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Game On

By Jason A. Churchill

By 03-04-2009

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So I hear there's a game on Wednesday night. Fox Sports Northwest (that's channel 30 if you're on Comcast in the Seattle area) is carrying the Seattle Mariners tilt versus Team Australia at 6:00 pm tonight.

It'll be Ken Griffey, Jr.'s return to the batter's box in Peoria with an M's uniform on his back, and the 206's first look at the 2009 Seattle Mariners.

I haven't seen anything anywhere that says what skipper Don Wakamatsu is going to do as far as the rest of the lineup goes, but former M's lefty Travis Blackley is getting the start for Australia.

He signed with the Diamondbacks this winter and has a chance to make their 25-man as a long reliever and spot starter. For His sake, I'm hoping he blanks the M's for the duration of his stint.

But I have a feeling that the first fastball Griffey gets from anyone is going to be received with the biggest swing we've seen Junior take in 11 seasons.

And I don't care what the result is.

game-on

Comments
The following 16 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: kevin_ess on 03-04-2009 13:01:28
Baseball on TV again! I am so there, my friend.

2. By: robsols on 03-04-2009 13:22:08
Halman went 2 for 3 with a single and an homerun off Bautista with the Netherlands against the Pirates yesterday.

3. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-04-2009 14:00:16
Yeah, I saw the highlight of the Halman homer... Batista tubed a heater. Sweet.

4. By: PositivePaul on 03-04-2009 14:34:14
Just dawned on me (and I updated my Twitter/FB status thusly): With Griffey and Snelling sharing the same field, they better have their first aid supplies well-stocked...

Also GO TRAVIS!!!!

Maybe I'll don my 2004 team-issued Blackley jersey tonight.

5. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-04-2009 15:08:58
Yes, do that, Paul. Trav could help someone, hopefully Zona. His cutter is death to righties and improving in its effectiveness versus lefties. Command is the key, since he doesn't throw 95, but in shorter stints he's been pushing it up to 91-93 again.

6. By: DAMellen on 03-04-2009 15:19:14
What if he overswings, throws out his back, and is out for three months? Would you care about that result?

7. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-04-2009 16:54:29
No, I wouldn't.

8. By: usabaseballfan on 03-04-2009 18:54:27
As far as what Wakamatsu plans to do with the rest of the lineup, Shannon Drayer posted the lineup earlier today on her blog. It will be nice to see several regulars and some of the new faces. Go M's!

9. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-04-2009 20:03:06
Betancourt is the key today.

What's he look like defensively, and is the better conditioning program during the winter going to make any difference?

10. By: DAMellen on 03-04-2009 20:33:32
Yeah pretty much.

11. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-04-2009 20:54:12
Olson did NOT look nearly as good as his line, and if Travis wants to throw one breaking ball every 40 pitches, he's going to have problems in Triple-A, let alone the big leagues.

WTFTB?

12. By: The Great Pumpkin on 03-04-2009 22:31:04
If Cedeno out performs Yuni this Spring, does he get the starting gig?

13. By: acqb1424 on 03-05-2009 08:09:51
Jason, quick question. I know you're extremely busy, but is there any update on when the handbook will be ready?

14. By: Jason A. Churchill on 03-05-2009 13:01:43
Not a season thing at all. It's a change in philosophy. Blanket change.

re; cedeno

He'd have to grossly outproduce betancourt.

re: acqb

I'm working on the last addition and formatting as much as I can. ESPN has me writing 7 days a week and I have a piece for the P-I due tomorrow that I'm working. My apologies for the ridiculous delays, but I can't even take a good guess right now. Not anytime in the next week, though.

I still have to test the print edition, which means ordering one and looking at it physically.

15. By: StandinPat on 03-05-2009 23:31:39
Jason,

Why do you think Cedeno would have to so grossly outperform Betancourt? Is it because he is the incumbent? Or maybe because the M's still want to salvage some value from Betancourt and sending him to the bench would definitely diminish any value he has left?

I don't necessarily disagree with your assessment, but just wanted your take, since this would be a departure from the the M's new apparent philosophy of the best player getting the job.

16. By: stickball on 03-06-2009 00:14:07
Jason,

Who do you think are the favorites for the four bench players if the Mariners carry 12 pitchers? Is Johjima/Clement, Balentien, Cedeno, and Shelton about right?

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