Prospect Insider - Two days

Two days

By Chris Crawford

By 02-11-2011

There are two days between now and the day pitchers and catchers report for spring training on February 13 -- the rest of the squad will report no later than February 18 with the first full-squad workout slated for the day after.

The M's first spring game is the annual charity game versus the San Diego on the 27th with their first Cactus League matchup the following day against the same Padres.

Minor leaguers won't report until the second week of March, though these dates are more of a deadline than the day most players show up for camp.

In any case, we'll be here daily to round up the thoughts and ideas as the club heads closer to the 2011 season; lending you all anything you might need to get yourself ready.

M's add Delcarmen
The M's came to an agreement with Manny Delcarmen Thursday, giving him a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. Delcarmen, who pitched in Colorado and Boston last year, posted a 4.99 era with 39 strikeouts in 52 innings.

The right-hander's biggest issue has been control, and last year it completely fell apart, walking 5.5 batters per nine innings. He has always thrown hard, though his average fastball has diminished from 95.5 miles per hour in 2008 to 93.3 in 2010 -- but maybe he's simply calming it down in attempt to throw more strikes.

There's no question that Delcarmen has regressed the past few years, but I personally like the move. He will turn 29 this season, and isn't far removed from well above-average seasons. Sexy? No. Potential for production? Absolutely.

Nepotism II: Electric Bugaloo
A day after signing Felix Hernandez older brother, the M's announced the signing of outfield Gabriel Guerrero for $400,000 -- who just happens to be the nephew of Orioles DH Vladimir Guerrero.

Based on a very short video, Guerrero appears to have some pop and coil in his swing, but the overall mechanics are a mess. Guerrero is only 17, and according to Ben Badler of Baseball America, has made improvements at the plate and in the field. It will be a long time until the Mariners see any dividends from this signing -- if we see any. Still, adding another player who doesn't wear batting gloves isn't such a bad thing, either way.

For the outdoors-man in Peoria
If you like to fish, or if you like pretty scenery, or basically anything that doesn't involve sitting in front of a TV, go check out Lake Pleasant Regional Park. There's boats to rent, plenty of area to picnic and usually some pretty cool wildlife to check out as well. It's a twenty minute drive from the park, so if you're down in Peoria and the M's happen to be playing a night game -- spend a day down at the Park and relax by the lake before the game.

It'll be a grand ole time.

two-days

Comments
The following 8 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Mackie on 02-11-2011 11:01:54
I like the way the Mariners are bringing in people who can compete for bullpen jobs in spring training. If even one from among veteran NRI guys such as Ray, Bautista, or Delcarmen should end up making the team, then I think it will have been worth bringing all of them to spring training.

It seems to me there is Aardsma and there is League, and after that it's all question marks. But from all who have been invited to camp, I think they can potentially put together a bullpen that is better than last year's.

I hope someone from among Paredes, Jimenez, Castro, or maybe Robles can win a job as a bullpen lefty. Most of the Mariners' bullpen guys are righties.

Who do you think has the best shot at being a bullpen lefty this year? Surely someone from that group I mentioned will provide more help than Olson has done. Or will there be some RH relievers in camp who have good splits against RH hitters?

2. By: ndcohn on 02-11-2011 11:57:43
If any of these NRI's make the team, who's most likely to get DFAed to make room on the 40-man? Bradley? Flores? Jimenez? Roe? 60 day DL options?

3. By: Rick Randall on 02-11-2011 12:30:31
Don't forget about Royce Ring for the LOOGY as an NRI.

DL for guys like Bradley and Wilson (and Bedard, unfortunately) are always in play.

But remember that Nate Robertson, Adam Kennedy and the Langerhans-Gerut-Gross trio are all NRI guys, too. So there could be the need for a number of spots.

4. By: Rick Randall on 02-11-2011 12:44:03
Sorry, work pulled me away before I finished that.

Teams will always be able to find a way to get the guys they want on the 40, usually without losing anyone of value, so no need to worry about who/what/when/where.

5. By: maqman on 02-11-2011 13:21:26
I'm hoping Tom Wilhelmsen and Josh Lueke have the right stuff to make the pen this season. Younger and cheaper than most of the NRI relievers.

6. By: StandinPat on 02-11-2011 13:26:29
Younger, Cheaper and with more upside than most the NRIs, but its nice not having to start the year with them on the 25 man. Lueke might, and Wilhelmsen def will benefit from a little more time in the minors. I'm all for using this year to get some of the younger players development time at the ML level, but not if it means rushing them.

7. By: Rick Randall on 02-11-2011 13:50:14
Also good to remember that Lueke is 26 and Wilhelmsen is 27.

8. By: 11records on 02-11-2011 18:58:58
Unless I've missed something, don't they want Wilhelmsen to be a starter? I think he relieved in the Fall League, but I was assuming that was because they wanted to limit his workload considering the fact he had taken 5 or 6 years off.

With 15 other options for the pen, I don't know why they'd shift him into a relief role. Would love to see him start the season starting in AA. No point in sending him to High Desert.

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