Mariners notebook: Rookie Ketel Marte drawing favorable reviews

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon talks about what he's seen form rookie Ketel Marte, a look back at the fielding of bunts on Monday and a look at what's next for left-hander James Paxton.

BY SHANNON DRAYER

Aug 19, 2015, 10:54 AM Updated: 4:23 pm

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"He's playing pretty good," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said about rookie Ketel Marte. (AP)

(AP)

ARLINGTON, Texas – It’s a quick turnaround with a day game after night game, so here are some quick notes:

Not much came out of our pregame meeting with manager Lloyd McClendon this morning, although he did have some interesting observations about Ketel Marte. Despite Marte hitting .286/.385/.742 in his first 16 big-league games, McClendon has been hesitant to heap on the praise, often finishing his evaluations by saying “he’s got a lot to learn.”

A lot to learn or not, McClendon clearly likes the tools he sees in Marte, especially the one that is immeasurable.

“You cant teach instincts,” McClendon said. “It’s something that’s gifted. I can’t harness it, I can’t tell him how to feel or to think or when to take an extra base. It’s just instinct. We need more players like that.”

The athleticism is clearly there, although we haven’t yet seen a lot of stolen bases or bunt-for-hit attempts. That will come, according to McClendon.

“Every day is a new experience,” he said. “The guy he faces today will be the first time he faces him. Tomorrow, the same thing. It’s part of the learning process.”

As for a position, we will most likely see him a bit more of Marte in center field, but McClendon has been pleasantly surprised by what he has seen from him at shortstop.

“He’s playing pretty good,” McClendon said. “His arm plays quite well at this level. His arm is better than the reports that I heard.”

Today he leads off at shortstop.

A look back at the bunts in Game 1 vs. Texas

The Rangers dropped a couple of bunts on the Mariners on Monday that turned out to be the difference makers. There were some questions about the fielding of those bunts and the plays that followed.

I had a lengthy conversation with infield coach Chris Woodward for the pregame show about that and he answers a question that some of you asked in the comments section that day, including what happened on the bunt Kyle Seager fielded and who, if anyone, was at fault for the out not being made.

The audio also includes Woodward’s observations on James Paxton’s simulated game. Woodward got a great look at Paxton as he was one of the hitters in the two-inning session. The audio for that conversation can be found here.

Lineup!

Ketel Marte, SS
Kyle Seager, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Franklin Gutierrez, LF
Austin Jackson, CF
Mark Trumbo DH
Jesus Montero, 1B
Mike Zunino, C

Mike Montgomery, LHP

Notes

• With rain in the forecast we could possibly see a delay late in this game. Long getaway games are nothing new for the Mariners as they have gone into extra innings in the last four road series finales.

• Paxton said his finger felt great a day after his simulated game, so the plan for him is to throw a light bullpen session Friday and if everything goes well he could make his first rehab start Sunday for the Rainiers.

• We are still awaiting news on Charlie Furbush, who was scheduled to see the doctor in Seattle this morning.