 H
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ello Sports fans! A few weeks ago my
good friend Chris Finn and I were talking about making the trek to Peoria,
Arizona where the Seattle Mariners have Spring Training every year. Though we
had talked of going a number of times in the past, this time there was a steely
resolve in Chris’s eye when he spoke of it. Having seen that look in Chris’s
eye before, though it really was not in my schedule to go, I somehow knew this
was the year I would wind up in Arizona in the middle of March. That being the
case I was not surprised when Chris called me shortly after we discussed the
idea informing me that it was settled; that we, along with our mutual good friend
Tim Stoner, would all be going to Spring Training for a 3 day weekend of
baseball and sun in Peoria, Arizona…and so here we are. As I write this I am
sitting in our hotel room at 11:30 pm, on Friday, March 15. We have just
completed our first day here at Seattle Mariners Spring Training…so I thought I
would give you a report…
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Tim Stoner and Mark Arnold at Angel
Stadium in Tempe, Az |
Tim
and I hit town late last night flying in from Seattle while Chris drove east
across the desert to get here from San Diego where he had been on business.
Chris picked us up from the airport and after taking several wrong turns we
finally got to our hotel and to bed about 1AM. Got up bright and early and
looked out the window at a clear blue sky and what looked to be a great day for
baseball. The Mariners were playing a split squad game, which means they divide
up the team and play two games. The first would be in the afternoon in Tempe
against the Angels at their stadium and the second would be in the evening at
the Mariners home stadium in Peoria. We hopped out to Tempe, which is very
close to our hotel, and bought our tickets for the afternoon game and then dashed
on out to Peoria to see if we could catch the Mariners at their morning
practice before the game.
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Chris Finn with Jose, a young
Nicaraguan pitcher |
By
the time we got to Peoria, which is a ways from Tempe as well as our hotel, the
practice was almost over but we got familiar with where the team holds its practices
in the morning so we will be able to see them on Saturday and Sunday. We also
got to see a bunch of the Mariners Minor League players at practice. They are a
very personable bunch and very willingly stop to talk with you or to sign
autographs when they are done with their work or are walking to different
practice fields. We met one young player in particular, a young pitcher from Nicaragua
whose name was Jose (I did not get his last name), who stopped and answered
some questions and talked with us. Jose is a great guy…he is living his dream
of making it to “the show”, but he has had some bumps along the road. Though
only twenty one he has already had some arm trouble and required “Tommy John”
surgery to repair his elbow. He showed us his scar. Jose says his arm is great
now and that he can still hum his fastball at 94 miles an hour. We wished him
luck and shook his hand and I got a great picture of Chris with him. (Tim was
originally in the picture too but his eyes were shut in the picture so I
cropped him out. If Jose turns into a star Tim will regret that)
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Justin Smoak congratulated after
homering vs Angels |
We
then took off to catch the game at Tempe against the Angels. The Mariners
showed that propensity for home runs that they have displayed all spring
hitting three more dingers while winning the game 8 to 5. Justin Smoak went yard hitting a 3-2 pitch for an opposite field
home run…he definitely looks improved from what I can see. Despite Smoak’s
homer, the hitting star of the game was a relatively unknown player, at least
to me, named Julio Morban. Julio hit two long two run
homers, one in the second inning and one in the eighth. The Mariner starter was
Jeremy Bonderman. He went four
innings if I recall correctly and except for the second inning when he gave up
two runs he looked good. His curve ball especially looked sharp.
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| The "Salty Senorita" |
After
the game we went back to the hotel, grabbed a nap and then took off to Peoria
to catch the evening game. Like I said, it is a bit of a drive to get to Peoria
and when we got there it was twenty minutes before game time. We hadn’t eaten
dinner and decided to forsake the first couple of innings of the game to go
sample the fare at that famous Arizona Spring Training watering hole located
hard by the Peoria Sports complex…The
Salty Senorita. I had heard Mariner announcer Rick Rizzs conducting a show from their once a couple weeks ago and
you could hear the crowd buzz in the background. Even over the radio the place
sounded wild…but it doesn’t really prepare you for the real thing. The best way
I can describe The Salty Senorita is
that it is a cross between a 1980s “pick up” bar, a Wild West saloon and the
cantina scene from “Star Wars”. The
place was packed and the service slow but no one cared. When our waitress
finally appeared Chris decided he wanted to get her to pose for a picture
between Tim and himself. The waitress, who was quite pretty, took one look at
Chris and, obviously mis-reading his intentions, muttered something under her
breath and fled the scene. I told Chris not to worry; that, except for this
blog, what happens at The Salty Senorita stays at The Salt Senorita. Fortunately for us
the waitress wasn’t blown off for good and still brought us our food. My steak burrito
was delicious.
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| Carlos Puegero belts a double |
We
finally made it to the stadium during the bottom of the second inning. The Mariners
were playing the Netherlands national team that is currently involved in the World Baseball Classic. The Netherland
team was already ahead three to one when we got there; a lead that expanded to
six to one by the eighth inning. Contrary to the afternoon game, in this game
the Mariners did not hit well. Dustin
Ackley had a 2 for 4 night with an RBI double and Carlos Peguero launched a ringing double in the 5th
inning I believe, but that was about it for the offense. Pitching wise John Garland
started and was roughed up in the first for three runs, his toughest outing of
the Spring thus far. Mariner reliever Lucas
Luetge was sharp in the two innings that he pitched. I also was able to get
a number of great photos of the players in action, which I always love.
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Peoria Sports Complex...Spring Training
home of the Seattle Mariners |
While
the game was not that good, the atmosphere at the stadium was fantastic and the
weather absolutely perfect. A new moon hung over the stadium the whole game,
lending its aesthetic to the evening’s proceedings. Tim, Chris and I had an
absolute blast and look forward to tomorrow; our second day at Seattle Mariners
Spring Training. We intend to make it to practice this time, hopefully seeing
Felix Hernandez work out in the bullpen.
Signing
off for now from Peoria…your Spring Training reporter…..
Mark Arnold!
Copyright ©
2013
By Mark Arnold
All Rights
Reserved
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