Notebook: Flurry of Mariners moves shuffles bullpen, gives Shawn O’Malley new job
Aug 23, 2016, 7:39 PM | Updated: Aug 24, 2016, 9:15 am
(AP)
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Another day, another roster move for the Mariners. Or moves, as was the case Tuesday.
Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker was called up Tuesday and fellow right-hander Cody Martin was optioned back to Triple-A. Reliever Tony Zych has been activated from the disabled list and infielder/outfielder Stefen Romero sent back to Tacoma. The moves continue as general manager Jerry Dipoto attempts to give skipper Scott Servais what he needs on a nearly game-by-game basis heading into September, when rosters can be expanded. On Monday, late-inning defense was added with outfielder Guillermo Heredia recalled from Triple-A. On Tuesday, a somewhat taxed bullpen got some help.
“He most likely will pitch tonight,” Servais said of Zych. “That’s where we are at.”
It will probably take more than Walker and Zych, however, and while Servais would like to stay away from a couple of lefties, he has a reasonable amount of bullpen arms available.
“I would love to get through the sixth inning,” Servais said about Walker’s Tuesday start. “We’ve struggled in the sixth inning a few times in the last 10 days. After we get to that point, (Arquimedes) Caminero is fresh tonight, I think we would use (Edwin) Diaz tonight, (Vidal) Nuno can face some lefties.”
Walker returns after two outings in Tacoma, where he surrendered four runs in 10 2/3 innings. His marching orders against the Yankees are simple.
“Just go out and really compete,” Servais said. “Work in all of his pitches and just really get after it. Be the presence we know he can be on the mound. Got to pitch in, pitch away. You have really got to move the ball around on these guys; they have a lot of power.”
Walker faced the Yankees just once previously in his career, at Safeco Field in 2015. He went eight innings and allowed three runs on five hits.
Notes
• With Romero now in Tacoma, Adam Lind has been left without a platoon partner at first base. Utility player Shawn O’Malley, who took grounders at first during batting practice Tuesday afternoon, will be the backup. Servais said O’Malley could get a start or possibly take over at first if Lind is pulled for a pinch-runner.
• Nelson Cruz hit one of the three Mariners home runs Monday night. So, once and for all, is Safeco Field now a hitter’s park?
“The ball is carrying pretty good here lately,” Cruz said. “Even in BP you feel it. We change it.”
But there is more to it than just the conditions at Safeco Field.
“We have guys that can hit the ball out,” Cruz continued. “Last year, it felt like we could do it but this year we changed, definitely a lot. A lot of guys are mature now and the guys who are veterans have been there before. We come up every day and push the envelope. Especially when we need to get a hit, we get it done. It feels like that it doesn’t matter the situation, we find a way to get on top, to get a lead. It’s really remarkable.”