Notebook: Tony Zych, Steve Cishek nearing returns for Mariners
Apr 12, 2017, 5:12 PM | Updated: 5:44 pm
Tony Zych called his simulated game at Safeco Field a "big step" in his recovery from a biceps issue. (AP)
(AP)
The addition of Evan Marshall and outrighting of Casey Fien to Triple-A Tacoma is far from the only bullpen news from the Mariners on Wednesday.
The Mariners had Tony Zych throw a simulated game at Safeco Field in the afternoon, and Steve Cishek is nearing a rehab assignment. Both Zych, who missed three months in 2016 with rotator cuff tendinitis and has dealt with a bicep issue since late last season, and Cishek, who is recovering from hip labrum surgery, are in good shape, according to manager Scott Servais.
Regarding Zych, Servais said, “He looked very good, very sharp. Ball’s coming out his hand good, breaking ball was good. He feels good, so getting closer to having him possibly in our mix as well.”
Zych himself was encouraged by his session.
“It was a big step today. Just getting in the stadium made a big difference,” Zych said. “I just wanted to make sure my delivery stayed clean. … Getting here I felt really good today. Felt like I was finishing pitches really well, slider was really good, so no complaints.”
Cishek, who served as Seattle’s closer for most of last year and would be its top setup man upon his return, could be in line for a rehab assignment in the next four or five days, Servais said.
“He has pitched down in extended (spring training), in games,” Servais said. “… The reports have been very good. His arm feels good, no issues with his hip issue at all, so thumbs up on that one.”
Shae Simmons, another righty reliever, is working back from a flexor strain and will be a while longer. Servais said he’s still in Arizona at extended spring training and has yet to throw off a mound.
As for the new arm in the pen, Marshall, Servais said he will bring a different quality that the Mariners haven’t had as of yet in 2017.
“(Marshall) does it a little bit different than some of the other guys we have,” he said. “More a sinker-ball type guy with a good breaking ball. Hopefully he can fit in and help us out.”
Notes
• The Mariners are still looking to pick things up in situations with runners in scoring position, and Servais said that while some improvements have been made, the hitters have been more aggressive than necessary. “To win games you gotta hit with runners in scoring position, there’s no doubt. We’ve had a lot of opportunities, haven’t gotten it done often enough. Our guys know that. I think during those at-bats, working yourself into good counts, getting a good pitch to hit and then not trying to do too much with it. I think at times our guys maybe got a little outside of their game trying to do too much. … Our strikeout numbers are a little higher than I expected. We gotta do a better job of controlling the strike zone. It has gotten better recently but the strikeouts seem to rear its head in bad spots and kind of tie into the hitting with runners in scoring position.”
• James Paxton, who is tied for the MLB lead in ERA at 0.00 with 13 scoreless innings, joined “Bob, Groz and Tom” today to talk about his impressive start to the season. You can listen to the entire interview here.
• Also on 710 ESPN Seattle, third base coach Manny Acta joined John Clayton and shared how the coaching staff has approached the team during its first few weeks of the campaign. Here is the audio link.
• The Mariners are giving first baseman Danny Valencia a break in Wednesday’s 7:10 series finale against Houston on 710 ESPN Seattle, with Mike Freeman taking his spot in the lineup. Regarding Valencia, Servais said, “the breaking ball’s got him going fishing a little bit” but that he could very well be used later in Wednesday’s game That would most likely come against a left-hander, which Valencia has a history of hitting well against.
