Man, until today both Pizzano and Tyler Smith were listed on the Jackson roster.   My shoulders were slumping.  Now they are formally announced on the Tacoma roster.  Whew.  There's a spring in my step.

Interestingly, only 12 positional guys and 13 pitchers on the Tacoma 25-Man.

Is set up primarily to consider the likely needs of the parent club! (Bullpen)

Rosters are out- what do they tell us! Here are questions that spring to mind, looking over the various-level roster announcements.

TACOMA 

1) Who starts for Tacoma? I reckon Paxton, Roach, Sampson, Wieland... and then Martin, or Coleman?

2) Would Montero have played 1B in Tacoma, if he had survived waivers?  Or would the new administration have preferred to play "their own guys" Baxter and Navarro and Lucas, even over giving Jesus one last chance? 

3) Where does Brantly go, if indeed he survives the DfA process? Does he push Lerud down, or out? If down... does that knock Littlewood on down to Bakersfield (again)? Or do they prefer Lerud to Brantly? 

4) only three LH pitchers- one starter, two relievers- on the Tacoma roster. Do they have that much confidence in K-Pax, Fry and Rollins- or, are we shopping for more LH arms? 

JACKSON

1) Surprised to see Gaviglio and Pries, who both pitched- well- for Tacoma last year. Are we that much deeper, or do the new evaluators come in with different loyalties? 

2) Also surprised to see Harper at this level- he was my "dark horse" to make the M's' bullpen out of spring training, a few months ago. 

3) And... no Tyler Pike! Another strong 2015 performer, being asked not just to repeat a level, but to drop down a level!

4) No Tyler Marlette. M's prioritizing defense, from their catchers? (But- look where that got Mike Zunino!)

5) Three 3Bs, and three CFs. Obviously positional designations aren't binding- but the new-look M's are looking for defensive competence, ahead of slugging.

6) I expected to see Austin Wilson patrolling RF in Tennessee. He's gotten in on the tail end of several Spring Training games- but now he's back down to Bakersfield? (Can't confirm that, because the Blaze roster is not up yet.)      )o:

BAKERSFIELD

1) Will we see Drew Jackson here? (Perhaps Nelson Ward was traded to make way for Drew!)

2) Who's in CF: ...Austin Cousino? ...Aaron Barbosa? 

3) Assume Joe DeCarlo gets promoted. Will we see Alex Jackson? ...Luiz gO'Hara? ...Andrew Moore? (Few "promotable talents" on the 2015 Lumberjacks!)

Can't wait for Jay Yencich's pithy analysis of each roster- one of my favorite "Rites of Spring"!

Seattle Mariners
Released: RHP Charles Brewer, RHP Hawtin Buchanan, RHP David Holman, RHP Carlos Misell, LHP Misael Siverio, C Mike Dowd, C P.J. Jones, C Adam Martin, C Wayne Taylor, 1B Rob Fonseca, 2B Dayner Moreira, 2B Martin Peguero, 3B Lachlan Fontaine, 3B Angel Jimenez, OF Estarlyn Morales
Added to 40-man roster: 1B Dae Ho Lee
Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Mayckol Guaipe, RHP Joe Wieland, LHP James Paxton, 2B Shawn O’Malley, SS Chris Taylor, OF Stefen Romero

Among the released Mariners minor leaguers are a pair of second basemen. Dominican Martin Peguero signed for $2.9 million in 2010 but hit just .250/.281/.314 in parts of three seasons at low Class A Clinton. Seattle signed Cuban middle infielder Dayner Moreira in January, but it quickly changed direction. Moreira defected at the 2014 Caribbean Series, but according to Ben Badler, international scouts viewed him as more of an organizational player.

Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-march-25...

I'll miss Buchanan- the towering Ole Miss reliever- and Silverio- the previous Cuban emigrant- and the Stanford catcher. (The Mariners may miss some of the bonus $$$ they paid out!)