Mariners notebook: Late scratches severely alter lineup vs. Giants

When it rains, it pours. Thursday afternoon Lloyd McClendon posted what lately has been more or less the regular lineup against righties, with Logan Morrison playing DH and Mark Trumbo taking over at first base the only real deviation.

McClendon joked that it was Morrison’s day off as he only would have to focus on hitting, but that day off is no more. Shortly before batting practice Robinson Cano walked into the manager’s office with the trainer. This sight almost always means there will be a lineup change. The odd thing was, once Cano and the trainer left the office, McClendon headed for the training room. Was there another scratch?

There was the possibility of two more scratches I was told. As it turns out there were two total. Cano is out with lower back stiffness and Kyle Seager out with what is suspected to be food poisoning. Nelson Cruz was questionable, but told the skipper he could go and is in at DH. He did not take batting practice.

New lineup!

Logan Morrison, 1B
Austin Jackson, CF
Nelson Cruz, DH
Seth Smith, LF
Mark Trumbo, RF
Brad Miller, SS
Willie Bloomquist, 3B
Dustin Ackley, 2B
Mike Zunino, C

Mike Montgomery, LHP

This will be the first time Ackley has played second base since the 2013 season, when he made 53 starts there.

It is doubtful that either Cano or Seager are available so the bench is down to just Jesus Sucre and James Jones.

Edgar shares hitting wisdom

Edgar Martinez joined us on the roundtable segment of the pregame show on 710 ESPN Seattle. I could listen to Gar talking hitting all day long so I imagine you would appreciate seven minutes of it.

In the clip Edgar talks about his approach with runners in scoring position, how he would deal with the shift, what he liked to focus on from scouting reports of opposing pitchers, and at the end a priceless comment about never hitting the ball down the left-field line. It’s good stuff and good to know that this year Edgar is working with minor league hitters as a part-time roving instructor.

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