Mariners notebook: A new look in the outfield and at leadoff

The Mariners have a new look outfield for the second game of the 2015 season as well as a different hitter at the top of the order.

BY SHANNON DRAYER

Apr 7, 2015, 7:10 PM Updated: 7:25 pm

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Though Nelson Cruz is expected to mainly be the Mariners' DH, he'll get a chance to play the outfield at times. (AP)

(AP)

SEATTLE – Less then two months ago the Mariners signed Rickie Weeks to a one-year contract, a move that prompted a little bit of head scratching.

Second base was the only position Weeks had played in the majors, and the Mariners have a second baseman. Maybe he would be a bat off the bench? Early in spring training Lloyd McClendon said that Weeks would split time with Dustin Ackley in left field, and later we learned Weeks could play first from time to time.

Tonight in Game 2 he will DH and leadoff. Well then.

What we’re seeing now isn’t a surprise, though – we saw it quite a bit in spring training. Weeks has spent the majority of his career as a leadoff hitter and Austin Jackson is comfortable hitting second so the move should work. Justin Ruggiano takes over in left tonight, putting another right-handed bat in the lineup, and Nelson Cruz shifts to right.

While some may not like seeing Cruz in the field, from what Jackson has seen this spring he thinks the rap on Cruz in the outfield is unfair.

“He’s made a couple plays this spring that I have really been shocked because he is a bigger guy and you tend to see bigger guys in the outfield not be as athletic or have the footwork but he has that,” he said. “He’s a good athlete, he gets back on the ball quick. He’s gotten back on a couple of balls that shocked me. And he has got a cannon out there.”

McClendon has no problem putting Cruz in the outfield since he handled the position just fine this spring. McClendon has no problem putting Weeks in left, either, indicating we could see him there soon though he also realizes that there will be learning on the job.

Bottom line is McClendon has options this year, and lots of them.

Notes

• The lineups for tonight’s game between the Mariners and Angels can be found here.

• Starter James Paxton is on a bit of a pitch count tonight. McClendon said he could go 95-100 pitches.

• ICYMI, minor league rosters have been announced.

• Before the game, Leonel Fernandez, the former President of the Dominican Republic, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Robinson Cano.