Mariners notebook: Carson Smith passes a big test

NEW YORK – After throwing 30 pitches yesterday, many of them of the higher stress variety, Carson Smith may or may not be available to pitch today. Lloyd McClendon was going to talk to him after he threw this morning to gauge where he was physically. On the mental side, it was a good morning for Smith coming off a big save the night before.

“Yesterday was a confidence booster,” McClendon said. “Get the job done, team got the W. It was a great day.”

A great day that he had to go back and watch film of. Sunday morning Smith was at the video monitor watching his outing. Why? Because for him it went by so fast he really couldn’t remember the particulars. That might be a good thing. After the game McClendon pointed out the inning was in danger of falling apart with a ball that got by Austin Jackson and Mike Zunino leading to a run scoring. Smith insists he wasn’t aware of what was going on around him in the ninth. His focus was on the hitters in front of him.

“I try not to focus on anything else around me, just focus on what I can control. And that’s pitching. Throwing strikes and quality pitches. After the ball leaves my hand there’s not much you can do about it,” he said.

Still yesterday was a challenge. He wasn’t quite as sharp as he normally is having not thrown for six days. It was his first game in Yankee Stadium. A full, loud Yankee Stadium on a very hot day. Being on the hill for what McClendon called a must win game. Facing a lineup of nothing but lefties. With his slider Smith could easily be a very nice 8th inning guy or right-handed specialist. As a closer he has to get both tough right-handers and left-handers out.

“I try not to be intimidated by a left-handed hitter just because my slider won’t play as well against them. It does help when a right-hander is up, the physics of the game, how my ball moves. I try not to look too much into it but I have been better against them,” he said.

“I have just got to worry about my pitches, make sure I can locate the pitches I need to, make sure the changeup is there so I have three pitches I can use against left-handed batters and be ready to go.”

While Smith is a game time decision if needed today the rest of the bullpen is available. With temperatures in the 90’s at game time, and hotter on the field, there is a good chance a number of them will be needed.

Lineup!

Jackson 8
Seager 9
Cano 4
Cruz DH
Gutierrez 7
Trumbo 3
Montero DH
Taylor 6
Zunino 2

Felix

Notes

• Logan Morrison is getting the day off against the lefty Sabathia. This should just be one day as McClendon said before the game that they need him. Morrison has been hit the ball hard of late but not seeing the results hitting just .130/.208/.333/.541 over his last 21 games with a ridiculous BAbip of 0.88.

“When he’s good it’s good, when he’s going bad, it’s bad,” said McClendon who would like to see him hit more line drives.

“He’s on the ground a lot. His path has got to change. We have got to get him where he is hitting line drives and fly balls to the gaps more than ground balls.”

• Be ready for a new look Fernando Rodney if he take the hill today. After the game yesterday he made a trip to see Jordan the Barber, Felix’s barber who did quite a number on him.

Pictures aren’t allowed in the clubhouse so I will do my best to describe it. A modified mohawk, which Rodney said he got because it was hot. The topper? He colored it copper. Got some matching highlights into the beard as well.

“I surprise everybody,” he said. “Gave everybody a laugh.”

That he did.

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