Tag Archives: Hultzen

Ups, Downs, all-arounds . . .

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Just catching up on some of the movement of late.

Brad Miller’s call up set off some dominoes . . .
Reporting to AAA Tacoma were IF Carlos Triufel (optioned to make room on the 25-man roster) and RP Josh Kinney (out-righted, to make room on the 40-man roster) and 3B Ty Kelly (received in a trade from Baltimore for OF Eric Thames) and 1B Alex Liddi was designated for assignment.

Minor League Recognition . . .

M*A*S*H
* Guti back to the 15-day DL (hamstring) after only playing 1.5 games back from his last stint
* Michael M (strained quad) is getting close to being sent to Tacoma for a rehab assignment
* Jesus Montero scheduled to DH tomorrow in AZ (will be limited to DH/1B for the remainder of the year)
* Danny Hultzen was scratched a couple of nights ago from only his second start in Tacoma since coming off the DL – tests revealed no structural damage but, he’ll have 10-14 days before throwing again.

International Free Agents . . .
M’s sign 16-yr old Venezuelan OF, Greifer Andrade
Top-30 and where they’ve signed

 

 

big happenings on an “off-night” . . .

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Apparently, Tacoma is where the action is ~ the Rainiers weren’t off tonight, far from it!

They posted a 2-0 victory tonight behind the pitching of Danny Hultzen, fresh off the DL, and pretty darned impressive ~ SIX innings ~ TWO hits ~ ZERO runs ~ ONE walk ~ SIX strikeouts

some other stats re: Danny’s outing . . . 

Way to go, Danny!

Now, there’s another interesting tid-bit from this game . . .

Brad Miller extended his hitting streak to TWENTY-TWO with a home run in the 6th inning to give the Rainiers a 2-0 lead at the time that would be the eventual final score. According to Mike Curto, the Rainiers all-time hit streak is 26 games, set in 1965. Brad, however, won’t be able to continue to seek that streak, as he’s got a much bigger quest calling him up I-5 . . .

He’s been called up to the bigs! 

It just so happens I’ll be at The Safe for the M’s / Cubs game tomorrow night . . .

It would be awesome to see Brad’s big league debut ~ though I’ve read some speculative tweets that it’s not likely due to the fact that there’s a tough lefty starting for the Cubs.

I’ve also seen some analysis that, while Brad’s bat has been shining bright, his defense still needs a little polishing. Here’s hoping that Brendan is willing to be a mentor ~ what a great opportunity this could be for Brad to learn tips and tricks from one of the best defensive shortstops in the game!

Congrats and Good Luck, Brad!

Brad Miller | Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Brad Miller | Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Ryan Divish | News Tribune

“I didn’t even know what to say, honestly,” he said. “They pulled me in and told me. Still I don’t think it has set in yet. I’m just so thankful and excited.”

Miller will be at Safeco Field and likely in the starting line-up when Seattle opens a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m on cloud nine,” Stearns said. “I got to tell him that he was going to the big leagues for the first time. It brings tears to your eyes, that’s how good it is. He was crying, and it was a sensational moment. You get a few of those moments in your lifetime.  I was able to tell David Wright that he was going to the big leagues for the first time when I was working for New York, and this was every bit as good or better than that: Brad Miller.”

Taijuan’s Tacoma debut and other news and notes

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Taijuan Walker made his AAA debut for the Rainiers last night in Tacoma ~ the youngest Rainier (20) since Felix (19) in 2005. By all accounts, things went well . . .

SIX innings ~ THREE hits ~ ZERO runs ~ TWO walks ~ FOUR strikeouts

  • totals: 87 pitches / 57 strikes
  • by inning: 18, 11, 14, 13, 14, 17
  • speeds: fastball 92-97, cutter 89-92, curve 69-72 mph, change-up: 85-85

 

 

 

oh yeah ~ and the Rainiers won the game! 1-0 (on a home run by Abraham Almonte)

 

 

 

 

 

Now, the bad news . . .

Franklin Gutierrez is back on the DL after coming up w/ a hamstring strain in his second game back from the DL

 

But, Dustin Ackley is back and, presumably, ready to play the outfield

 

Taijuan moving on up . . . and other news and notes

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Yesterday, the Mariners announced that top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker (drafted 1st round -43rd overall- in 2010) was promoted to AAA Tacoma after a stellar start in AA Jackson . . .

I’ll say! 84 innings ~ 2.46 ERA ~ 1.04 WHIP ~ 96 strikeouts

 

M’s have been busy signing their selections from the June Amateur Draft (have now signed 30 of 40, including 19 from the first 20 rounds). The latest to sign and take batting practice at The Safe, Austin Wilson . . .

 

Meanwhile, up in Everett, a couple new prospects get started on their professional baseball careers . . .

