Jack Wilson and Michael Pineda

I think it would be tough to call yesterday's Mariner game fun. There are encouraging signs including a team that kept battling against a superior opponent. Erik Bedard showed some signs of rebounding from surgery and could be a decent starter for the M's this season. Of course, they all pale to me with the play that Jack Wilson made at second base. If you haven't seen it, you need to track it down on MLB.com. There are many factors that are going on that make this one of the best plays of the season, even early on. The bases were loaded and there were no outs. The infield was in to try and cut down a run at the plate, so Jack Wilson is in on the grass cutting down on his reaction time. Let's also think about Wilson's experience at 2nd base. In his major league career that started in 2001, he's played four games at second base. The first four games of this year. This new position was decided part way through spring training after Eric Wedge wanted Brendan Ryan to be the shortstop. There could be other reasons why Wilson is at second, such as he'll have more trade value when Dustin Ackley is ready for the majors, but whatever the cause, Wilson is not an experienced 2nd baseman. So an inexperienced second baseman who is in on the grass has the range and wherewithal to snag a grounder up the middle, somehow tag the base with his foot and then spin around and make an accurate throw to first to complete a double play. Just wow. What's amazing is that according to an ESPN.com poll last night (as of about 10:30) 20 percent more fans thought the Cleveland Indian triple play was more impressive. I'll admit, the triple play was not your usual triple play. They are often quite boring when it's a grounder that is right on the 3rd base bag, or a soft liner in which the runners are just dead ducks. But the best part of the triple play was Carlos Santana behind the dish. I just wonder if people hear triple play and that will always trump other plays. It's three outs after all! But for pure athleticism and beauty, give me Jumpin' Jack Flash's "mere" double play.

Michael Pineda starts today for the first time! In an interesting read, ESPN.com's David Schoenfield talks about how the Mariners were probably foolish in starting the rookie's clock early. If the Mariners had been more patient with Alex Rodriguez, he might have been on the 2001 team that won 116 games. There's a point here that I agree with. Seattle is not a competitive team this year. Pineda could use more time in the minors to work on his secondary pitches and come up in June a little more polished. It would also provide more excitement at a time when the M's are probably hovering around double-digit games out of first. But can we be sure that Pineda will stay healthy, as Dave Cameron asked a few weeks back? Stephen Strausberg was supposed to be the perfect rookie pitcher. Mark Prior before him. These guys who are thought almost injury proof have each succumbed to arm trouble. Perhaps Pineda will provide some joy in a season that is likely not going to have the ultimate joy. That said, it sure sucks that his first start is on the road, at Texas, against a great lineup. If the changeup is working however, it sure will be fun to watch him potentially embarrass Josh Hamilton and crew. :)

Go M's!