1
It’s interesting to get a look at how the media outside of Seattle looks at the Mariners.
So, Talking Points turns to Cliff Corcoran of sportsillustrated.cnn.com.
Cocoran thinks after a couple of months in fourth place in the AL West, the M’s won’t be able to withstand the temptation of bringing some of their touted prospects up the the big-league roster.
He sees catcher Mike Zunino with the M’s by the second half of the season, putting down signals for Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker.
This pushes Jesus Montero into the log jam at first base-designated hitter with Kendrys Morales, Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, Justin Smoak and Mike Morse, unless Morse is good enough to play left field.
Zunino is only 22 and the was third overall pick in the 2012 draft.
He’ has only 44 professional games under his belt, including just 15 at the Double-A level (where he hit .333).
He’s consider “the big prospect” in a squeaker over Walker, a right-hander who’s also never played above Double-A.
2
Josh Hamilton already was unlikely to get a standing ovation when he returns to Rangers Ballpark this summer as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. And after his comments Monday, he might be booed mercilessly.
Hamilton, who spent the previous five seasons with the Texas Rangers, signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the rival Angels this past offseason. And he further alienated the Rangers franchise and fans with his recent comments.
“Texas, especially Dallas, has always been a football town,” Hamilton told Dallas’ CBS 11. “They’re supportive, but they also got a little spoiled at the same time, pretty quickly. There are true baseball fans in Texas, but it’s not a true baseball town.”
Rangers manager Ron Washington chose to shrug off Hamilton’s comments.
“There were 3.5 million fans that came through the turnstiles. That answers it right there.”
