Pitchers, catchers report early because of late March opener

The Mariners (and the Oakland A's) got a jump on the rest of baseball by bringing pitchers and catchers together over the weekend to start spring training.

The Mariners and A's are starting early because their regular season starts with a pair of regular season games in Japan in late March, a week or so ahead of the beginning of the regular season in North America.

The early start didn't prevent Mariners' general manager Jack Zduriencik from going right to the last minute in signing players -- adding two relievers, right-hander Shawn Camp and lefty Hong-Chih Kuo -- just a few days before the reporting date last Saturday (Feb. 11).

The Mariners are in the midst of going younger, but it's clear that Zduriencik and manager Eric Wedge aren't willing to entirely put the weight of the bullpen on a core of first- and second-year players.

In the end, pitchers like Tom Wilhelmsen, Chance Ruffin and Steve Delabar could make the roster come March 29, no matter what. The talent is there. But if those three and others like them don't have the kinds of showings the Mariners are looking for, then there will be veteran alternatives until the kids are ready.

Last year's closer, Brandon League, returns, and lefty George Sherrill is back with the expectation that he'll be the eighth-inning lefty. Right-hander Aaron Heilman is likely to make the roster, meaning Camp, Kuo, Wilhelmsen, Ruffin, Delabar, Shawn Kelley, Cesar Jimenez and Forrest Snow will have to fight it out for the four spots that are left.

Wedge showed last year, and during his early years in Cleveland, that he wasn't afraid to go with youth.

He's willing to do it this year, too, but he has options.

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