Mariners notebook: Servais hoping Dyson will fill more than platoon role
Feb 24, 2017, 9:08 AM | Updated: 9:49 am
Scott Servais doesn't want to limit Jarrod Dyson to leading off against righties only. (AP)
(AP)
PEORIA, Ariz. – The lineup for the Mariners’ Cactus League opener against the Padres on Saturday has yet to be posted, but manager Scott Servais gave the media a sneak peek Friday morning.
Jarrod Dyson, 7
Jean Segura, 6
Robinson Cano, 4
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 5
Mitch Haniger, 9
Daniel Vogelbach, 3
Mike Zunino, 2
Leonys Martin, 8
If all goes well, we should see a lot of this lineup this season. The Padres are throwing a righty at the Mariners on Saturday, but don’t be surprised if you see Dyson at the top of the order against lefties as well. Servais told him to be ready for more than just a straight platoon this year.
“I would like to see what he can do against left-handed pitching in spring training,” Servais said. “He can impact games in other ways than just the bat. I would like to give him an opportunity and see what happens.”
Last year in Kansas City, Dyson had just 34 plate appearances against lefties and hit primarily eighth and ninth. He is looking forward to having the opportunity to settle in at the top of the order with the Mariners.
“I prefer to lead off. I feel like I get better there with more at-bats I get,” he said.
Dyson believes the first at-bat can set the tone for the rest of his at-bats in a game and that while certain situations will call for him to be aggressive, the majority of the time he is taking that at-bat for the entire team.
“To me, it’s just putting together a great at-bat,” he said. “If I can put a guy through a seven-, eight-pitch at-bat, I’ve done a great job for the guys behind me and for myself. I am going to put a battle up my first at-bat every time out. You don’t want to leave a guy in the hole behind you just going up there and hacking.”
M’s working on situational baseball
The highlight of the last full day of workouts will be the situational game held on Field 1 Friday afternoon. The players in camp will be divided into two teams with captains and different situations will be dictated as they take their at-bats. Do the right thing and you win points for your team. Do the wrong thing – which includes hitting a pull-side home run in the wrong situation – and your team loses points.
Last year it was Team Cruz against Team Cano with Nelson Cruz having to buy dinner for Robinson Cano’s winning team. This year, the dinner check has been taken care of before the game.
“The pitcher who probably benefited the most from run support last year will be picking up the check this year,” Servais said.
The dinner benefactor was determined in a team meeting with Felix Hernandez volunteering Hisashi Iwakuma.
Notes
• Expect to see a little more of Cano and Cruz in the early games as they have asked to get more at-bats to get their timing down before the leave for the World Baseball Classic.
• Ariel Miranda will pitch two innings Saturday against San Diego and will be followed by Ryan Weber, Cody Martin, James Pazos, Casey Fien and Shae Simmons. Yovani Gallardo will start Sunday, Felix on Monday and Drew Smyly on Tuesday.
