Spring Training Game Thread: Game 5 vs. Phillies

"Go talk to 'Hobbs,' '' Jimmy Rollins said after the game, equating Dobbs' start with the Roy Hobbs character played by Robert Redford in "The Natural.''

Dobbs, a former Mariners farmhand who was claimed off waivers in January, accepted the ribbing graciously.

"Any time you come into the spring not guaranteed a spot, you want to have that back-against- the-wall mentality no matter what and put you best foot forward,'' said Dobbs, who drove in two runs and scored twice.

With slightly more than a year of major league experience, Dobbs has spent most of his 6-year career in the minors, where he has hit .307. In his mind, the fact that the 28-year-old can play first base, third base, left and rightfield doesn't necessarily give him the edge over the other two candidates. Yesterday, he was at first base.

"It is an audition for me because I'm a fresh face. They have to see me and see what I can do,'' Dobbs said. "Obviously, they have scouts who have seen that I can play and liked me for whatever I was doing, but [the coaches] have to take a look at me with their own eyes and see how I go about taking at-bats and see how I play defensively at all the positions I can play. So, yes, this spring is definitely going to be a whole audition for me."

hamilton is a different case.  why?  he just is.  just because.

Flowing air by Edie."

pass it on.

...and Castro grounds out.