Mailbag: Moyer back for more?

11/21/2005
What is Jamie Moyer's career record, and what will his role be in the '06 Mariners' rotation? Will he be expected to be the ace? -- Brian W., Ephrata, Wash.
Moyer, who turned 43 years old on Nov. 18, has a 205-152 career record and is 139-75 with the Mariners. He currently is a free agent and could sign with any of the 30 MLB teams. If he returns to the Mariners, he would be in the starting rotation, but it's too early in the offseason to say whether he would be the ace of the staff.
Whatever happened to Tim Davis? -- D.C.L., Shoreline, Wash.
Davis, a left-hander drafted in the sixth round of the 1992 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State, spent four seasons (1994-97) with the Mariners, compiling a 6-5 record in 89 games, including six starts. Davis, now 35, lives near Bristol, Fla., and coaches girls basketball and boys baseball at a middle school. He was the recreational director at a correctional facility in Florida the previous three years. His career ended after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
How many games does a player have to start to not be considered a rookie? Will Felix Hernandez be eligible for the award next year? Thanks. -- Jeff Pechacek, Tacoma
A pitcher loses his rookie status after pitching 50 innings or accumulating 45 days (excluding September) on the 25-man Major League roster. Hernandez surpassed both limits last season and therefore will not eligible for Rookie of the Year honors in 2006.
I was wondering what Mark McLemore was up to these days. Is he still playing baseball? -- Stacy B., Moro, Ore.
McLemore, who played for the Mariners from 2000-'03 and was a key member of the 116-win team in '01, currently lives in Arlington, Texas, with his family, and no longer is an active player. He was hired by ESPN last year as an analyst.
Will Ichiro Suzuki be joining the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic? -- CJ Cortes, Tokyo.
The rosters for the 16 WBC teams have not been selected, but Ichiro probably will play for the Japan team, which will be managed by Sadaharu Oh -- the all-time professional baseball home run leader (868). Oh is so highly regarded in his country that if he asks Ichiro to be on the team, you can be sure that Ichiro would be happy to play.
Is there a chance the Mariners might bring back Ken Griffey Jr. as their designated hitter? They do mention that they need a power left-handed batter ... or perhaps trade for Carlos Delgado? -- Mark W., Mount Vernon, Wash.
Anything is possible -- even Griffey returning to Seattle at some point of his career. But knowing Junior, being a designated hitter is not something he would like to do. And he still has a huge contract that could prevent the team from acquiring the starting pitcher(s) it needs. In other words, don't hold your breath waiting for Griffey to return. As for Delgado, rumor has it that he will be traded to the Mets.
A fan recently asked in a past mailbag if anyone had hit a "homer cycle." According to David King, co-author of "Baseball in the Lone Star State: The Texas League's Greatest Hits," the only recorded instance of a player hitting a solo home run, two-run home run, three-run home run and grand slam in the same game was done by Tyrone Horne of the Texas League Arkansas Travelers on July 27, 1998, in San Antonio against the Missions. -- David K., New Braunfels, Texas
Thanks for the information. I wonder how many pitchers were used in that game by San Antonio.
In looking at the stats from the Arizona Fall League, Nick Markarkis hit well. Where is he from? -- Jamie S., Lewiston, Idaho
Markakis, who batted .326 for the Peoria Javelinas, was the Orioles' first-round selection in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. He is from Woodstock, Ga., attended Young Harris (Georgia) Junior College and is still in the Orioles organization. The Javelinas team is comprised of players from the Mariners, Orioles, Rockies, Brewers and Padres.
I was thinking of getting a Felix Hernandez jersey for the upcoming 2006 season and was wondering what number he will be wearing. Do you know? -- Mark H., Huntingburg, Ind.
As of now, Felix still has No. 59. But that is expected to change to a much lower number, which probably will happen shortly before Spring Training.
I was wondering why Major League awards are announced after the season and playoffs are done? -- Tracy B., Tukwila, Wash.
The primary reason is so that the Division Series, Championship Series and World Series get all of the attention from baseball fans.
You recently mentioned that Edgar Martinez lives and operates a business in Bellevue. What other current or former Mariners make their year-round permanent homes in the Seattle area? -- Dave B, Spokane, Wash.
It is a rather long list and includes, probably among others, Bret Boone, Dave Henderson, Julio Cruz, Mike Blowers, Mike Campbell, Bill Caudill, Norm Charlton, Jay Buhner, Dave Heaverlo, Brian Holman, Bill Krueger, Paul Sorrento, John Moses, John Olerud, Aaron Sele, Roy Thomas, David Valle and Omar Vizquel.
What happened to Nomar Garciaparra's little brother and when will we see him in a Major League uniform? -- Manuel R., Los Angeles, Calif.
Michael Garciaparra, the Mariners' supplemental first-round draft choice in 2001 (compensation for Alex Rodriguez signing with the Rangers), batted .298 with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 84 games with Class A Inland Empire (California League) last season. He joined the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers for the Pacific Coast League playoffs and went 0-for-1 and scored one run.
Jesse Foppert played winter ball last year and I was wondering if he would be playing winter ball again this year. -- Marisol S., San Mateo, Calif.
Foppert, acquired from the Giants last July, finished the season at Triple-A Tacoma (0-1, 2.57 ERA in six starts) and he is not scheduled to pitch again until Spring Training. He still is recovering from Tommy John surgery and the Seattle organization felt it was more important for him to rest his arm this winter.
Are the Mariners on the hook for all of the medical care that their players receive? I was wondering about a player like Pokey Reese, who was signed in the offseason only to spend his Mariner career in the infirmary. I'm sure the care that Major Leaguers get is second to none -- just wondering who foots the bill. And do these costs figure into the yearly budget projections? -- Christopher T., Washington, D.C.
All Major League teams have medical insurance, so surgeries usually are covered. However, Reese's salary ($900,000) was guaranteed and the Mariners had to pay all of that, plus $300,000 for a second-year buyout.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/