I’ve been at Safeco Field since 3 o’clock this afternoon and, so far, no Mariner has been thrown out on the bases. Of course, nobody has been on the bases — in a drill or otherwise. But considering this team’s penchant for running into outs, it’s got to be a good sign that there hasn’t been a mishap yet today.
Speaking of mishaps, Russell Branyan is back in the lineup (at DH) for the first time since bruising his foot when he kicked over a table in his hotel room last week in Anaheim.
Left fielder Michael Saunders will continue to sit because of a jammed middle finger on his right hand (suffered while baserunning, wouldn’t you know).
Reliever Shawn Kelley is playing catch this afternoon for the second straight day and, if that goes well, will throw off the bullpen mound Wednesday. He has been on the DL since June 16 because of inflammation in his right elbow.
And Erik Bedard is undergoing an MRI today on his ailing left shoulder as the Mariners hope to learn why he has felt discomfort in his recent attempts to play catch.
In other news, the Mariners have announced that they have signed six international free agents, all teen-agers. They are:
All of the players are 16 years old except Gomez, who’s 17.
Calderon is considered the prize of the group. Here’s what Bob Engle, the Mariners’ international scouting director, says about the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder in a release from the Mariners:
“We felt he was one of the more accomplished young hitters available in the international market. He has a great makeup and is sound fundamentally at the plate. Calderon drives the ball hard as well as showing some long ball ability. In the field he is stead with sure hands and true arm.”
Castillo is a 6-2, 190-pound right-handed hitter with good speed and an above-average arm, Engle said.
Garcia, 6-5 and 202 pounds, projects as a power pitcher who Engle compares with current Mariners pitching prospect Michael Pineda when he was that age.
Gomez, 17 (1/16/93), is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound left-handed pitcher from Venezuela. “He is a poised young projection pitcher with good pitching mechanics and good feel for pitching,” Engle said.
Pina, 6-2 and 178, has delivery issues but the Mariners like his physical makeup.
Torres, 6-4 and 165, has what Engle describes as a “projectable body build.” In other words, he’s a tall skinny kid who the Mariners believe could fill out throw with some velocity when he gets older.
The Mariners expect Calderon, Castillo, Pina and Torrez to take part in their fall instructional program in Arizona.
And now, the Mariners’ lineup tonight:
Ichiro Suzuki, right field
Chone Figgins, second base
Russell Branyan, DH
Jose Lopez, third base
Franklin Gutierrez, center field
Milton Bradley, left field
Justin Smoak, first base
Rob Johnson, catcher
Jack Wilson, shortstop
Right-hander David Pauley, starting pitcher
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