Q.  Wow, that's a pic of Luis Rodriguez?  

A.  No, but we thought you'd appreciate a reminder to keep your life priorities in order.  As a Mariner fan, nothing should matter to you other than this man.  

Poster-quality pic by BleacherReport. 

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Q.  I thought that Jack Wilson or Chris Gimenez was the 25th man.

A.  So did I, which is why SSI (drearily) neglected to push other posts off the assembly line, and talk Rodriguez this spring.  My bad.

Gimenez was going to be the ultimate cover-your-backside, play not to lose bench pick.  A third catcher who can go and stand at 3B or 1B if nobody else can.  

A third catcher, in case the manager forgets to plan for the 8th inning.  Somebody just blow my head off.

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Josh Wilson we've written about a time or two.  A -20, -30 runs shortstop is bad enough, but when you've already got three glove-first middle infielders in the dugout?  ::ralf::

To Dr. D's recurring joy and delight, Jack Zduriencik does not "play not to lose."  He plays to win.  Luis Rodriguez is a USDA PRIME example of that.

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Q.  We thought SSI was into chemistry?

A.  Not "25th man is an org guy who has the manager's back" chemistry.  That's a manager's indulgence.

Rather, "Three Cy Young Aces who cause your ballclub to believe it can win" chemistry.  

Sports psychology is all about believing you can win.  Ask any streak shooter in basketball.  Positive visuals are the difference between you being a good player, or you being a bad one.

Josh Wilson is NOT what we mean by chemistry.  Michael Pineda and Erik Bedard, and winning the first two series of the year, are what we mean by chemistry.

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Q.  How close is the roster to the one SSI had mid-March?

A.  Sub French for Laffey and we're 25-for-25.  

And, as has been pointed out, the M's probably want to keep French stretched out anyway, so I'll grant that they were a step ahead on that one ;- ) 

Wedge emphasized that French would go down "and open up for Tacoma" and that he is legitimately in their "depth" plans.  French is the #6 SP.  So, fine.

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Q.  Who's the 5th OF with Guti on the DL?

A.  Chone Figgins used to play outfield 10, 15 games a year for Anaheim... dunno if they want to mess with his newfound lack of sulk.

Obviously if Figgins takes the OF for a game or two, they've got 9,000 guys to play third...

Actually this would be a great scenario, depending on Figgins' hair-fine temperament.  You could have 5-to-make-3 in the OF and you'd also have 5-to-make-3 around the horn.

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Cust plays OF, though we presume not while Jack Zduriencik is watching a game and armed with a cell phone.

Ahhhhh, Guti's probably back after one or two series.  If not, it's either the Chone Scenario or they bring in another OF, I guess.... that would be a shame, since it would end Rodriguez' time...

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