Iwakuma getting hit relatively hard in ST

[MontanaMariner]

3 appearances, 9 IP, 5 runs allowed, 5.00 ERA, six K, two BB

Cause for concern?

OR

Doesn't mean much until the season starts.

[TellItToTheDA]

Number two, and really, even if you look at tonight's numbers, he wasn't completely awful, he had one bad inning, aided by an error by Gabriel Noriega that allowed Coco Crisp to reach. The rest of the game, he settled down and pitched decently.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2017771052_mariners-as_game_thread_march_1.html


We just got done talking to Iwakuma, who does not speak English so everything is through an interpreter. He said he feels fine physically and thinks he is improving with each outing

He said he thought the issue in the first was leaving some pitches too low and not changing speeds well enough. He said he thought he did those things better his last three innings. And that was about it.

Until I see struggles in the spacious Safe, I'm just not too concerned.

[JosephC]

I agree with DA, I'm not too concerned with spring training numbers. I remember so many pitchers who sucked during spring training because they are getting back to norms (Erik Bedard... cough!). Also, stick him in the plush Safeco Field and I bet those numbers will improve dramatically.

[MontanaMariner]

Well I hope you guys are right, but I find it quite humorous some say being down in Arizona doesn't affect our hitters much as far as their current succes, but it does cause our pitchers trouble.

[MarinersAreTheBest]

He'll start the season in the rotation just because of his experience in Japan. But he's trying to figure things out over here in America. If he doesn't work out by the first couple of months we can move him to the bullpen or cut him loose because they aren't paying him very much.

[Igoe4Mariners]

I wouldn't say he's a lock for the rotation, but he should get a chance to start unless he just completely bombs and pulls a Kuo-esque outing the next few times out.