Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Blake Beavan. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners are going up against the Milwaukee Brewers. So far, the Seattle team has only lost one game during spring training. Sure, these games are mostly for bragging rights, but it’s definitely interesting and exciting to see how these games shape up. Having a 10-game winning streak and a 10-1 record is pretty awesome – spring training games or not. Currently it’s a league record (the previous record was 8 games in 1993)

Today’s starting lineup is:

Brewers

1. Aoki, RF (.200)
2. Segura, SS (.438)
3. Weeks, 2B (.200)
4. Davis, DH (.235)
5. Schafer, CF (.316)
6. Crosby 3B (.000)
7. Gindl, LF (.500)
8. Morris, 1B (.125)
9. Diaz, R, C (.200)

The team’s starting pitcher is Mike Fiers.

Mariners

1. Gutierrez, CF (.308)
2. Ackley, 2B (.400)
3. Morse, RF (.308)
4. Morales, K. 1B (.357)
5. Bay, LF (.500)
6. Ibanez, DH (.538)
7. Montero, C (.500)
8. Catricala, 3B (.333)
9. Ryan, SS (.500)

Blake Beavan will be starting for the Mariners.

The lineup looks strong for today, and I’m rooting for win number 11 today. The Brewers are up to bat first.

February 22, 2013; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hector Noesi (45) warms up before the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s face it, it wasn’t any fun to listen to Hector Noesi give up SIX runs in the first inning of the Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres spring training opening game. Maybe he was taking the idea of “charity” seriously, and thought that the charity game meant “let the other team win.” I’m more convinced it’s because he isn’t as strong of a pitcher as he should be for the big leagues. I mean, look at his ERA – 14.73 for this year’s spring training.

Noesi’s MLB career average ERA is 5.36, and his minor league career total is 3.54. Sure, the minor league ERA may look good – but it seems that he just doesn’t have what it takes, historically, to make it in the Major Leagues. If I were making decisions about what the regular season’s team will look like, I would be inclined to replace Noesi with someone else, and send him back to the minor leagues.

While some argue that he may be better than we are giving him credit for, I’m with the camp who is looking at his place at the 40-man roster who didn’t think he’d be back in the rotation this year. I’m a bit confused, frankly. Noesi will need to make sure the ball is good – and that it’s fast enough to avoid contact with the opposing team’s bat – if he has any shot at staying on the roster. Most likely, Blake Beavan will take his space and Noesi will be heading to the bullpen, or back down to the Triple-A club.

Feb 19, 2013; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Casper Wells (33) poses for a picture during the Mariners photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners have been tearing up the field in Spring Training. So far, they have only lost one game – that was the first game they played against the San Diego Padres. In today’s game against the Colorado Rockies, the Mariners won 16-6. It’s hard to remind myself that just because they are winning during these early spring training games, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will win in the regular season. Notable news items include:

• Jon Garland threw for two scoreless innings, despite recovering from shoulder injuries that had him out of baseball in 2012. He has three scoreless innings total for the duration of spring training.
• Jesus Montero has been on fire at bat. He hit a home run during today’s game, and a total of 7 hits for 14 at bats.
• Today was a big day for Casper Wells. He had a 5-RBI day with a triple, double, and a single to help the Mariners rack up the runs.
• Meanwhile, the Yankees General Manager, Brian Cashman, broke his leg while skydiving.
• John Jaso, traded to the Oakland Athletics by the Mariners, hit a bases-loaded triple to help the A’s win 13-5 against the Los Angeles Angels.
• The Mariners are scaring the Texas Rangers’ manager, Ron Washington. He has mentioned that he believes they’ve put a very strong team together for this season.

The Mariners are off tomorrow, Tuesday, but they are playing the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday at 12:05 PM PST, the Athletics and the Cleveland Indians at 12:05 PM PST on Thursday, and the A’s again on Friday at the same time. What do you think of the M’s winning streak?