Mariners notebook: Looking for runs and saves

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon is going with a modified “spark” lineup today, looking to salvage the three-game series with the Yankees. Logan Morrison is back in the leadoff spot as the team is facing a righty, Masahiro Tanaka.

Lineup!

Logan Morrison, 1B
Austin Jackson, CF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Seth Smith, RF
Brad Miller, SS
Dustin Ackley, LF
Mike Zunino, C

Taijuan Walker, RHP

“Just trying to create some balance particularly with the type of bullpen they have,” McClendon said in his morning meeting with the media. “But more than anything, try to jump-start it and get some runs early.”

Early runs, late runs, any runs would be good. Last night the Mariners put up 14 hits and were handed seven passes in the form of three walks, three errors and one hit-by-pitch and they still managed to score just three runs.

The problem obviously isn’t new and it is getting worse. On this homestand the Mariners are hitting .155 with runners in scoring position.

All runs are precious and all leads precarious as Fernando Rodney continues to struggle. McClendon gave his now almost-daily affirmation that Rodney is still his closer.

“The fact is, he is our closer, we need him, we are going to need him to be successful,” McClendon said. “I think people talk very lightly about changing closers. That’s fine, but you have got to have somebody to do it. You don’t just throw anybody in there because what happens when he doesn’t do it? Because that is exactly what’s gong to happen.”

McClendon pointed to what happened to Joe Beimel in Tampa as an example of how the ninth inning is different. He is not a believer in the adage that anyone can close. While he likes what he has seen from Carson Smith so far, he points out that he has been very careful about the situations he has put Smith in. Facing multiple lefties would be an example. Another factor is durability.

“I know people point to the kid, Carson Smith, but he’s a young kid,” McClendon said. “We have got to be careful with him particularly with his innings, particularly with back-to-back-to-back. I’m not sure he can do that. I think his velocity goes down quite a bit.”

That doesn’t mean, however, that Smith isn’t working toward being a candidate down the road. In McClendon’s eyes, there is still much work to be done.

“He’s one of those young men that still doesn’t have his man muscles so to speak,” McClendon said. “He needs to continue to mature and develop and he’s doing a nice job, but I think part of him doing a nice job is the fact that we are putting him situations where he can be successful. When you are the closer you don’t have that comfortability where we put you in situations where you can be successful. It is what it is and you have got to get it done.

“I think the biggest thing with a kid like Carson is having the ability to go out three or four days in a row and have the same stuff. And then have the ability to blow a game and come back the next day and get a save. These are all questions that people take for granted. It’s not that easy. We need to let him continue to develop and continue to grow in the path he is growing in and eventually he is going to be a real, real good eighth-inning (set-up man) or closer in the future. But today, no, he’s not that.”

Notes

• With the extra-inning games and short starts we have seen the last few days, the Mariners’ bullpen is once again thin. Tom Wilhelmsen is unavailable today and McClendon would like to stay away from a couple of other relievers.

• Danny Farquhar made his first “start” for the Rainiers last night. The Mariners are having him start now so he has more innings to work out some of his problems. Last night he pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits, one walk and struck out four. “You talk about an option (for closer) at the big-league level, he’s an option but he’s not here,” McClendon said.

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