Mariners notebook: A new plan for Mike Zunino

As I mentioned in the notes section of Monday’s post, Mike Zunino will not return to the Mariners this year. James Jones, Jesus Montero, Steven Baron and J.C. Ramirerz were called up once the Rainiers’ season had ended, but the Mariners have another plan for Zunino.

“It was an organizational decision to send Mike to the instructional league to continue to work on things as far as his offense is concerned and not have him do it here in a pressure situation,” manager Lloyd McClendon said before Tuesday’s game. “The at-bats are so intense and so pressured with the pressure of winning games. Mike is still very much in our future and going into spring training next year I consider him my every-day catcher. We thought this was the best path moving forward for his career.”

McClendon did not go into specifics about what changes were being made with Zunino’s swing, but he told Aaron Goldsmith during his his pregame interview that an organizational approach would be taken in developing and implementing the plan.

“All of our instructors will be there throughout our minor-league system,” McClendon said. “We’ll have a conference call with myself and Edgar (Martinez) and all the minor-league hitting guys within the next day or two to discuss exactly what we want the approach to be with Mike. There’s nothing falling in between the cracks and we want it done the way we want it done and we’ll stick to that plan.”

Chris Taylor has also be sent to instructional league to work on changes with his swing.

Lineup!

Ketel Marte, SS
Kyle Seager, 3B
Stefen Romero, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Mark Trumbo, LF
Logan Morrison, 1B
Jesus Montero, DH
Shawn O’Malley, CF
Jesus Sucre, C

Taijuan Walker, RHP

Notes

• The Mariners will once again be without Nelson Cruz and Franklin Gutierrez. Cruz underwent an MRI Tuesday morning, which confirmed the original diagnosis. He has been taking batting practice and running the last few days and is considered to be day-to-day. Gutierrez, who took some work on the field Tuesday, is also progressing and considered day-to-day.

• Dan Wilson, the Mariners’ minor-league catching coordinator, has also been called up and will stay with the club as an extra coach for the remainder of the home stand.

• James Paxton is making good progress. He threw from 120 feet Monday and the hope is he can throw a bullpen session on Thursday and start Sunday against the Rockies.

• Vidal Nuno will start Wednesday.

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