Mariners notebook: Monday’s game moved up with rain in the forecast
Feb 27, 2017, 9:28 AM | Updated: 10:12 am
PEORIA, Ariz. – Rain in the forecast Monday forced the Mariners to move their game against the Royals up an hour with the new start time at 12:10 p.m. MT, 11:10 a.m. PT. The game can be heard on 710 ESPN Seattle.
With the shorter morning, the morning meeting – when the fun get-to-know sessions have been taking place – has been canceled. The timing for the cancellation was actually perfect, according to manager Scott Servais.
“We are not going to have a morning meeting,” he told the media. “I don’t think we can do anything to top yesterday’s meeting; it was as good as I have seen in awhile. A standing ovation. Tyler O’Neill was outstanding yesterday.”
Photos, videos and updates from Mariners spring training
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, with beat-box accompaniment from reliever Thyago Vieira, brought the house down with his mini-recital, playing the theme from the “Lord of the Rings” on an electronic keyboard. O’Neill admitted that he was a little nervous to perform in front of teammates, saying, “The fingers had a little sweat to it.” He said he inadvertently brought it on himself in an earlier morning meeting.
“They asked me a hidden talent or hobby and I said piano because I wanted to be different I guess, but it kind of blew up a little bit and there I was a week later,” he said.
Much like last year when reliever Tony Zych stated that playing pool was one of his talents, O’Neill was told to produce. Special projects coach Chris Prieto, who also plays, volunteered to bring in a keyboard. O’Neill hadn’t played in three years. He went online to find sheet music and then approached it like he would with any of his baseball skills: he got to work.
“The more effort and time you put into it, the better you are going to be,” he said.
Teammates appreciated the show and O’Neill the experience.
“It kind of reminded me of my recital days when I was 10 years old, but it was fun,” he said. “The standing ovation at the end was worth it.”
Other clubhouse fun has included the Mariners’ own Oscar ceremony (without controversy, I am told), daily news updates from various players, Dan Wilson in goal defending hockey shots and, of course, the clubhouse pool tournament, which is underway.
Lineup!
Jarrod Dyson, 7
Jean Segura, 6
Kyle Seager, 5
Danny Valencia, 3
Mitch Haniger, 9
Mike Zunino, 2
Taylor Motter, 4
Tyler Marlette, DH
Leonys Martin, 8
Yovani Gallardo, RHP
Relievers scheduled to get work include Marc Rzepczynski, Micah Owings, Jonathan Aro, Nick Vincent, Dan Altavilla and Rob Whalen.
Dillon Overton’s versatility
General manager Jerry Dipoto joined the broadcast of Sunday’s game and commented that he liked what he saw from Dillon Overton in his inning against the Padres. Overton, who was acquired from the A’s in late January, is one of two starters in camp that Servais believes could easily be used as a reliever if needed.
“He has the pitch mix. It looks like a starter out there with a very good changeup, breaking ball,” he said. “He’s a guy who projects as a starter but could probably slide to the pen. Him and (Ariel) Miranda are the two that kind of stick out for me that could do both. And they’re left-handed so that’s even better.”
Notes
• Felix Hernandez will make his first start Tuesday and Drew Smyly is slated to go Wednesday. Hisashi Iwakuma is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday and James Paxton is expected to go Saturday.
• Programming alert: I was wr-wr-wr-wrong. Whew. That was tough. So heads up, the first “Cactus League Report” will come to you Wednesday night from Peoria, not Tuesday as I had previously reported. The show will be broadcast live from the Salty Senorita from 6-7:30 p.m. MT, 5-6:30 PT. You can hear it on 710 ESPN Seattle.
