Spring Training kicks off for Seattle Mariners – MLB News
As February is the month to witness the commencement of Spring Training, Seattle Mariners became the first team to kick it off. With the formal opening, 42 players are said to have reported to their camp.
Part of the reason why the club decided to go for an early start of Spring Training was to prepare themselves for the two-game series scheduled against the Oakland Athletics next month. The two-game series are to be played on March 28 and 29.
Other than that, as was widely reported, the club wants to sort out which of the players are ideally suited to be in the official roster slated to play on the given date. It is on April 6 that the Seattle Mariners will have the first game of this year’s
Major League regular season.
The pitching coach, Carl Willis, makes no secret of what the team is currently pondering over.
"Obviously that's why we're here early," Willis said. "I don't think it's a secret we're expecting Felix to start the first day, and I don't want to leave here and have a game that counts on the 28th of March and not have him able to throw 75 pitches. We
need to get him stretched out. So coming early kind of eliminates any pressure."
It is also vitally important to mention that the team has a total of 35 pitchers invited, which are divided into both the Major and Minor League camps. Of the 40-man roster, there are a total of 19 pitchers available.
With such a variety available at the disposal of the team, it will be a challenge for the pitchers to prove their efficacy prior to be named for the games ahead.
"I think we've got a challenge to see everyone," Willis said. "Really, once we get through our bullpen and batting practice sessions, I'm going to let these guys know.”
With Spring Training already kicked off, the Mariners will be the first team to prepare itself for the uphill task in the form of more than hundred games in the regular season. It will be interesting to see how well the Mariners perform during Spring Training
as they take on other top tier teams in the League.
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