New faces in new places today, but also "lower back tightness."

AAA -- Tacoma 16, Colorado Springs 4  -- Box

You may recall the Rainiers already beat the Sky Sox once by 25-6 earlier in the year.  Now they're back and at it again (except that a bunch of those Rainiers are now Mariners and vice versa).

The big news item, though: Brandon Maurer (Talk40 #9) left after just 1.0 IP with the aforementioned "lower back tightness."  That's all I got for now, but we'll keep you posted.

The way the offense was going, it didn't much matter who followed Maurer, but Bobby LaFromboise (Talk40 #34) put in 2.1 IP of scoreless relief to cover the middle innings.

Center fielder Dustin Ackley (get used to the sound of it) had three hits and a walk and is now hitting .400/.500/.529 in AAA.  The brass say he needs more time out there, but it's pretty clear that they're going to figure out how to put him in the same lineup as Nick Franklin (Talk40 #7) and Brad Miller (Talk40 #6).  [Miller has sat out a couple of days with a finger injury, so he's still sitting on his 16-game hitting streak.]

Also getting three hits and a walk was Alex Liddi (Talk40 #29), who was sent back from Seattle when Justin Smoak was recalled.  Liddi's 10th home run was part of the deal.

And it was the second home run in five games for Robert Andino, and also his second of the season.

AA -- Mobile 8, Jackson 6  -- Box

A while back, Gordon predicted that the club would let guys play in their league all-star games (as a "feel-good" booster) and then promote them on the next level.

It turned out that Ji-Man Choi (Talk40 #19) got the promotion early (though he was named to the California League team), but the prediction was right on for Chris Taylor (Talk40 #28), who went straight from his All-Star experience to his new digs in the Southern League.

He was the starting shortstop, batting second, and went 1-for-5.

Ramon Morla got the call along with Taylor, and he homered in his AA debut.  I always discount Morla because he strikes out too much and doesn't walk, but you can't ignore his power.  I'm convinced he's headed for Carlos Peguero (Watch List) "tease" status, but I probably shouldn't slight him.

No word yet on who will take Taylor and Morla's High Desert roster spots, though we're already on record saying it should be Jabari Henry (26intheMix) and Dario Pizzano (26intheMix), who would be following the same post-All-Star pattern.  Chances are good it won't be both, however, since the Mavs will need infielders.  At least Henry needs to advance, though.

Back on the field: Choi Joy!

It was the 10th overall homer for Choi, who, oddly enough has only eight hits in 12 AA games but three of them are homers.  Anyway, he's hitting .317/.406/.601 with 39 XBH and 32 walks. 

It was just yesterday that I gave some credit to Stephen Kohlscheen, but he didn't live up to the billing right off, getting only one out while yielding three walks and three earned runs.

Short Season-A -- Everett 4, Tri-City 3 -- Box

Enter the Deej!

The first official lineup featuring first-round pick (12th overall) D.J. Peterson penciled him in at DH, batting cleanup.

He grounded out twice, then drew a walk, then flied to center.

But the Aqua Sox pulled out their fourth win in five outings, thanks mostly to a strong start from Rigoberto Garcia: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Looking Ahead

Pulaski and the Arizona rookie club both kick off their seasons.  Previews to come.

Among the teams already underway, Taijuan Walker (Talk40 #2) is slated for Jackson and Hector Noesi is set for Tacoma.