Ichiro: No stolen bases this spring

Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki has yet to record a stolen base in 16 spring games. He was caught stealing in his lone attempt. He is, however, hitting .321 with eight runs, three doubles and six RBI. Don't worry about Ichiro's lack of steals this spring. The team just probably wants to save his legs for the season. It looks as though he will enter the season in the last year of his contract and that could be big for his performance as he will be playing for a new contract. Consider the Fantasy stud one of the top 15 outfielders to go off the board in the first four rounds in all leagues on Draft Day. It certainly helps he's motivated by being in a contract year.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Felix named Mariners Opening Day starter

When right-hander Felix Hernandez walked off the mound on Friday afternoon, he became the answer to a future Mariners trivia question. On April 2 at Safeco Field, the 20-year-old star in the making will become the youngest Opening Day starting pitcher in franchise history -- five years younger than Mike Moore was in 1985, when he made the first of his three Opening Day starts. Manager Mike Hargrove made it official halfway through the sixth inning on Friday when he told Hernandez that he would be the Mariners' Opening Day starter against the Athletics. "He told me, 'Good outing,' and I said, 'Thank you,'" Hernandez said. "Then he told me, 'Do that on Opening Day.'" Hernandez, who posted a 12-14 record and 4.52 ERA a year ago in his first big-league season, shed more than 20 pounds during the offseason and reported to camp in terrific shape. He has been dominant at times -- like the first two innings he pitched on Friday, when none of the first six batters got the ball out of the infield.
Source: MLB.com

Ibanez having phenomenal spring

Mariners LF Raul Ibanez went 2-for-3 with two runs, one walk and a double during Thursday's spring game against the White Sox. He is now 15-for-37 (.405) with nine runs, four doubles, four homers and 11 RBI through 13 spring games.

Ibanez is coming off a career year in which he hit 33 homers and drove in 123 RBI. It is a little known fact that Ibanez is one of the most durable players in the league, missing just three games the past two seasons. While 2006 marked the best year of Ibanez's career, it is hard to believe he will be able to improve on those numbers as he will turn 35 in-season. Still, consider him among the top 50 Fantasy outfielders on Draft Day.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Putz: MRI Results Show Mild Strain

The Mariners received "great news" on Saturday after their medical director reviewed the results of an MRI taken on right-hander J.J. Putz's right elbow. The diagnosis, made in Seattle by Dr. E. Edward Khalfayan, was a "mild flexor pronator strain."

There was a huge sigh of relief on the Mariners' side of the Peoria Sports Complex, although Putz had expressed confidence on Friday that there was nothing seriously wrong and that he would have plenty of time to prepare himself for the regular season, which begins on April 2 at Safeco Field against the Athletics.

With two weeks remaining in Spring Training, it would seem that Putz has enough time to get ready for the regular season. Putz, 30, replaced Eddie Guardado as the Mariners' closer last May 6, and finished with 36 saves in 43 chances. He led American League relievers with 104 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings, posting a 3-1 record and 34 saves in 57 appearances following his promotion to the closer role.
Source: MLB.com

Putz: Undergoes MRI On Elbow

Mariners closer J.J. Putz underwent an MRI for his sore right elbow on Friday. Putz reported tightness in his arm after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session earlier in the day. The 30-year-old right-hander has been bothered by arm problems throughout camp, making just one game appearance.
Source: MLB.com

2007 Mariners Projected Lineup

2007 Seattle Mariners

Batting Order

1. CF Ichiro Suzuki
2. 3B Adrian Beltre
3. DH Jose Vidro
4. LF Raul Ibanez
5. 1B Richie Sexson
6. RF Jose Guillen
7. C Kenji Johjima
8. 2B Jose Lopez
9. SS Yuniesky Betancourt

Beltre is not a prototypical No. 2 hitter, but that's where he had the most success last season. Outside of Ichiro, there's very little speed in this lineup, so most of the run production will have to come via the long ball. The optimal lineup would have Vidro in the third spot, but his ability to bounce back from injuries is a question. Ibanez excelled in the cleanup spot a year ago. It would make more sense to bat Vidro fifth.

Rotation

Felix Hernandez
Jarrod Washburn
Miguel Batista
Jeff Weaver
Horacio Ramírez

Closer: J.J. Putz

Putz Has Tightness In Right Elbow

Mariners closer J.J. Putz has tightness in his right elbow and is unlikely make Friday's scheduled game appearance. Hopefully this is nothing serious, as Putz emerged as a top closing option with 36 saves, a 2.30 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings last season.
Source: MLB.com

Felix Has Solid Outing

Coming off a solid outing Wednesday against the Giants, in which he allowed one earned run, struck out two and walked none in three innings, Felix Hernandez declared himself "75 percent" ready for the regular season. Of particular concern to Hernandez was the location of his curveball, which Randy Winn sent sailing for a solo home run. "I need to work on my curveball," the 20-year-old right-hander said. "That's my second-best pitch. Overall, I got the ball down better today than [his last start], but left one up and it was a homer." It's never a bad sign when one of the game's most talented young starters is unsatisfied with his performance.
Source: MLB.com

Jose Guillen: Injury-Risk Sleeper

All is well for Jose Guillen and the Mariners. His stroke has been so effortless and lightning quick, manager Mike Hargrove calls Guillen's "the most pure swing" of the 62 Mariners in camp. And yes, three-time major league hits leader Ichiro Suzuki is still here. Even Guillen's reconstructed throwing elbow is doing well following ligament-replacement surgery that ended his season with Washington last July. He extended his throwing range to 140 feet Wednesday and said the plan is for him to be in right field for exhibition games in late March. Until then, he will be a DH, starting Thursday in an exhibition against San Diego. "The ball is just jumping out of my arm. It's so scary," Guillen said.

Guillen had a career-high 31 home runs with Cincinnati and Oakland in 2003, a career-best 104 RBI for Anaheim the following year, and 24 more home runs for Washington in '05. His 2006 season ended after just 69 games. Back in the AL with Seattle, he could be a sleeper on Draft Day, but you cannot count on his health. Even if his elbow is fine, he has had hamstring and shoulder issues to deal with, too. Consider him an injury-risk sleeper on Draft Day, one viable for deeper mixed leagues.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Dream Weaver: Set For A Bounce-Back Season?

Jeff Weaver thinks he knows the reasons behind his early-season struggles with the Angels last year. "I had a couple of rough starts in Anaheim to start the season, and instead of working through them and trusting where I was, I started changing things," he said. "I tried changing where I stood on the rubber and threw from different arm angles. Too much information when you are trying to compete can really mess you up."

Weaver was released after going 3-10 with a 6.29 ERA for the Angels, but he won three of four September starts with the Cardinals before dominating the opposition in the playoffs. It’s entirely possible that the 30-year-old has indeed discovered the secret for success and is set for a bounce-back season. Just don’t expect numbers that resemble those from 2004-05, when he averaged 14 wins, a 4.11 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 155 strikeouts for the Dodgers; though Safeco Field will help, his numbers are bound to suffer at the hands of the American League’s powerhouse lineups.
Source: MLB.com

Broussard: Reserve Role In 2007

First baseman/designated hitter Ben Broussard seems to be destined for reserve duty in 2007. Richie Sexson is the starting first baseman and the switch-hitting Jose Vidro figures to see regular time at designated hitter, leaving the left-handed-hitting Broussard without an everyday role.
Source: MLB.com