Dan Cortes, Chris Smith Sent To Minor League Camp

by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 17, 2011 1:08 PM PDT in Miscellaneous

Members of the pile now have room to graze

The Mariners came to camp with a pile, but that pile couldn't last forever, and on Thursday they've extricated another two bodies and placed them on the conveyor belt to minor league camp. The names to those bodies:

Chris Smith. I can't tell you anything about Chris Smith. The numbers say he's made three appearances to date, walking one and striking out zero in 2.2 innings, but I remember none of his games, and I know nothing about his previous track record off the top of my head. I don't know if he's short or tall. I don't know if he's left-handed or right-handed. I don't know if he's 25 or 35. But I'll bet he throws a fastball in the 88-91 range with a decent if inconsistent breaking ball and a show-me change just for the hell of it. He just sounds like that generic of a reliever. He never had a shot of breaking camp, quite unlike the guy shipping off with him.

Dan Cortes. Cortes comes as more of a surprise, since coming into camp I think most of us saw him as a near-lock for the roster. We certainly saw him ahead of Josh Lueke on the depth chart. But Cortes and Lueke have gone in opposite directions, with Cortes throwing way too many balls. He only made four appearances, but he walked five guys and at no point really looked to be in control of himself. He'll come back. There's little doubt that he'll occupy a spot in the Mariner bullpen before too long. This is a guy, though, who still has a lot of work to do, and perhaps we should blame ourselves for expecting too much too soon from a hard-throwing pitcher with a long history of not throwing enough strikes.

There are still way more people in camp now than there will be in a week and a half, but finally the picture is drawing a little more clear.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

There is egg on my face which is unfortuante

because I already ate brunch

by Matthew on Mar 17, 2011 1:24 PM PDT reply actions

I am sad to see him go, but I grew quite tired of really talented pitchers that couldn't find the strike zone after watching Brandon Morrow.

So go find the zone my friend and come back.

by Kenneth Arthur on Mar 17, 2011 1:28 PM PDT reply actions

Delcarmen's gone too! yay

by Matthew on Mar 17, 2011 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

It just continues!

Manny Delcarmen and Charlie Haeger also cut.

by ThundaPC on Mar 17, 2011 1:49 PM PDT reply actions

This makes Lueke that much more likely to make the opening day roster.

They’re nearly certain to start with a seven man ’pen, of whom one will be League, the closer, and no more than three I guess will be lefties. That leaves three spots to divide amongst Bautista, Delcarmen, Flores, Lueke, Pauley, Roe, Miller, Wilhemsen, Ray and Wright.

Wilhelmsen isn’t ready, Bautista and Miller are terrible and Delcarmen seems like his comeback bid is dead in the water. I guess Pauley makes the cut since he can start if need be and is a veteran and all. Flores gets a boost from being a Rule 5 draftee, but he’s awfully green and I haven’t heard any glowing reports from the coaches.

So at least two spots, and Lueke, Roe, Ray, Flores and Wright are in the running. Hard to see him not making the team.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Mar 17, 2011 1:51 PM PDT reply actions