If the Mariners keep playing these intrasquad games, they won’t be anything but a .500 team. That will change Wednesday when they play the Padres in their exhibitiion opener.
They played each other today for the second straight day and, besides the meaningless 4-3 victory by the B group over the A group, the play was much sharper this time. Monday, guys were stepping off the rubber to make sure of signs, pitchers worked slowly and the overall play was indicative of the rust that had built in the offseason.
Manager Don Wakamasu clearly was happier with the five innings he saw today and expects more adrenaline Wednesday when the Mariners play in front of several thousand in Peoria Stadium. The intrasquads were on their main practice field, with a few dozen spectators watching.
“You are playing against teammates, so some of the aggressiveness is not there,” he said. “I think they’ll be more pumped up.”
Brandon Morrow saw his first game situation of spring training and gave up three hits, a walk and two unearned runs because of an error behind him. The numbers weren’t stellar but, as they say at this time of the year, he got his work in.
“I thought Morrow looked strong,” Wakamatsu said. “He was rushing a little bit, but he looked healthy.”
Erik Bedard pitched on scoreless inning, striking out one and allowing one hit. His surgically repaired left shoulder seemed fine and he’s scheduled to pitch in Friday’s game against the Dodgers.
Other news and notes from today in camp:
– Much of the talk this morning focused on third baseman Adrian Beltre, who still hadn’t decided whether he will play for the Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic. The Mariners have discouraged him from playing in the WBC because he is coming off shoulder and thumb surgeries. The WBC rosters will be announced later today, and as of noon he hadn’t told the Mariners what he would do. The Mariners will lose several other players to WBC rosters — Felix Hernandez, Carlos Silva, Jose Lopez and Endy Chavez to Venezuela, Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima to Japan.
-Wakamatsu said he has been pleasantly surprised at Ken Griffey Jr.’s leg strength. “.Yesterday he went through all he drills and set the tempo. That’s exciting to see. Today was kind of a big day to see how he responded from yesterday and everything seems good.”
– Still no definite word on when Wladimir Balentien will be in camp. He continued to deal with visa issues, although the Mariners were hoping he’d be here by Thursday.
-First baseman Russell Branyan may be ready to play Wednesday or Thursday after dealing with back stiffness since late last week.
-Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt is being cautious with his tight hamstring and is doing little more than hitting and fielding ground balls.
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