Mariners notebook: Scott Servais finding success using all his resources

HOUSTON – Toward the end of spring training, Mariners manager Scott Servais pointed out to the media that the start of the regular season would bring a lot of newer experiences for him, first and foremost managing in real game time. Preparation, going over scouting reports and getting daily work in is one thing. I was curious about what was happening in the dugout and asked about that in his media session Friday.

“Once the game starts, that’s kind of where the feel comes in,” he said. “Yesterday was kind of one of those games, it was kind of more of a feel moment (staying with Dae-Ho Lee against the right-handed John Axford). I’m not really into that too much. There also was data and numbers tied behind the decision that was made. If you guys remember, Dae-Ho Lee hit a double against Axford in spring training. He pinch hit against him in Seattle, what Axford throws in certain counts and if we could get into one of those counts, it might work out in our favor. And it did.”

Sticking with Lee against Axford was not as much playing a hunch as it perhaps appeared to be at the time. It was a combination of information and what Servais called in-game feel that led to the decision. It appears Servais is one who likes to use all of his resources.

“There’s been very few decisions this year where I have not talked to Mel (Stottlemyre) or Bogey (Tim Bogar), yesterday Edgar (Martinez). I’m very inclusive as far as that goes,” he said.

In short, Servais has a process to go through before following a hunch.

“Yes. You have to,” he said. “(Lee) could have popped the ball up yesterday; I still think it was the right thing to do at that moment.”

Lineup!

Norichika Aoki, LF
Seth Smith, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Adam Lind, 1B
Chris Iannetta, C
Ketel Marte, SS
Leonys Martin, CF

Wade Miley, LHP

A reversal for Cruz

We have seen quite a bit more of Nelson Cruz at DH the last 10 days, and the results have been good. While his numbers were dramatically better when he played in the field than when he was the DH last year, the opposite has held true in 2016. Small sample alert, but Cruz this year:

• Right field: 57 plate appearances, .160/.263/.200
• DH: 61 plate appearances, .429/.525/.816

Cruz has come up with a routine that he is comfortable with on his DH days, but he said he still finds it easier to hit when he is playing in the field.

“If you play defense it is more relaxing because you have control of what you are doing. When you are on the bench it’s kind of more like pressure. You’ve got to get it done, you are pushing for your teammates, it’s all you can do.”

While a late spring injury to Seth Smith put Cruz in the field more that I would imagine was planned, I do think the plan was to let Cruz get comfortable before DH-ing more. If that was indeed the plan, it seems to have helped with the transition.

“It’s easy when you are doing good, you don’t think about it,” Cruz said. “If you struggle you are going to think and go to the cage because you have extra time. It goes tougher if you are struggling when you are DH-ing.”

“I find a way to stay calm and just have a routine. Keep it simple and that way I can be more prepared for my at bats.”

Swelmet?

What is a Swelmet you might ask?

Loving the new mariners rally hats! #GoMariners @Seatown_Mariner @MarinersNation @shannondrayer @RobinsonCano pic.twitter.com/yfKk9swu5I

— Brian Vogt (@KingsCourt8) May 5, 2016

This headgear made the rounds on the trip to Houston. Third-base coach Manny Acta explained on “Brock and Salk” Wednesday morning that the coaches saw the helmet on a fan near the Mariners dugout Wednesday in Oakland.

“Scotty (Servais) was trying to negotiate with him for the helmet and Scotty said, ‘OK, after the game we will do something,'” said Acta.

The request? A bat.

“I don’t have a bat,” Acta told the fan. “I have a fungo. I’m a coach, I don’t swing a bat.”

Luckily Robinson Cano walked by on the way back to the clubhouse with four bats under his arm. The fan ended up with the autographed bat and the coaching staff, well…

“Then we got the helmet,” said Acta. “It’s the coolest. It’s got the Mariners logo and Felix K on the side. We have adopted it now. It’s called the “Swelmet,” the sweeping helmet.”

With any luck we will see it several times this season.

Notes

• A few of you have asked, so here you go, my postgame interview with Dae-Ho Lee Wednesday.

• More on Lee from Ryan Hueter of the Mariners baseball information department – Dae-Ho Lee is tied for the MLB lead in game-winning home runs this season with two. He is the only rookie with multiple game-winning home runs this season.

• I remember another team that was very good at this… The Mariners currently lead all of baseball in two-out RBIs with 53. Their 4.52 runs scored per game is third best in the AL.

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