Hey did you guys hear?? In late August the Mariners are holding "BILL BAVASI NIGHT." Everyone shaves their head and comically signs to the roster a flaming paper bag filled with dog crap for $20 million.
I hope I get a Shih-Tzu's!!

Looks like we're bringing the major league lineup today - hitters anyway.

Felix vs Jeff Francis - should be a nice matchup. I think it is pretty sad that with the state of basketball these days, i get much more joy following mariners spring training... i think this is one of the first years i have actually looked at what everyone is doing at this point... how sad (or nice i suppose for the mariners).

The M's should have kept Adam Jones and let Ichiro walk in free agency. Suzuki has slowed down every year since 2001. All his skills and bat speed slowed and now he needs to make an adjustment to be ready in a few weeks. I have little doubt he will be fine by opening day. Yet, the organization will be paying his salary until 2032 for non-power hitting player and regret the decision of extending him.

"The M's should have kept Adam Jones and let Ichiro walk in free agency. Suzuki has slowed down every year since 2001. All his skills and bat speed slowed and now he needs to make an adjustment to be ready in a few weeks. I have little doubt he will be fine by opening day. Yet, the organization will be paying his salary until 2032 for non-power hitting player and regret the decision of extending him."

Resin - What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this website is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Just thought I would throw some humor out there. But I still feel you are wrong!

Hmmm, maybe a change in SeaTimes reporters is what Ichiro needs ;^)

Thanks for the coverage, Geoff. Hope you had fun

The Mariners would have been FOOLS to let Ichiro walk in free agency. If they didn't think they were going to be able to extend his contract, prior to him becoming a free agent, they would have traded him for as many prospects as possible. Since 2001 he has broken or tied Mariners club records, and major league records in hitting. I don't see any evidence from Ichiro that suggests a 'slow down.'

Bwaaaaahahahaha! Good one, Resin! You crack me up, dude!

Resin, the thing about Ichiro's value is twofold.

One, as long as his speed holds up for defense and getting on base, he can lose fifty points on his batting average and still be a valuable contributor to the M's. For him, age is deceiving. At 34 he's in better condition than Jose Lopez at age 23. He plays much younger than his years.

Secondly, Ichiro's value to the M's and the Seattle area is greater than his salary. He's a one man economic stimulus package. How many Japanese tourists, who would not otherwise come to Seattle, travel here because of Ichiro's presence? To the M's, how much is the television contract in Japan worth to the team because of Ichiro? More than his spread out salary I'll bet. No other player on the M's is nearly the fan draw that Ichiro is (until we sign Griffey in '09). Remember, as a FA last year, Ichiro could have signed for more elsewhere.

I worry about Sexson's and Ibanez's decline far more than I worry about Ichiro's. In fact, ST numbers notwithstanding, he is likely the least of the team's concerns this season.

Ben - Willie and Cairo are not major league hitters.

can someone please explain to my naive self again why cairo will making the team along with bloomquist. one of those guys is more than enough garbage on one bench

I can understand why for WillieB, but as far as for Cairo, my only guess is that, "He's been through the wars." :-D

AK - agreed. well.. sort of. They are technically major leaguers... whether they play like it or not is another thing all together.

Willie has heart and all that, i suppose. And you need a utility guy to fill in for various people a la Mark Maclemore... but having both of them seems a bit absurd.

Morse should replace Cairo and Reed should be our other guy up. Morse has been hitting so well in spring and he's out of options - so it seems like they should at least give him a shot to see if his spring numbers actually mean anything.

Can someone explain to me why Hi Corbett Field is historic?

higbie - the answer is they're veterans. Not saying I agree with that logic.

I believe the thinking is by having Cairo Bloomquist can be utilized earlier in a game. Or, vice-versa.

Great Job Jose! Dont know much about you, but I hope you are a staff writer, you do(did)and EXCELLENT job covering the M's.
I will miss your reports on the blog, but hope you can get some copy space this summer!

Go M's

alf - yes, ditto your comments.

So you know, Jose primarily covers the Seahawks. Of course, why the Seattle Times uses someone named Jose Romero to cover the Seahawks is anybody's guess.

Oh, boy! Sexson hits opposite-field home run! 1-0 M's.

Also - how can someone say that Ichiro has declined each year? the guy his .351 last year! He was one of the top hitters for average in the AL.

His last 3 years BA:
2005 - .303
2006 - .322
2007 - .351

He averaged just about 111 runs over those 3 years (111, 110, 111 runs respectively). And he stole plenty of bases (33, 45, 37 SBs respectively).

The guy is pretty much a consistent great leadoff hitter for us.

Cairo is a terrible pickup! He is going to kill this team in more ways than one. He's going to eat up a roster spot that should go to one of the younger and more talented players. I still cannot fathom having him on a major league roster without making him prove ANYTHING! Can't hit, can't field and isn't as fast as they'd like to make him out to be.

It hurts because I love them so much...

Felix is great! Let's start a pool on what McLaren's comment will be regarding Sexson's home run.

My guess is "Richie showed us today why we need him in the lineup".

"Looks like we're bringing the major league lineup today - hitters anyway"

Yup, all 4 of 'em.