Jubilee On The Radio, Mariners win opener 5-4

Today I couldn’t have been happier to listen to a game that didn’t matter at all. The end result was a thriller, a 5-4 win for the Seattle Mariners over a San Diego Padres club, starting almost their entire A team which was arguably the most improved in the MLB this winter. The result will not be kept in many records, but the game was important nonetheless. It was a return of winter for players and fans, and an even longer comeback for some of those in uniform. Even if a limited number were actually in attendance, many more could at least listen to Rick Rizzs and Mike Blowers welcome them again. Against all expectations, the game was not lacking in excitement at the top of this idyllic setting.

Without a TV show, the existing clips came from the club, the media and the attendees. As such, today’s recap (and many spring hats) will take on a sharper, more key take-out style.

• Marco Gonzales started and went 1 ²⁄₃ innings, finishing the start of the second via the fiat manager, as allowed this spring. The Padres would also summon the power once, later in the game. Marco reportedly took his subsequent Zoom presser in a t-shirt indicating that few club members had forgotten the disgraced comments from former team chief executive Kevin Mather.

• The other pitchers for the day, in order, were RHP Kendall Graveman, RHP Keynan Middleton, LHP Anthony Misiewicz, RHP Wyatt Mills, RHP Will Vest (Rule-5), RHP Casey Sadler and RHP Paul Sewald (NRI). Gonzales was the only pitcher to deliver a free pass, and those in attendance particularly praised Vest, who made a 1-2-3 “start” with a pair of strikeouts.
• Vest also got this grounder which helped UTIL Sam Haggerty show some defensive sparkle.

• No pitcher, it seems, was injured today, and no one seemed terribly out of their element, so the overall result can only be described as a success for me in this facet of the game.
• Rick Rizzs and Mike Blowers seemed excited to be back in the yard to stream, sharing a few possibly new (or at least new to me) anecdotes. Rizzs noted that he called the game where Mike Blowers had his first league success, a 12-2 loss by the Blow Yankees to the 1989 Mariners in which he singled out Mr. Jerry Reed’s reliever twice. Rizzs also shared a hilarious story from his first spring lineup, setting up his radio show atop the dealership booth after being told there was no booth. I missed you, Rick.
• A few Mariners players have played games for the first time in almost a year or more. Tom Murphy started behind home plate, having missed the entire 2020 season with a broken foot. Mitch Haniger hit second and got a hit and scored a point, in his first game since mid-2019. Both were also said to have been in good health after the game.
• Haniger was replaced by Jarred Kelenic at the top of 4th place in a fun surprise off the list for everyone involved. Kelenic hit a right-field single in his first at bat and finished the day 1-on-2 with a late march.
• The rest of the lineup was close enough to be opening day ninth in a month’s time, and looked relatively sharp against Padres starter Adrian Morejón and a depth / quad-A arm range. The throw was hardly classy from the brothers, but was still representative of AAA or better for younger players.
• One of those young players was Evan White, whose development will be key in 2021 as he seeks to make more contacts in his second league season. He whipped out a laser and backed off from a 1-2 count before being relieved for the day.

• Cal Raleigh had plenty of time behind the dish in Murphy’s relief, and while we literally have no video of him doing anything, he threw Padres Tucupita Marcano’s quick prospect on an attempt to flight in the 9th round. Raleigh has been praised for improving his reception to help relieve his bat pressure, but his ability to control the running game has been a question mark. Something to watch!
• Most of the M’s attack came from the starters, as they took a 4-1 lead over three innings. The starters went 5 for 15 with five steps and a stolen base by Dylan Moore. The subs were Donavan Walton, Kelenic, Braden Bishop, Jack Reinheimer, Julio Rodríguez, Haggerty, José Marmolejos, Raleigh and Taylor Trammell, who combined for just 4 in 19 with two free passes and one shot.
• The crescendo came in at the bottom of the ninth all the same, as the parade of former Sailor Padres moved from Taylor Williams to Nabil Crismatt and finally landed on Parker Markel to start the final frame. After two quick Ks, Jarred Kelenic had the chance to make headlines in a thousand headlines across the country. Instead, a four-step walk, followed by a RAP from Bishop. Jack Reinheimer also worked a walk after falling behind 0-2, putting Julio (ooooooooooooooooooooooooo) in a place to deliver.

He had a plan. He delivered.

The fun of February disappears by the time the month of April arrives. But the talent could well match the personalities of many current and future M players, and until Tuesday the last taste M fans have of their club is what could come soon.