AquaSox arrive at Safeco Field, plus a look at possible September callups
Monday, August 29, 2011 | 7:23 pm
Before we get into a few notes on the Mariners, this just in: The AquaSox Boys are at Safeco Field!
Yep, the Everett AquaSox, the Mariners' Class A team, is visiting the big house on their day off before making a final-week push to make the Northwest League playoffs. The Sox are a game behind first-place Eugene in the West Division with five remaining this week at Spokane.
Manager Scott Steinmann brought Jose Campos, Marcus Littlewood, Jabari Blash and their AquaSox buddies. I haven't seen these guys play a game this season, but they pulled off my favorite baseball video of the year: The AquaSox Boys.
Here's the video.
Today, the AquaSox watched the Mariners take batting practice, snapped a few photos of each other and visited with some of the Mariners.
Standing in a long, straight line at the edge of the grass in front of the Mariners' dugout, they respectfully parted as Ichiro Suzuki briskly walked through. A few minutes later, Mariners catcher Miguel Olivo shared a smile, a handshake and a few words with every player. So did a couple of other Mariners, as did general manager Jack Zduriencik.
“I just told them good luck,” Zduriencik said. “You've got five games left, go get ‘em.”
And now, a few notes on the big-league club:
• Manager Eric Wedge held a team meeting before batting practice to remind the Mariners that, with a month left to play, he expects as much intensity as they've given the first five months. That's probably a good reminder because, with 12 rookies, many of them will play deeper into the year than they ever have.
“Even though we're not in it, every game still does mean something,” Wedge said. “It's about respecting major-league baseball, respecting the Seattle Mariners and respecting the teams we're playing that are in it. The first step is playing those teams that are in a race, because one day we're going to be in it.”
• If Ichiro Suzuki is going to keep his streak of 200-hit seasons intact, he'll need to have one of the best months of his career. He goes into tonight needing 49 hits in the remaining 30 games to record his 11th straight 200-hit season (he's tied with Pete Rose for the most in the major leagues). Ichiro has gotten 49 or more hits in a month six times in his career, the last in May of 2009.
• Teams can expand rosters on Thursday, and the Mariners are expected to bring up only a few players from the minors. Zduriencik would say only that the organization is making final decisions on who'll be called up.
The doesn't keep us from speculating, so here we go:
Tacoma third baseman Alex Liddi is having a great season – 28 homers and 99 RBI entering tonight – and probably will be up. The Mariners surely will bring up a catcher so look for Chris Gimenez.
Outfielders Greg Halman, Mike Wilson and Michael Saunders are possibilities after they spent time with the big club early this season. However, finding playing time for them will be difficult on a team that's already challenged to get time for all the outfielders already on the roster. So it wouldn't be a surprise if only one of the three comes back because it doesn't do any of them much good to be up and sit the bench.
(By the way, the Mariners would love to see Carlos Peguero up here again, but he's on the disabled list because of an injured calf.)
Don't forget that Justin Smoak, while not technically a minor league callup, began a rehab assignment today with the Tacoma Rainiers and, barring a problem, will return to play first base with the Mariners.
Pitching-wise, the only sure thing seems to be reliever Shawn Kelley, who has been throwing well (0-0, 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings entering tonight) and likely will be up in September.
Yep, the Everett AquaSox, the Mariners' Class A team, is visiting the big house on their day off before making a final-week push to make the Northwest League playoffs. The Sox are a game behind first-place Eugene in the West Division with five remaining this week at Spokane.
Manager Scott Steinmann brought Jose Campos, Marcus Littlewood, Jabari Blash and their AquaSox buddies. I haven't seen these guys play a game this season, but they pulled off my favorite baseball video of the year: The AquaSox Boys.
Here's the video.
Today, the AquaSox watched the Mariners take batting practice, snapped a few photos of each other and visited with some of the Mariners.
Standing in a long, straight line at the edge of the grass in front of the Mariners' dugout, they respectfully parted as Ichiro Suzuki briskly walked through. A few minutes later, Mariners catcher Miguel Olivo shared a smile, a handshake and a few words with every player. So did a couple of other Mariners, as did general manager Jack Zduriencik.
“I just told them good luck,” Zduriencik said. “You've got five games left, go get ‘em.”
And now, a few notes on the big-league club:
• Manager Eric Wedge held a team meeting before batting practice to remind the Mariners that, with a month left to play, he expects as much intensity as they've given the first five months. That's probably a good reminder because, with 12 rookies, many of them will play deeper into the year than they ever have.
“Even though we're not in it, every game still does mean something,” Wedge said. “It's about respecting major-league baseball, respecting the Seattle Mariners and respecting the teams we're playing that are in it. The first step is playing those teams that are in a race, because one day we're going to be in it.”
• If Ichiro Suzuki is going to keep his streak of 200-hit seasons intact, he'll need to have one of the best months of his career. He goes into tonight needing 49 hits in the remaining 30 games to record his 11th straight 200-hit season (he's tied with Pete Rose for the most in the major leagues). Ichiro has gotten 49 or more hits in a month six times in his career, the last in May of 2009.
• Teams can expand rosters on Thursday, and the Mariners are expected to bring up only a few players from the minors. Zduriencik would say only that the organization is making final decisions on who'll be called up.
The doesn't keep us from speculating, so here we go:
Tacoma third baseman Alex Liddi is having a great season – 28 homers and 99 RBI entering tonight – and probably will be up. The Mariners surely will bring up a catcher so look for Chris Gimenez.
Outfielders Greg Halman, Mike Wilson and Michael Saunders are possibilities after they spent time with the big club early this season. However, finding playing time for them will be difficult on a team that's already challenged to get time for all the outfielders already on the roster. So it wouldn't be a surprise if only one of the three comes back because it doesn't do any of them much good to be up and sit the bench.
(By the way, the Mariners would love to see Carlos Peguero up here again, but he's on the disabled list because of an injured calf.)
Don't forget that Justin Smoak, while not technically a minor league callup, began a rehab assignment today with the Tacoma Rainiers and, barring a problem, will return to play first base with the Mariners.
Pitching-wise, the only sure thing seems to be reliever Shawn Kelley, who has been throwing well (0-0, 1.98 ERA in 13 2/3 innings entering tonight) and likely will be up in September.
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