LAS VEGAS – They went to camp as names on reports, but when spring training ended Saturday, Rob Johnson, Shawn Kelley, Matt Tuiasosopo and Chris Jakubauskas were Seattle Mariners.
So was Roy Corcoran, who pitched well enough to win the last spot in the bullpen, and Mike Sweeney, the veteran who won a job on the field and did quite another one in the clubhouse.
“We’ve filled a need for leadership that we felt we had, we’ve brought in some good young talent – players who earned their jobs,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “We’ve got a roster with veteran talent and young players. It’s step one in what we’re trying to accomplish here.
“Now, let’s see how the team plays.”
When manager Don Wakamatsu and Zduriencik finished making it up, this was the 2009 opening day roster:
The pitching staff: David Aardsma, Miugel Batista, Erik Bedard, Corcoran, Felix Hernandez, Jakubauskas, Kelley, Mark Lowe, Brandon Morrow, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Carlos Silva and Jarrod Washburn.
Catchers: Kenji Johjima and Rob Johnson.
Infielders: Adrian Beltre, Yuniesky Betancourt, Russell Branyan, Ronny Cedeño, Jose Lopez, Mike Sweeney and Tuiasosopo.
Outfielders: Wladimir Balentien, Endy Chavez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Franklin Gutierrrez.
The toughest decision was who to take in the place of Ichiro Suzuki, who’ll start on the disabled list – and the Mariners went with Tuiasosopo, who had a marvelous spring and can play several infield spots, pinch-hit and pinch-run.
“If we’d had one more roster spot, it would have belonged to Mike Wilson,” Wakamatsu said. “He reinvented himself this spring. He worked so hard, he showed he can hit. That was the toughest call.”
Tuiasosopo was in a state of bliss, not certain what his status was until after the final spring training game was played Saturday afternoon in Glitter Gulch.
“They called me into Don’s office and he whispered, ‘You’re going to Minnesota with us,’ and then Jack came in and made it official,” Tuiasosopo said. “I’m about to make a few phone calls – my mom and dad come first.”
Zduriencik, in his first spring as general manager, said telling players they were making their first big-league team was a grand feeling.
“We told them from the outset, we were going to let them compete, and compete they did,” Zduriencik said. “These guys earned their jobs.”
Wakamatsu said he watched players come to life throughout the camp.
“We had great reports on Kelley from winter ball, and Jakabauskas was a bit of an unknown factor,” Wakamatsu said. “At least three guys made this team that didn’t figure to, and when camp started, Rob Johnson probably wasn’t on this team, either. Jakubauskas showed he could pitch in any role, and while we want to save him for some long situations, he’s proven he can handle other spots, too.”
Without Ichiro, the Mariners will use outfielder Chavez as their leadoff hitter and, at least on opening day, play Ken Griffey Jr. in right field.
“He said he liked the idea because with that big baggie in right there’s less field to cover – and right field was closer to our dugout,” Wakamatsu said, laughing.
Assigned to minor league camp on the last day of camp were catcher Jamie Burke, infielders Chris Burke and Chris Woodward and outfielder Wilson.
Game report
Seth Smith’s bases-loaded hit in the bottom of the ninth inning beat Sean White, and pushed the Colorado Rockies past Seattle, 6-5.
It ended the Mariners’ exhibition schedule at 16-18-3.
Short hops
Bad math: Ichiro Suzuki’s stint on the disabled list will last until April 15, which means he’ll miss the home opener by a day. If he progresses quickly enough this week, Ichiro and his ulcer will join the team in Oakland on Friday. Why the hurry? “He wants to be with the team, wants to be there to support his teammates,” Wakamatsu said. ...
It happens to everyone: Ryan Rowland-Smith came down with an old-fashioned case of the sniffles, but made his start, anyway. He pitched 3 innings but didn’t get much help: Yuniesky Betancourt and Russell Branyan each dropped pop flies, and Wladimir Balentien misplayed a fly ball into an RBI double. Rowland-Smith threw 60 pitches, and will make his next start against Oakland on Friday. ...
Looking for a spring training moment? When the gentleman who was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch began to loosen up on the sideline, bullpen coach John Wetteland worked with him a few moments on getting his arm angle higher. ...
Catcher Kenji Johjima, who got pull-happy last season and paid for it, has been working on using all fields. Against the Rockies he singled and doubled to right field, homered to left. ...
Who’s the opening-day closer if one is needed? Morrow, who threw a shutout inning against the Rockies. There are options – from Aardsma, Lowe, Corcoran, Batista, even Kelley – but Morrow will get the first shot.
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