Mariners notebook: A look at the final week of spring training

PEORIA, Ariz. – With the Mariners’ roster down to 28 including two who can’t play right now (Chris Taylor and Edgar Olmos), you can expect to see the regulars quite a bit in the final week of spring training. Two days ago, manager Lloyd McClendon talked about needing to get the team together to allow bonding and also his responsibility to combat the dog days of spring by turning up the intensity. This morning he did it.

“I think when you empty your clubhouse that’s what happens,” he said.

McClendon can still bring players over from the minor-league side to lighten the workload on his regulars, but with just six games remaining before go time we should see mostly the guys we will see in Seattle on the field.

“I think the guys that are going to play are going to play,” McClendon said. “We are going to run this last week like we run a regular game.”

The work is all but done with the starters built up and the hitters on schedule to reach the 50 to 60 at-bats that McClendon wanted them to reach. With two off days before Opening Day, there is opportunity for rest as well. About all that is left to do is make a bullpen decision and pack the bags. First thing is first, however. Today the Mariners take their last spring shot against their hated natural rivals, the San Diego Padres.

Lineup!

Justin Ruggiano, CF
Jabari Henry, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Kyle Seager, 3B
Rickie Weeks, DH
Logan Morrison, 1B
Dustin Ackley, LF
Mike Zunino, C
Rayder Ascanio, SS

J.A. Happ, SP

Notes

• Seth Smith was in the original lineup but was scratched because of the ankle he rolled sliding into home plate in Saturday’s game. The ankle was a little swollen this morning so the Mariners are keeping him out for precautionary reasons. It is not a serious injury, however, according to McClendon.

“Seventh game of the World Series he would be in there,” McClendon said.

• Austin Jackson has a scheduled day off.

• Brad Miller is missing his third straight day with the flu but McClendon believes he is doing much better and could be back in the lineup tomorrow.

• It was understandably quiet in camp this morning, not because of the roster cuts but because of the news that Victor Sanchez had passed away. While Sanchez never played for McClendon, the news hit him hard.

“Tough. Sad day for this organization,” he said. “A young man with a bright future. When you think about his family, it’s tough and it’s hard to fathom. As a father, to think that a father and a mother has to bury their child, it’s really tough. Tough day.”

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