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"Top half" of the inning, Opening Day in Texas, of course.  Offense.  Batters.  Today's groks being

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RUNNING GAME - FIZZLER

Thursday, two guys got on base early against Jon Lester.  Sardinas and O'Malley was it?  One via walk, the other via a hit ... oh yeah.  Sardinas pushed a gorgeous 70-foot bunt at the 2B, couldn'a rolled it any better.

Two guys on against Jon Lester, 0 out, also known as A BEST CASE SCENARIO.  Both of them took off for 2B.  Both were thrown out, and thrown out =Easily.  This 0 on, 2 out situation failed to make the Cubs less comfortable than standard issue.

We're here to report the facts.  Facts is, don't get your underwear in an uproar about this team's running game.

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STEFEN ROMERO - SIZZLER

Like we sez, is getting a long, long peek at the ball.  Snaps the wrists.  Extends his ki up the middle.  If Dr. D didn't know better, he'd have thought that Romero is now ready to lay lumber in the American League.

Yes, we know, kids can get hot in Arizona, especially early.  But it's Romero's pedigree and evolution to which we refer.

Romero is looking like three times the hitter Jesus Montero has ever been.  Scott Servais was asked to comment on this situation:

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“I think his future is the right-handed bat, and how that fits on a club. Whether that’s left field, right field, first base, it does give you more options; it only helps him. I really like the way he’s swung the bat. Obviously, he’s had a good camp so far, good at-bats yesterday, and he’ll continue to get plenty of playing time.” 

“You wish you had time for everybody to develop,’’ Servais said. “I think the way we’re built this year, we want to compete. We feel good about our club, so it’s who’s going to be able to help us win on a daily basis, in whatever role you’re in. Whether that’s pinch-hitting late, starting against left-handed pitching, you got to produce.

“This is the get-em-out league or the production league. The other league is on the minor-league side. That’s the developmental league. That’s not really the league we’re in right now.’’

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Read:  Stefen Romero has an option left, and even if he were Jermaine Dye And Right Now!, he's going back to Tacoma.  Unless Montero's swing is well-and-truly fractured and unless Dae-Ho Lee simply cannot play first base.

Not complaining.  We report, you decide.  But if you came into the situation cold, not knowing who either player was or had been--- > then you'd say Romero vs Montero is no contest.  You'd cheerfully shed Montero in order to keep Romero - glove not even considered.

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D-SHIFTS = SuFizZler

This shift thing may catch on.  ... the TV showed the M's first defensive shift and it was laugh-inducing.  The second baseman was wayyyyyyyyyyy back in short right field, like Billy Martin used to do with Shooty Babitt.

Plot spoiler:  shifts win games.  And will win games, until left hand hitters learn to bunt.  Which will be about the time Russell Wilson is inaugurated President.  For some reason Scott Servais still has to sell people on it, which is incredible.  But that's okay, because the Mariners fielders will do as the manager wishes.

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CONTROLLING THE ZONE - SIZZLER

Going into Friday, the M's batting average is #3 among 30 spring training teams, and their OBP was .363.  With power.  Just saying.

Do you think it's feasible, that a major league franchise even attempt to "coach up" a ballclub from an 81-win projection to be the authentic champions this year?  Or would that just be luck, if they did it?

At Dr. D's second site, D-O-V Mainframe, we've got a couple of thoughts on the subject.

Just watching the vibe on TV, it looks kinda Gillickian down there.  :: shrug ::

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