ARLINGTON, Texas — Back on the first of day of February when all that could be good for the upcoming season felt possible if not probable for the Mariners, Jerry Dipoto, ever the optimist and with a recent postseason appearance in his pocket, outlined the goals for what he felt was an improved roster.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Bryan Woo took a couple of deep breaths, went into his simple delivery and fired his official pitch of Major League Baseball.

DENVER – About 2 miles from downtown Denver, the yellows, oranges and reds of a spray-painted mural fill the cracked, gray cement wall of a building that houses a temporary employment agency. The mural rises about 20 feet and depicts an expressionless Nikola Jokic next to a much more emotive Jamal Murray, his eyes narrowed and arms extended as if he is wielding a bow and arrow.

SEATTLE – Editor’s note: The Mariners have built one of the best pitching staffs in Major League Baseball. This is the first in a series of stories exploring how they’ve done so: What they value in pitching prospects, how they teach their core values and who might be the next arm coming through their pipeline.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Holding the top offensive team in baseball to just one run in seven innings of work is an effort that should be celebrated for any starting pitcher.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The depth of the Mariners’ young pitching talent in their farm system will be tested again as another rotation regular appears headed for the injured list.

SEATTLE – The numbers that Mike Ford has been putting up with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers over the first two months of the season finally earned him a promotion back to the big leagues.

SEATTLE – First, and most important, Mike Blowers wants you to know he’s feeling well now, in good spirits, and plans to be back soon doing what he loves: calling Mariners games.

SEATTLE – The Mariners could not have asked for any more from George Kirby.

SEATTLE – Aaron Judge had plenty of help this time around.

SEATTLE – Bryce Miller couldn’t hide the disappointment as he stood on the mound and watched as Scott Servais walked toward him.