Morales, but they needs something from guys that have been there...Their pitching beyond Felix is what really scares me. I feel like they are probably a year or two away...they need to get the two young pitchers up: Walker...and the other guy's name escapes me

Montero actually looked good behind the plate last night, I don't know if you saw the game, but he looks like he should be a serviceable backup once Zunino come up. Smoak may have figured it out, he certainly looked like it this spring (of course, spring training stats are just spring training stats). I think Morse and Morales will make the entier lineup better with the protection they provide. You pitch differently when there is a real power threat in the lineup, and that hasn't really been there the last few years. The pitching is a little shaky, but I think it will be OK. Losing Jason Vargas wasn't actually a big deal, as the only difference between he and Joe Saunders is I don't have a gif. of Vargas yelling profanities saved on my computer. Iwakuma pitched very well when he actually move into the rotation, and was one of the best pitchers in Japan for a number of years prior to getting hurt in 2011. Beaven should be meh, and Maurer is too untested to make any predictions right now, though he looked great during spring (once again, spring training stats are just spring training stats) and has pitched well in AA (he hasn't pitched in AAA, just came straight up from AA). I think you're thinking of Danny Hultzen or James Paxton, both of whom will be in AAA this year, maybe coming up mid season.

Did you play with any big names? Any current or former Mariners?

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Thanks both of you, especially thanks for that link, all in all i'm fully up to speed now. Looks unfortunately like it's just been a patch up job for this year, putting plasters over the gashes the departures have left. Ah, well, I support Newcastle for football so i'm quite practised at watching a team win nothing, just hope the Rangers dont embarrass themselves completely.

Not a problem, feel free to join the group (link is up thread) and talk baseball all season long.

Montero backing up? Right... You don't give up a top line pitcher like Michael Pineda for a backup. He's there to be the Mariners designated hitter, because his defense behind the plate is awful.

I meant in addition to DHing. His D isn't as bad as people say, its not great, but it seems to be a meme that overstates his defensive woes.

 

[davidsoc]

The thing i have always noticed about Montero behind the plate is he doesn't receive the ball well. He doesn't seem to be able to frame the ball or turn marginal pitches into strikes. Considering ML pitchers tend to live on those margins, especially the non-superstar type guys that is a big thing. The passed balls and other errors are a rough thing. The running thing, is also on the pitcher. Seattle's staff is not good at holding guys on, and are not good at disrupting timing either...makes a difference...But i cannot call him a good catcher, like i said serviceable seems fair. But unless he really works on it, he is a DH in his future.

 

[YCRanger]

ARGGG One out away? Why Yu? WHY?!!!

 

[ShaqLevick]

Nobody is stopping the Jays this year! For the love of god we spent enough this season... It just has to work out.

 

[Marter]

Nobody is stopping the Jays this year! For the love of god we spent enough this season... It just has to work out.

Man, I certainly hope so. Disappointing day to open the season, but luckily there are 161+ more games to play!

Go Blue Jays!