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SEATTLE -- Jack Zduriencik does not see the Seattle Mariners making another splash signing before the start of spring training after an off-season of big moves highlighted by the signing of second baseman Robinson Cano. Jermaine Gresham Jersey . What he would like to acquire is another veteran pitcher to add to a starting rotation that has a pair of aces at the top and then a handful of promising prospects behind them without much major league experience. "I dont suspect well make a major move but we hopefully will do a couple of things that will be tweaks that help the club certainly for this year," Zduriencik said Thursday. How the rotation gets filled out will be one of the major questions when Seattle reports for spring training in the middle of February. Pitchers and catchers will be on the field Feb. 13 and the first full squad workout is Feb. 18. Seattle has the top of its rotation settled with former AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwkuama forming a formidable combo. But the bridge between that pair and some of the youngsters Seattle would like to see take the final spots in the rotation is the question. Asked if he was comfortable with how his rotation sits, Zduriencik said, "not tremendously." "I think there is certainly potential there. There are some things that have to come together. When youre placing a lot of faith and trust in young kids that have very short windows of success, thats risky," Zduriencik said. "I will say that theyre talented but how quickly they become legitimate major leaguers, is yet to be seen. There may be opportunities for us in the next period of time, few days or so, maybe well be able to add something to it." Manager Lloyd McClendon said he would be disappointed if top prospect Taijuan Walker didnt make the rotation out of spring training, but hes expected to contend with James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez and Brandon Maurer for one of those final spots. There is not a higher-regarded prospect in the Mariners system than Walker. He was described by Zduriencik as the best athlete in the entire organization and he called his brief call-up at the end of last season "short and impressive." Walker made three starts for Seattle last season, going 1-0 with a 3.40 ERA. He struck out 12 batters in 15 innings pitched in his major league debut. "Hes young, hes talented, hes got a ton of ability. He has to acclimate himself to being a big league starting pitcher," Zduriencik said. "How quickly that comes, I dont know. Everybody is different." Aside from the rotation, Seattle also has significant questions about how its outfield will shake out, specifically centre field. The Mariners are hopeful that newly acquired outfielders Logan Morrison and Corey Hart are healthy enough to be regulars at the corner outfield spots. That leaves centre field jumbled with Dustin Ackley, Michael Saunders and Franklin Gutierrez as options. "As we roll into spring training its all up to them," Zduriencik said. "I cant tell you who the centre fielder is going to be. I can tell you who the candidates are. I cant tell you who the left fielder is going to be. I can tell you who the candidates are. ... If were going to be a really good ball club, lets see what happens in spring training. Its up to them." Jeremy Hill . The Montreal Canadiens goaltenders dogs Motty ("short for Mozart") and Duke got loose overnight. Jermaine Gresham Bengals Jersey . Blake Griffin had 27 points and eight rebounds, Chris Paul added 19 points -- including a go-ahead layup in the final minute -- and the Clippers beat the Hawks 109-108 on Saturday night for their season-high seventh straight win. "In the locker room, I almost felt like we lost the game, because we expect a lot from themselves," Paul said. ST. LOUIS -- The Dallas Stars are trying to make a late playoff push. Against a team battling for first place overall in the league, the Stars stepped up their game. Colton Sceviour got the first two goals and Antoine Roussel scored on a breakaway in the third period to give the Stars a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. "This was a huge test for us," goalie Kari Lehtonen said. "One of the best teams in the league and we played last night and travelled here late, and showed up, and it was just a huge win." Cody Eakin had a goal and assist and Lehtonen made 33 saves for the Stars, who have won four of five in pursuit of a Western Conference playoff spot. Dallas entered the day three points out of a playoff spot before winning for the second straight night and saddling the Blues with just their sixth regulation home loss. The Stars opened a five-game trip after beating the Predators 7-3 on Friday and won without production from their top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Valeri Nichushkin. "I dont know if desperation is the word. That kind of sounds bad," Sceviour said. "But definitely we feel like these are games we need to win. "This is a start and we want to build off it." Alex Steen had a pair of power-play goals for the Blues, who had been 8-0-2 in their previous 10 at home including an overtime loss to Dallas earlier this month. St. Louis fell one point behind Boston for first place overall in the NHL after a showing coach Ken Hitchcock labeled "sloppy." "What we are right now is too inconsistent," Hitchcock said. "Weve got too many players who are having good games and then are following it up with poor games." "Have to send a few messages here in the next couple games and see if we can get everybodys attention." Dallas led 1-0 and 3-1 against the Central Division leaders. Roussel skated in alone on Ryan Miller for the clincher after the puck hopped over ddefenceman Kevin Shattenkirks stick at the opposite blue line at 7:56 of the third. A.J. Green Mens Elite Jersey Pro Bowl. If the Blues had been ahead, Shattenkirk would not have been trying to hold the line. "We feel like wed been all over them in the third period, then they get the fourth one," Steen said. "We were a little late tonight." Steen has 33 goals on the season. He scored on a deflection from the high slot in the second period and beat Lehtonen scrambling across the net on a long rebound in the opening minute of the third, each time shaving the deficit to one. Sceviour has three goals the past two games and Eakin also has scored in consecutive games for the Stars. Hitchcock picked a trio of former Stars -- Steve Ott, Brenden Morrow and Derek Roy -- for the opening faceoff. That line surrendered the only goal of the first period, with Otts turnover leading to Sceviours sixth of the season, and finished a combined minus-5. Sceviour tapped in a rebound off his skate to make it 2-0 at 7:21 of the second. "Theyre not the prettiest goals, but well take them," Sceviour said. Dallas needed just 25 seconds to answer Steens first goal on Eakins deflection. Notes: Stars D Alex Goligoski tied his career high with four points against Nashville on Friday a day later when a scoring change gave him a fourth assist in a 7-3 victory over Nashville, and he had an assist in the second period against St. Louis. Goligoskis other four-point game came with Pittsburgh when he had a goal and three assists against Tampa Bay on Jan. 5, 2011. ... Stars F Vernon Fiddler earned his 200th career point on a second-period assist. ... Stars coach Lindy Ruff worked his 1,239th game, tying Bryan Murray for 10th on the career list. ... Shattenkirk had two assists and set career highs with 35 assists and 44 points. ... Steen has three goals and four assists the past four games. ... David Backes had an assist for 356 career points, passing Pierre Turgeon for 11th in Blues history. ' ' ' |