 

Rehabbing and Retooling . . .
* Danny Hultzen was scheduled to throw FIVE innings today in AZ rookie league
* Guti’s starting to hit down in Tacoma (last 10 games: .333 w/2 HR, 2 2B, 11 R, 8 RBI)
* Dustin continues to tear the cover off AAA ball (.372) and is taking reps in the outfield

Mariners FUTURE … Hultzen and Walker

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Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker set to participate in the 2012 All Star Futures Game

Mariners twitpic

 

Mariners twitpic

Larry Stone talks with Taijaun Walker

Here’s what Pankovits said about Walker’s struggles:
“I see a lot of positives, believe it or not. He has had a little bit of an up and down season. I’ve really liked how lately he’s handled the adversity. He’s shown his competitive side. That’s something I hadn’t seen up until that point, and I think it’s great. I think on the flip side of that, you have someone who has a lot of success in the minor leagues, then they get to the big leagues and they struggle. I would rather have a prospect like that have to go through those ups and down and adversity in the minor leagues before they reach the big leagues. I think he’ll benefit from it, and he’s done everything we could ask.

 

Draft Day and this week’s recognition…

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With the third pick in the 2012 First Year Player Draft, the Seattle Mariners select…

Mike Zunino, Catcher, University of Florida 

Jack Z and Tom M discuss the selection

shannondrayer
On the Mariners pick Felix yelled “hey Montero, you are going back to Pulaski!”


I’m thinking Felix and Jesus must have a pretty good relationship 🙂

Organizational Awards!

FUN FACT…
going into the series with the Halos, the M’s are averaging 8.1 games per game on this road trip

still dreaming of the big leagues | 15 cut today…

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Optioned to Minor League Camp…

LHP Danny Hultzen

LHP Mauricio Robles

RHP Yoervis Medina

INF Francisco Martinez

INF Carlos Truinfel

OF Johermyn Chavez

OF Chih-Hsien Chiang

Re-Assigned to Minor League Camp…

LHP James Paxton

RHP Scott Patterson

RHP Forrest Snow

RHP Taijaun Walker

C Ralph Henriquez

INF Nick Franklin

OF Darren Ford

DH Luis Jimenez

st10 | split squad 2 showcases the “big four” in rapid succession

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Mariners 7 | Diamondbacks 1

While the early split squad game on the radio made for a great back-drop for my spring cleaning this afternoon, tonight’s game was the one I really wanted to see!  But, had to settle for the opposition’s radio broadcast and gameday tracking…

Ramirez, Hultzen, Walker and Paxton combined for…

EIGHT innings – ONE earned run – FOUR hits – THREE walks – EIGHT strikeouts

Ramirez led the charge, going THREE scoreless against mostly DBacks big league starters.

Shannon Drayer has a nice story here about the fourth of “the big four” and his baseball journey so far…

“I want to have fun and compete for one place (in the rotation). If I am here I want to show everyone what I got. If they say, alright you need to spend more time in the minor league I say okay I got it. No problem. I will go there and show them that I can learn. If they give me the chance I will show them I am working and cannot stay there. I will give everything I have got and after that they make the decision.”

AP photo

Three seemed to be the number of the evening at Salt River Fields…

  • Jesus had THREE RBI, including a 2-run double (and he caught 6 scoreless innings)
  • Kawasaki also had THREE RBI going 3 for 5 as the lead-off guy (with plenty of comparisons to his countryman, Ichiro, by the Arizona broadcasters)
  • Carp also posted THREE hits and the other RBI

Good to see some excitement brewing for M’s baseball, single seat tickets went on sale today…

Mariners twitter pic

FanFest fun…

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Pretty cool that those of us who couldn’t make to FanFest could watch some of the happenings live online – here are some of the highlights…

Dugout Dialogue | Day ONE

  • Wedge may move Ichiro out of lead-off spot
  • League looks to improve all his pitches
  • Jesus happy to be here, wanst to continue to improve and have fun
  • Carp just wants to hit
  • Hultzen just wants to put his team in a position to win
  • Walker and Paxton want to face Pujols
  • Jack Z “put your arms around these kids, cuz you’re going to see them for awhile”
  • Bone may be back in uniform in the not-too-distant future!

Dugout Dialogue | Day TWO

  • Vargas seems to be taking a leadership role
  • Montero on his number selection
  • Olivo excited about all the young talent
  • Robinson looking forward to playing hard
  • Ryan glad to be healthy again
  • Iwakuma says American ball won’t be a problem
  • Wedge sticking with the plan
  • Brandon anxious to get back to “work” after a winter of rehab
  • Wells has a goal to be an All-Star

All three are first-round Draft picks. Hultzen was the No. 2 overall selection last year out of Virginia, while Paxton and Walker were supplemental picks — Paxton going 37th overall in ’09 to the Blue Jays before sitting out a year and Walker going 43rd overall to Seattle in 2010.

All three are ranked among the Top 100 prospects in baseball for 2012 by MLB.com: Hultzen at 16, Walker at 18 and Paxton at 77.

And all three have been invited to the Mariners Major League camp. Pitchers and catchers report to Peoria on Feb. 11.