ST1 | vs. Pads

M's 6 | Padres 6

FISTER SHAKY FIRST THEN SETTLES AND PAULEY 2 SOLID INNINGS
others ~League, Ray, Olson and Seddon~ still in spring tune-up mode

YOUNG POWER-BOOST
two more home runs from the young outfielders (Halman and Chaves)

NEWS AND NOTES

• M's won't rush Ackley | Kitsap Sun
• Carp finds himself under the radar | MLB.com

NEXT UP...
Rangers visit Peoria

ST Charity Game | vs. Padres

M's 13 | Pads 12

13 RUNS?!?
THAT didn't happen in too many games last season (heck, it didn't happen in too many WEEKS ;-)  Then again, giving UP 12 runs wasn't a common occurrence either.  But, hey, it Spring Training.  It's baseball.  Baseball is BACK!!!

SOME OF THE BEST NEWS CAME IN THE FIRST INNING...
Erik Bedard ~ 9 pitches, 8 strikes, 2 strikeouts, 1 ground out
How great would it be if Erik was actually able to get through ST, start the season in the rotation behind Felix and actually pitch, even somewhat effectively, all season?  Okay, so I won't hold my breath.  But, I WILL cross all appendages.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PITCHING WENT DOWN HILL FROM THERE...
With Danny Bautista having a particularly bad day (unable to get through one inning and giving up five runs).  Petit and Smith each threw scoreless frames in the 9th and 10th respectively.  The others seemed to have sort of typical "first spring outings" - giving up a handful of hits and a run or two in an inning or two of work.

WITH 13 RUNS, PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE GOT INTO THE ACTION...
But, the new, svelte Jack Wilson lead in RBI (3) and Carlos Peguerro impressed in more ways than one.  Not only did he tie the game in the bottom of the 9th with a two-out, two-run home run.  He then proceeded to keep the game tied in the 10th by throwing a runner out at home plate - from center field.

FIELDING AND RUNNING...
Miguel had a passed ball, but he and Bard each threw runners out trying to steal.  Luke picked a runner off first and then there was that gun down at the plate by Peguerro and Adam Kennedy swiped a bag.

PRIOR TO THE GAME, THERE WAS THIS LITTLE BOMBSHELL...
Jody Gerut retires | Geoff Baker
"I can no longer, in good conscience, play the game in a manner that reflects the positive example for the younger generation of baseball players,'' he said. "Physcially, I'm fine. But mentally, my reasons for wanting to be in uniform have become so thin and narrow that I refuse to disrespect the game that has provided so generously for my family in a halfhearted way.
"This game of ours owes me nothing, but I owe the game at least that much. When a player finds his willingness to compete to be so greatly diminished, that player must leave the game so as not to disrespect it by becoming a player who plays solely for his paycheck and his own personal glory.
"This is a notion so distasteful to me it makes me physically sick to my stomach.

Wow.  Jody, we hardly knew ya.  I'm thinking it would have been nice to...

Next up (and this one actually counts in the Cactus League standings)...
Mariners vs. Padres
Monday, February 28th 12:05pm

baseball ... on the radio ... tomorrow!

Sure, it's only the annual charity game vs. the Padres ... 
but it's a real, live baseball game we can actually listen to!

And then, the realization sets in that a voice will be missing ...

from Shannon's blog

No lineup yet, but Erik Bedard will take the mound...
How's THAT for exciting?!?  Other pitchers slated to see action:  Luke French, Manny Delcarmen, Denny Bautista, Justin Miller, Cesar Jimenez, Yusmerio Petit and Chris Smith

Other news and notes...

• Jerry Brewer offers this piece on the M's new skipper - a sort of "the 5-R's" of Eric Wedge
• Geoff Baker catches up with M's top prospects Pineda and Ackley
• Kirby Arnold gives the latest report on Guti's gut

Tomorrow, there is a baseball game!!!

OK, it's only intra-squad, but it's still baseball!

with two 22-year-olds taking the mound...

Pineada vs. Beaven


And, several countdowns have commenced...

• Charity game w/ Padres = this Sunday
• First Spring Training game = Tuesday, March 1st
• My trip to Arizona = Wednesday, March 16th
• Opening Day @ Athletics = Friday, April 1st  
• Home Opener vs. Indians = Friday, April 8th 

Some news and notes from AZ...

• Zduriencik hoping M's don't repeat drama of '10 | Tim Booth
• Adam Moore: At a Mariners crossroads | Larry Larue
• Guti out with stomach issues again | Shannon Drayer
• M's manager has no problem with young club | Kirby Arnold

Charlie Riedel / AP

A couple days and more than a couple dollars short, but ....

Pitchers and Catchers have reported!

Some of the news and notes so far...

• With David Aardsma out from his hip surgery until at least the end of April, Geoff Baker reports on the closer competition
• Larry Larue talks lessons in baseball and in life with Josh Lueke 
• Kirby Arnold notes that with his new hardware on the shelf, Mr. CY is ready to roll 
• Shannon Drayer explains Felix's new hairdo
• Larry Larue says Felix's pingpong partner is finally ready to throw a baseball

One of these days, back to baseball content...

 But for now, indulge me while I say ...

Happy 50th Birthday to me!

part of the prep...

Right his way!

the "reception" area

No, I didn't add candles (didn't want to burn the joint down!)

Imagine Felix tossing these .....

Before the throng....     

View from Suites C and D...

Cheers!

Now THIS is a birthday card!

First leg of a year-long birthday celebration complete.  

Next up (in about 5 hours) ...

Las Vegas! 

In mid-March ...

a little jaunt to Arizona for Spring Training!

Sometime this summer ... 

a long weekend with OLD friends also making the half-century mark

Early fall ...

a little "relocation" cruise from San Diego to Seattle with yet another 5-0 turner

ONLY 11 DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT!