It is a small surprise. Alex Liddi impressed the coaching staff during Spring Training so much that he made the cut for the 25-man opening day roster of the Seattle Mariners. With Mike Carp being sidelined with a shoulder injury it was expected that Carlos Peguero would get the final spot on the team. However they decided to keep utility man Chone Figgins in left field, put Kyle Saeger at third and keep the Italian corner infielder at the bench. Manager Eric Wedge:
“He had a tremendous camp,” Wedge said. “We’re able to move him to first as well as third base. You look at his right-handed bat, and his development, how much better he is this year versus last year.”
The Mariners already had opened the 2012 season last week, playing the Oakland Athletics in the Japan Opening Series at the Tokyo Dome. They will complete the series this Friday and Saturday in the Bay Area before traveling to Arlington for a matchup with the Texas Rangers.