Gonzales shows up ready, strong in 1st start

PEORIA, Ariz. -- When Marco Gonzales arrived at Spring Training last weekend, he told Scott Servais that he could give the manager three innings right away. It wasn’t just the competitive energy that he yearned, but also, he was so over throwing live batting practice.

“No more lives,” Gonzales said. “I've thrown four lives already. I want to get out of the cage, off a turf mound. Get me in a game as soon as possible.”

The veteran Mariners left-hander went his intended distance in Seattle’s Cactus League opener on Saturday, a 6-4 loss to San Diego at Peoria Stadium, allowing only one unearned run in three innings. He's on track for a more consistent five-day schedule the rest of camp, and quite possibly to his fourth straight Opening Day start.

Seattle’s staff leader is coming off an up-and-down year, physically and emotionally, having dealt with a forearm injury that sidelined him five weeks and the birth of his first child last June. Once the arm healed and baby Grace arrived, Gonzales took off. In the second half, he was one of the American League’s most consistent starters, compiling a 2.70 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 21 walks over 14 outings, of which the Mariners won 10.

He, like the rest of the roster, entered the offseason eager for more after the Mariners remained in postseason contention until the final day of the 2021 season. And Gonzales has been eager because of the front office’s offensive additions, such as Adam Frazier, Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker.

“I think we're super deep,” Gonzales said. “I think we've got guys that love to compete. And all of our guys, top to bottom, put together great at-bats. So you really aren't going to have a break against us.”

Gonzales spent the lockout training at a facility in Lynwood, Wash., with a few pro players, including Cubs infielder Patrick Wisdom and outfielder Steven Souza Jr., who recently signed a Minor League deal with the Mariners. Gonzales credited his throwing partner this offseason, former Gonzaga University teammate and current Minor League free agent Sam Hollander, for helping him prepare.

Due to the delayed start this spring, the Mariners are running up against the calendar to stretch out their pitchers. But Gonzales began on his normal schedule -- and, as the staff leader, he organized a group text with the rest of Seattle's pitchers to help ensure they arrived with a foundation of arm strength.

Gonzales led that charge and communication, and he’s ready to keep at it into 2022.

Lineup foreshadowing?
The first Cactus League lineup featured every projected starter for the regular season. Might it be the order that Servais runs out on Opening Day? Don’t read too much into it -- for now.

“It will probably change daily,” Servais said. “It’s an interesting lineup. It has a much different look than last year’s did. I’m anxious to see how it comes together.”

After the addition of Winker, the Mariners have the balance to go right-left back and forth, giving them a deeper and more versatile order than last season, when they were largely inconsistent once they were through the heart of the order.

No bench coach for Servais
The Mariners announced last November that Servais’ staff wouldn’t include a traditional bench coach after Jared Sandberg, who previously held that role, did not return.

“I never really had just the one guy,” Servais said. “It’s kind of how I operated. We talked about putting the staff together, we thought it was the way to go. That doesn't mean there won't be a bench coach in the future. I just thought about how we were going to be built out right now, it was the best way to go.”

So, if he’s ejected this year, who will have the lineup card?

“[Third-base coach] Manny [Acta] has got the most experience, obviously, and if I do get ejected, I’m in the tunnel right there,” Servais jokingly said.

Servais is operating with a smaller staff after Andy McKay, who was slated to join him in the dugout, reassumed his role on the player-development side following the abrupt departure of director of player development Emanuel Sifuentes last month. Also, Major League field coordinator Carson Vitale is expected to be away for the next two months to be with his wife, Lucy, and newborn son, Charlie, who was born prematurely and is recovering in a Seattle hospital.