Mariners Blog

Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

E-mail Geoff| Mariners Forum| Subscribe | Blog Home

April 4, 2009 6:10 PM

The skinny on the final 25

Posted by Larry Stone

Here are all the quotes from players, manager and GM.

Unfortunately, Chris Jakubauskus and Shawn Kelley were already on the team bus for the airport by the time we were given the final roster.The Mariners will have a workout at the Metrodome tomorrow before hitting the field for real on Monday.

Don Wakamatsu said that Ken Griffey in right is an Opening Day thing, but not necessarily the way it will be throughout Ichiro's absence. In fact, he said that Griffey is likely to be DH in two other games in Minnesota, and sit out a fourth, out of concern for the effect of the Astroturf on his bad knee.

It had pretty much been a foregone conclusion, but all the roster moves on Saturday formalized Mike Sweeney's spot on the team. Sweeney was also long gone by the time the roster was announced, but here's what Wakamatsu said:

"We talked over the winter about Mike coming in and being a leader in the clubhouse, but he would have to earn that spot. He would have to show us that he's healthy and he would have to swing the bat, and he did all those things. He has been tremendous. As far as playing time, against left-handed pitching we'll try to get him in there as much as we can, and have him spell Russell (Branyan) at first base."

Sweeney finished spring with a .408 average (20-for-49).

Digg | Newsvine