Before we head to the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn.,
there's time to dip into the reader mailbag. I'll do another
Inbox after the Meetings next week, so keep those questions
coming!  With Nick Franklin tearing the cover off the ball in
the Arizona Fall League, what do you think are his chances of
being on the Mariners' Opening Day roster? And if that is the
case, could Dustin Ackley see some playing time in the outfield?
-- Duane J., Couer d'Alene, Idaho  Everyone assumes Franklin,
the Mariners' No 3 prospect, is now a second baseman because
that's where he played in the Arizona Fall League, but that was
more a matter of circumstances. Every Major League team can
designate one AFL player who must be played on a regular basis
at a certain position, and the Mariners designated catcher Mike
Zunino. The Reds chose their shortstop, Didi Gregorius, to be
their designated player on the Peoria club.  Have a question
about the Mariners? First Name, Last Initial:   Email Address:
So Franklin wound up playing se