Vets get their playing time as the juggling act continues

It was a bit of a surprise not to see Kyle Seager’s name in the lineup today after seeing his bat get going on the road trip going 5 for 12 so far. Adam Kennedy got the start at third as Brendan Ryan returned to the lineup after missing the previous 15 games with a sprained AC joint.

“It’s a balancing act getting everyone out there,” Eric Wedge said. “Kennedy has numbers (4 for 11 off Fausto Carmona), it’s no different than what we have been doing.”

It is not, but should it be at this point of the season? We know what Adam Kennedy can do. I would like to know more about what Kyle Seager can do. Wedge didn’t say so but I would suspect that with Ryan still feeling the shoulder a bit Seager will play in both games of the doubleheader tomorrow. Get him the rest ahead of time.

Kennedy isn’t the only vet who will continue to get playing time. Wedge said that the plan with Ichiro won’t change either despite the number of young outfielders he is trying to juggle.

“We are going to continue to give him opportunities at the top of the lineup as we play this out,” he said.

“We are going to run Ichiro through, as long as he is physically able, and he has earned that. We will continue to do a juggling act, obviously Smoak at first base and DH, Carp first base, DH plus left. We will continue to give Ichiro DH days.”

There is also Casper Wells and Trayvon Robinson to look at. When Smoak returns, unless Franklin Gutierrez or Ichiro get a full day off one of Smoak, Carp, Robinson or Wells will have to sit. Juggling.

News and notes: Ryan is in the lineup tonight but admittedly does not feel 100 percent as of yet. He has been told that he shouldn’t be able to do any further damage to his shoulder but still feels discomfort at the back end of his swing…The status of Luis Rodriguez is up in the air. His availability will be a game time decision day to day for now…The starter for game 2 on Tuesday will be Anthony Vasquez. The Mariners will hold off on making the official move until after game one. The team will have to make both a 25- and 40-man roster move to call him up…The Indians have announced Zach McCallister as their starter for that game. McCallister will be making his second big league start while Vasquez will make his debut…I have known about this for sometime but resisted sharing it as it is not my story to tell, but Larry Stone of The Seattle Times finally comes clean about his record of futility (0-10!) with the Mariners on the road this season. Check it out on his blog here…Seems like we always have brushes with celebrity while in Cleveland. Last trip Cyndi Lauper and The Blackhearts were staying at our hotel. This time, Def Leppard and Heart. Six current Mariners were not yet born when the album Hysteria was released.