Mariners have to hang on with several lefties on the horizon
Aug 26, 2016, 5:15 PM
(AP)
CHICAGO – Get ready to see a lot of left.
If the probables and anticipated opposing pitchers play out, the Mariners could face southpaws in six of the next seven games. With no platoon partner for Adam Lind at first base right now, matchups that were already tough become tougher. The plan for the Mariners before September call-ups?
“The guys that are the right-handed part of that platoon, (Guillermo) Heredia will be playing, (Franklin) Gutierrez is in there, those are their days,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “That’s their day to get after it, to shine, to put good at-bats together.”
Lind will get the majority of the work at first base but if he is lifted for a pinch runner or hitter late we could see Shawn O’Malley or Chris Iannetta come in for him. Both have taken work at first during batting practice, but neither has much experience at the position in the big leagues. Iannetta has played seven MLB games at first, just one of which he started, and O’Malley has never played first in his pro career.
“We know what is ahead of us, it’s not going to be easy,” Servais said Wednesday. “We knew this was not going to be easy, that was the decision we made from a roster management position. We needed to get back to the extra pitcher, we were not comfortable going forward short in the pen.”
Of course, one day later they ended up with one less in the pen as infield insurance was needed with Kyle Seager down.
“It’s all hands on deck and we are going to do the best we can to get through these next seven days and hopefully hold our ground and get into September in a good spot,” general manager Jerry Dipoto said Thursday on “Danny Dave and Moore.”
There is right-handed help in Tacoma with Stefen Romero and Dae-Ho Lee, who has gone 12 for 24 with three doubles and two home runs in six games. The problem is, neither can be recalled until they have been down for 10 days unless a player on the 25-man roster goes on the DL. We should see both back, however, as soon as they are eligible. Dipoto likes what he has seen from Lee in his short time in Tacoma.
“He can take a breath, he can get back to being himself. There is a very good chance you see him Sept. 2 running out there facing some left-handed pitcher in Seattle.”
For now, it’s hang on.