A lot to take in

The Seattle Times has a lot of Mariner stuff in their preview today. I couldn't find a direct link to a page that just has the previews, so here is the link to their Mariner site. It should be good for the rest of Sunday.

However, here are the two main articles about Seattle in '08:

General election, 2008 season: Part 1

General election, 2008 season: Part 2
Here is Proposition No. 8 of the ten that are on the ballot.

Is the farm system stocked with players who can help this year and beyond?

Yes: [Jerry] Brewer, [Steve] Kelley, [Larry] Stone
No: [Geoff] Baker

The case for: Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien managed not to get traded and could be in the starting lineup by June. Carlos Triunfel looked like another A-Rod at age 17. Phillipe Aumont is already being mentioned in the same breath as Randy Johnson. Mark Lowe and John Huber could pitch in most major-league bullpens. Lefty starters Ryan Feierabend and Ryan Rowland-Smith could become rotation mainstays.

The case against: Dealing away Adam Jones will haunt the M's. Balentien is one-dimensional, has flaws is his power swing and there's little outfield depth beyond him. Mike Morse and Jeremy Reed are marginal big leaguers. Clement won't be catching in the majors, making him a wasted No. 1 pick. Aumont is years away. Judging Triunfel at his age is a joke. Feierabend and Rowland-Smith are fourth starters at best.

Also of note to Rattler fans from the preview:

Meet the Mariners -- Bullpen. Oddly, the link has the word rotation in it, Erik Bedard is at the top of the page along with Felix Hernandez ('03). Maybe this should have been Meet the Mariners -- Pitchers? But, that is just second-guessing from a third-rate blogger.

Anyway, scroll down for notes on ex-Rattlers Hernandez, JJ Putz ('00), Eric O'Flaherty ('04, '05), Mark Lowe ('05), and Ryan Rowland-Smith ('02, '03). Ignore the fact that Brandon Morrow and RA Dickey are in this preview, since this piece was almost definitely written before the final roster decisions were made yesterday.

Here is a brief capsule called Inside the Mariners farm system. It has team, level, manager, opening day, and player to watch. This is the Seattle Times Player to watch on the Timber Rattlers: Johnny DuRocher.

I'll cover this in a moment or two.

M's as seen by MiLB

Kevin T. Czerwinski made it to Mariner Spring Training and filed this report.

M's face catching, outfield logjams

First up is Wladimir Balentien ('04). Even if he plays well enough to make the big league club, he probably will start the season in Tacoma. The main reason is is due to him having an option left to go back down. What does the brass of Seattle say?

"It depends on what [Manager] John McLaren and [General Manager] Bill Bavasi want to do," Director of Player Development Greg Hunter said. "He had a good year at Triple-A and he earned his way to the big leagues in September. It depends on how he does in Spring Training and what the big league staff wants to do. We do have some competition here now."
...

"I think he's a great kid and I think sometimes people look at him and think he has a bad attitude," Hunter said. "But he responds well. I don't think that's a problem. People perceive him that way but when the staff talks to him, he's very responsive to the things they want.

"And we're constantly working with guys on their attitudes. As a staff, we try to stay positive, compassionate and patient. It's an ongoing process, though. We have to help them maintain a good outlook and perspective. Sometimes it's easier than others."

In Balentien's case, no problems are expected. Overall, the numbers may say he's ready. But the circumstances appear to tell a different story.

Then, there is Five Questions with Adam Moore ('06). First question is free, click the link to see all of them.

MiLB.com: After your big season in the California League last year (.307, 22 HR, 102 RBI), are you anxious to see how you'll fare in the Southern League?

AM: Yeah, I think it will be fun. The ball does carry in the Cal League and there are times when you think it's a routine fly ball and it carries out, but you still have to square the ball up. It's a fun league, though. And I'll be moving up and facing a lot of the same guys I faced last year. I'm not going to look at the numbers, though. I think it will be a good challenge and a lot of fun.