Post by Fish Troll on Mar 23, 2007 23:05:09 GMT -5
Notes: Rain cuts short Ramirez's day
Battle among backup backstops; tickets still available
By Jim Street / MLB.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Left-hander Horacio Ramirez spent more than two hours on a bus getting to Tucson Electric Park from Peoria on Thursday morning, and then about 30 minutes on the mound in the afternoon.
His fifth Cactus League start was supposed to last six innings, but went just four batters.
A brief rainstorm caused a 47-minute delay and Ramirez never returned during the Mariners' 11-6 victory over the White Sox.
"One-third of an inning, I don't know what to tell you," Ramirez said. "I got some good work on the side."
He threw about 70 pitches in a covered tunnel behind the stadium, so the day wasn't a total waste.
Ramirez surrendered a leadoff single to Darin Erstad, got an out, and then served up a two-run home run to Jim Thome on an outside fastball that he called "a pretty good pitch."
The game was halted by the umpires after shortstop Willie Bloomquist committed a throwing error on a ball hit by Paul Konerko. Almost an hour later, the tarp finally was rolled up and stored, and the game continued -- without Ramirez.
"I wasn't out there long enough to establish any kind of rhythm," he said.
Catching on: Rene Rivera and Jamie Burke are competing for what figures to be limited duty behind starter Kenji Johjima.
Hargrove prefers a set everyday lineup and Johjima caught more games last season (144) than any of his American League catching counterparts. Jason Kendall of the Athletics was next with 141.
Rivera spent most of the season in the dugout, playing in 35 games, settling for about one or two starts in any given week.
That's a tough assignment and Rivera's .152 batting average, two home runs and four RBIs indicate just how difficult. Burke, a 35-year-old journeyman, was signed as a Minor League free agent and invited to camp as a non-roster player.
His five weeks in camp have opened some eyes.
If the backup decision was based entirely on batting average this spring, Burke would be the hands-down winner. He went into Thursday's Cactus League game against the White Sox with a .368 (9-for-17) batting average, no home runs and three RBIs, compared to Rivera's .222 (4-for-18), no home runs or RBIs.
But in this case, the stats aren't as important to Hargrove as other factors.
Hargrove says he is more interested in "how they handle the pitching, how they receive, how they call the game."
In other words, defense comes first at the position, but being a sure out is not acceptable.
Stay tuned: The Mariners and their cable TV partner FSN Northwest are close to agreement on a 10-year extension worth more than $300 million, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Club officials would not comment on the story, pending final approval, which could come before the Mariners open the regular season April 2 at Safeco Field against the Athletics.
The Mariners and FSN signed a 10-year deal in June 2000 worth a reported $288 million and, according to the report, that deal will run to its conclusion before the new contract begins, which would be in 2011.
The Mariners, who have finished last in the AL West the past three seasons, continue to have one of the most-watched local broadcasts in Major League Baseball. The club's cable rating of 6.5 in 2006 ranked fifth among baseball local markets, according to the P-I. In 2005, a 6.3 rating was fourth. In 2004, a 7.8 ranked third. For three years before that, the Mariners were No. 1 among all Major League local markets.
FSN will televise 107 Mariners games this season.
No sellouts yet: With Opening Day rapidly approaching, the Mariners announced Thursday that tickets are available for all 81 home games -- including Opening Day and a three-game series against the Reds, featuring the return of Ken Griffey Jr. Tickets for all games can be purchased at mariners.com.
This 'n that: Circle April 11 on your calendar. That's the date Ichiro Suzuki makes his first appearance against Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka since they played in Japan in 2000. Ichiro was 8-for-34 during his Japan career against the right-handed Matsuzaka. ... Willie Bloomquist added four hits to his spring total, giving him a team-high 21. He also stole two bases and leads in that category as well with nine thefts. The club record for most hits in a spring is 35, by Carlos Guillen in 1999. The record for stolen bases is 14, by Julio Cruz in 1979. ... Mike Morse hit his second home run of the spring, a mammoth blast over the bullpen in left field in the second inning.
