SEATTLE MARINERS

Notebook: Mariners add 7 as rosters expand, more to come

Sep 1, 2014, 1:04 PM | Updated: Sep 2, 2014, 8:29 am

Rookie pitcher Taijuan Walker could return to the Mariners’ rotation after being called up Mo...

Rookie pitcher Taijuan Walker could return to the Mariners' rotation after being called up Monday. (AP)

(AP)

OAKLAND – The typically cramped visiting clubhouse at O.co Coliseum was even more cramped this morning, but happily so as the Mariners made seven September call-ups.

Manager Lloyd McClendon has more names to juggle into lineups and game situations and he welcomes the challenge and the help.

“I think all of them bring something to the table. Hopefully they will get opportunities to help us win some games,” he said.

The additions are:

Recalled from Triple-A Tacoma: Justin Smoak, Lucas Luetge, Stefen Romero and Taijuan Walker.

Returned from rehab assignment: Corey Hart

Selected from Triple-A Tacoma: Carson Smith and Humberto Quintero

Willie Bloomquist has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list and Jesus Montero has been put on the suspended list. Those moves open spots on the 40-man roster for Smith and Quintero.

James Paxton and Erasmo Ramirez are not eligible to be added until the Rainiers finish their season. They play their final game today and both players will join the team Tuesday, with Paxton getting the start and Ramirez heading to the bullpen.

Michael Saunders remains on the DL and has been sent to Arizona to continue to regain strength after suffering from a virus and losing 12 pounds. He will get at-bats in simulated games and be eligible to return when it is determined he is ready to play.

Smoak is in today’s lineup, marking the second straight day Logan Morrison has been on the bench. After hitting .338 with an OPS of .841 with just six strikeouts in August, Morrison has struck out nine times in his last three starts. McClendon had a long talk with him in his office this morning. When asked in his media session if Morrison was out of the lineup because he was dinged up, McClendon said no and tersely added that “Logan is not playing.”

He very well could be back in the lineup tomorrow as McClendon stressed that Smoak was in the lineup today because he had numbers (2 for 2) against A’s starter Jason Hammel.

Lineup!

Austin Jackson, 8
Dustin Ackley, 7
Robinson Cano, 4
Kendrys Morales, DH
Kyle Seager, 5
Justin Smoak, 3
Endy Chavez, 9
Mike Zunino, 2
Brad Miller, 6

Chris Young

Notes

• SS Brad Miller is in the lineup for the second straight day. “I don’t make out the lineup,” McClendon said. “Players make out the lineup. He got three hits yesterday. You get three hits you will be in the lineup the next day. You go 0 for 5 with three strikeouts, you won’t be in there. It’s just the way it is.”

Taijuan Walker will be used out of the bullpen for the time being, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him first out of the bullpen today. McClendon is still giving him a push, both publicly and behind the scenes.

“Hopefully he will get to the point where he is so dominating he is in the rotation. We will see,” McClendon said. “I don’t know. I had a talk with him today and that is totally up to him. We have all heard the hype, we know he is a very talented individual. We want to see it on the field.”

Carson Smith is the only first timer in the call-up group. He found out he was joining the big club in a rather unique way.

“My pitching coach, Jaime Navarro, came in and got me out of the training room. At that moment I turned the corner and saw Corey Hart, Smoak, Romero all walking into Skip’s office. At that point I had a good idea what was going on,” he said.

“It’s something I have dreamed of all my life. For it to actually finally come true, it’s a great feeling but obviously just getting here is not satisfying. I want to contribute and help this team the best I can.”

Smith impressed everyone in spring training but obviously spots in the bullpen this year have been hard to come by. McClendon looks forward to getting him in games.

“He’s a big powerful arm, a lot like the rest of the guys in the bullpen. We can use him early, probably against right-handers,” he said. “I don’t think righties have much fun off him. That’s why he is here.”

• The game today in Oakland is sold out.

• 3B DJ Peterson, the Mariners’ top pick in the 2013 draft, finished his season at Double-A Jackson with a bang – or a boom. He was 4 for 6 with five RBIs and his 30th and 31st home runs.

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Notebook: Mariners add 7 as rosters expand, more to come