Mariners notebook: Taijuan Walker gets the ball first

PEORIA, Ariz. – We have probables. With Cactus League play starting Wednesday with the annual Charity Game against the Padres, Lloyd McClendon has shared the probables (all subject to change of course) through next Sunday.

Wednesday vs. Padres

Walker

Gaviglio

Kickham

Rollins

Perez

Smith

Leone

Thursday vs. Padres

Elias

Friday at Dodgers

Ramirez

Saturday (ss) vs. Diamondbacks

Iwakuma

Saturday (ss) at White Sox

Pries

Sunday at Cincinnati

Happ

So Taijuan Walker gets the ball first, and although it is just spring training he is fired up to be the first to take the hill.

“It’s exciting,” he said of learning that he would start the first game. “I got a big smile on my face. It’s the first game of spring but it’s competition and I have to go out and compete.”

Although his first year in camp was just a get-your-feet-wet experience and last year he was injured, Walker has been around the competition and understands how tough it will be.

“The last couple of years during spring training everyone is fighting for that spot and we have had nothing but great starting pitchers here. The competition is good, you definitely have to go out there and be focused on every pitch,” he said.

One pitch that may get a little more focus is the slider he is working on. In the past he has thrown a cutter but that has been replaced with the slider, a pitch he is getting more and more comfortable with.

“It’s kind of like my cutter grip but I moved it just a tad. I feel like that gave me some depth to it. It felt really good in my last bullpen,” he said.

Walker will get two innings in his first appearance.

Notes:

• There is a very good chance that the intrasquad game scheduled for Monday will be rained out. If not, pitchers scheduled to throw for Team A are Pries (start), Furbush, Luetge, Landazuri and Lowe, and for Team B are Ramirez (start) Saunders, Germano, Olson and Snow.

• Despite the fact that McClendon was very happy with what Jesus Sucre brought to the team last year (“He did a hell of a job for us”) there is competition for the backup catcher spot, with defense being the priority.

“I want a guy I know can run a staff, shut down a running game and receive,” McClendon said.

Is offense at backup catcher a bonus?

“Sure,” he answered, adding, “From your catcher period is a bonus.”

• At the end of the year press conference McClendon mentioned that he felt Austin Jackson needed to get stronger. He has not been disappointed in what he has seen from Jackson early in camp.

“He looks very good,” he said. “He looks extremely fit, you can tell his upper body is stronger. Now it’s our job to help him maintain that, my job to make sure he doesn’t wear down. 154 games is too many for a center fielder with his frame. It wears you down. We are going to do our best to knock that down a little bit.”

Justin Ruggiano will be the backup center fielder.

• The Mariners have what many consider to be one of the best starting staffs in baseball heading into the season. They were very good last year and McClendon expects them to be even better this season.

“I told them we all know Felix is one of the best in the game but there is no law that says you can’t be just as good as him on this team and I think our guys are ready for that challenge. We’ve got some quality arms. We will see what happens.”

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