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Battle among backup backstops; tickets still available
By Jim Street / MLB.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Left-hander Horacio Ramirez spent more than two hours on a bus getting to Tucson Electric Park from Peoria on Thursday morning, and then about 30 minutes on the mound in the afternoon.
His fifth Cactus League start was supposed to last six innings, but went just four batters.
A brief rainstorm caused a 47-minute delay and Ramirez never returned during the Mariners' 11-6 victory over the White Sox.
"One-third of an inning, I don't know what to tell you," Ramirez said. "I got some good work on the side."
He threw about 70 pitches in a covered tunnel behind the stadium, so the day wasn't a total waste.
Ramirez surrendered a leadoff single to Darin Erstad, got an out, and then served up a two-run home run to Jim Thome on an outside fastball that he called "a pretty good pitch."
The game was halted by the umpires after shortstop Willie Bloomquist committed a throwing error on a ball hit by Paul Konerko. Almost an hour later, the tarp finally was rolled up and stored, and the game continued -- without Ramirez.
"I wasn't out there long enough to establish any kind of rhythm," he said.
Catching on: Rene Rivera and Jamie Burke are competing for what figures to be limited duty behind starter Kenji Johjima.
Hargrove prefers a set everyday lineup and Johjima caught more games last season (144) than any of his American League catching counterparts. Jason Kendall of the Athletics was next with 141.
Rivera spent most of the season in the dugout, playing in 35 games, settling for about one or two starts in any given week.
That's a tough assignment and Rivera's .152 batting average, two home runs and four RBIs indicate just how difficult. Burke, a 35-year-old journeyman, was signed as a Minor League free agent and invited to camp as a non-roster player.
His five weeks in camp have opened some eyes.
If the backup decision was based entirely on batting average this spring, Burke would be the hands-down winner. He went into Thursday's Cactus League game against the White Sox with a .368 (9-for-17) batting average, no home runs and three RBIs, compared to Rivera's .222 (4-for-18), no home runs or RBIs.
But in this case, the stats aren't as important to Hargrove as other factors.
Hargrove says he is more interested in "how they handle the pitching, how they receive, how they call the game."
In other words, defense comes first at the position, but being a sure out is not acceptable.
Stay tuned: The Mariners and their cable TV partner FSN Northwest are close to agreement on a 10-year extension worth more than $300 million, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Club officials would not comment on the story, pending final approval, which could come before the Mariners open the regular season April 2 at Safeco Field against the Athletics.
The Mariners and FSN signed a 10-year deal in June 2000 worth a reported $288 million and, according to the report, that deal will run to its conclusion before the new contract begins, which would be in 2011.
The Mariners, who have finished last in the AL West the past three seasons, continue to have one of the most-watched local broadcasts in Major League Baseball. The club's cable rating of 6.5 in 2006 ranked fifth among baseball local markets, according to the P-I. In 2005, a 6.3 rating was fourth. In 2004, a 7.8 ranked third. For three years before that, the Mariners were No. 1 among all Major League local markets.
FSN will televise 107 Mariners games this season.
No sellouts yet: With Opening Day rapidly approaching, the Mariners announced Thursday that tickets are available for all 81 home games -- including Opening Day and a three-game series against the Reds, featuring the return of Ken Griffey Jr. Tickets for all games can be purchased at mariners.com.
This 'n that: Circle April 11 on your calendar. That's the date Ichiro Suzuki makes his first appearance against Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka since they played in Japan in 2000. Ichiro was 8-for-34 during his Japan career against the right-handed Matsuzaka. ... Willie Bloomquist added four hits to his spring total, giving him a team-high 21. He also stole two bases and leads in that category as well with nine thefts. The club record for most hits in a spring is 35, by Carlos Guillen in 1999. The record for stolen bases is 14, by Julio Cruz in 1979. ... Mike Morse hit his second home run of the spring, a mammoth blast over the bullpen in left field in the second inning.
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070322&content_id=1855531&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea
