SHANNON DRAYER

Mariners notebook: Scott Servais on board with the new rules

Mar 3, 2017, 8:52 AM | Updated: 9:59 am

Scott Servais is in favor of new MLB rules designed to speed up pace of play. (AP)...

Scott Servais is in favor of new MLB rules designed to speed up pace of play. (AP)

(AP)

PEORIA, Ariz. – Word came out last week that there would be a handful of new rules regarding pace of play introduced in 2017. They were announced by MLB and the MLBPA on Thursday. As expected, among the changes were the no-pitch intentional walk, a 30-second limit for a manager to decide whether to challenge a play and a two-minute guideline for replay officials to give a decision. Mariners manager Scott Servais welcomes the new rules, and some of what could possibly come in future years, to speed up the game.

“If there is a chance to pick up the pace a little bit, I’m in favor as long as it doesn’t affect the strategy of the game,” he said. “I have seen the pitch clock (which is not a part of the new rules). I know it works. It’s no big deal. I am one who is in favor of it.”

Photos, videos and updates from Mariners spring training

Servais believes the 30 seconds to determine whether he is going to challenge a play is enough. When he sees something that might warrant a replay challenge, it is Mariners special projects coach Chris Prieto’s job to give him the yea or nay on whether or not to proceed. Prieto monitors the video feeds, which can vary in quality and quantity depending on if the Mariners are home or away. Usually it is the manager who places the call to the video room to review a play, but sometimes Prieto will see things as they happen on the video monitor that are hard to see from the dugout and suggest the replay himself.

With the plays in question, the calls are short and definitive. Servais isn’t interested in percentages or “I think there is a good/bad chance we get this.”

“He pretty much makes the call,” Servais said of Prieto. “He will definitely give us a go ahead or don’t waste your time, it’s not going to play. He helps make the call and I trust him. He’s really good.”

The Mariners challenged 38 plays last year and had 22 overturned for a 57.9 percent success rate, the 11th-best in baseball. If the percentages seem a little low, it should be noted that teams will take a shot on plays they know they most likely will not win because they still have challenges available.

Lineup!

Jarrod Dyson, CF
Jean Segura, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Danny Valencia, 1B
Mitch Haniger, 9
Tuffy Gosewisch, 2
Boog Powell, LF

Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP

Servais going with mostly his regular lineup for as long as he can with his 2-3-4 hitters leaving for the World Baseball Classic on Sunday. Iwakuma makes his first start of the spring and while it may appear he and James Paxton are starting late, they really aren’t. The WBC pitchers needed the earlier start but Paxton and Kuma did not. They are on their usual spring schedules that build them up to their first regular-season start.

Notes

• While losing so many players to the WBC will give the Mariners the opportunity to give others more at-bats and innings, it will make it tougher to get their utility candidates looks in the outfield as they will be very short of middle infielders.

• Relievers Tony Zych and Steve Cishek are making progress in their returns from offseason shoulder and hip surgeries, respectively. Zych will throw his second light bullpen Friday and Cishek is now playing catch on back-to-back days and running on a treadmill.

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