‘Brock and Salk’ on the Mariners’ lineup with Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger at the top
Apr 3, 2017, 2:35 PM
The Mariners made a significant change to their lineup during the last week of spring training, moving Jarrod Dyson to ninth, replacing him in the leadoff spot with Jean Segura and inserting Mitch Haniger into the No. 2 hole.
Shannon Drayer’s latest post includes a look at their thinking with Haniger, who was acquired along with Segura from Arizona in the Taijuan Walker trade. Drayer writes:
“The Mariners have been looking for a good No. 2 hitter for a long time and they may have found it in Haniger. The initial thought was to have the youngster further down in the lineup, but Haniger’s contact skills suggest he is worth at least a good look higher in the order. We will see if this holds up in the regular season as pitchers get more of a book on Haniger. Scouts have pointed out to me some observed weaknesses at the plate, but what could carry him through is his process. Haniger is a mature and studied hitter. He doesn’t appear to be one who will be panicked by a sudden slump. He struggled at the plate last September in his big league call-up, but I have a feeling much was learned from that and that Haniger could turn out to be the most fun young position player to watch since Kyle Seager.”
What about Segura and Dyson? Brock Huard and Mike Salk discussed those parts of the equation Monday after speaking with manager Scott Servais. Watch them in the video atop this post.
A few more links to get you ready for opening day:
• Servais says he expects a “very aggressive” Felix tonight in Houston and this season as he tries to bounce back from a down year.
• Shannon Drayer takes stock of the Mariners’ roster and reviews what she saw from the club during spring training as it prepared to end its 15-year playoff drought.
• Brent Stecker looks at five major storylines for the 2017 Mariners, including the concerns with the rotation as well as Seattle’s increased speed.
• Jim Moore makes 10 predictions for the 2017 season, including a bullish one on the heart of the Mariners’ batting order.
• A collection of stories and audio links from “Danny, Dave and Moore,” which broadcasted from Peoria all last week.
