M’s notebook: Seager red-hot in May

BALTIMORE — While Robinson Cano generally grabbed the spotlight in recent weeks as the centrifuge in the Seattle Mariners’ improved attack, Kyle Seager has the better numbers since the calendar turned to May.

Seager entered Thursday’s series finale against the Orioles with a slightly lower May average than Cano — .400 to .393 — but had a far higher on-base percentage (.441 to .408) and slugging percentage (.721 to .686).

“I’m able to stay more in the middle of the field,” Seager explained. “Not pulling off nearly as bad. You’re giving yourself a chance on balls that are middle of the way as opposed to only having one area you can handle.”

Manager Scott Servais pointed to Seager’s ability to soften his natural dead-pull mode as the key to his rising production.

“He is predominantly a pull hitter,” Servais said. “You see everybody shift against him. But when he does take some balls up the middle and into left-center field, you know things are starting to come around.

“He’s not pulling off as many balls. You don’t see the roll-over ground balls to second base. When you start to see that happening, you know good things are going to come.”

Seager bottomed out in a slow start when his average dipped to .127 after going 0-for-4 on April 23 in a 4-2 loss to the Angels in Anaheim. But his surge didn’t really begin until the final day in April, when he went 2-for-3 against Kansas City.

“I didn’t waver at all with Kyle,” Servais said. “Eventually, the numbers are going to come. He is one of those players who when he gets hot, it’s really hot. I think that’s what we’ve seen. It’s extra-base hits.”

Seager’s slash numbers are now approaching or exceeding his career norms at .253/.337/.514.

“I feel pretty good,” he admitted. “Able to make some adjustments, I’m staying in my swing a lot better. So, yeah, I feel much better.”

Is Lind next?

Servais is now employing the patient approach that worked with Seager on first baseman Adam Lind, who responded Thursday with a three-run homer in a 7-2 victory over the Orioles.

“He’s an aggressive player,” Servais said. “He’s up there hacking and looking for a pitch he can drive. Fortunate for us, he got one.”

Consider it a step in the right direction.

Lind still has just three homers and 12 RBI in 32 games.

“When he gets up there very anxious, and starts chasing, he’s an easy guy to get out — like many players are,” Servais said. “When he gets strikes and gets a little more patient, he gets into better counts and gets better pitches, that’s when he does his damage.”

His homer Thursday came on a full-count pitch when the Mariners had runners at the corners in the sixth inning while clinging to a 2-1 lead. Afterward, Lind says he feels his approach at the plate has been better recently.

Lind’s history says that, eventually, he’s going to hit. He entered the season with a .274 average over 10 previous seasons, including .293 against right-handed pitchers.

“He’s going to play,” Servais said. “The league is probably 75 percent right-handed pitching, he’s going to play. So all of the anxiousness or whatever is coming from within.

“We’re supporting him. He continues to work his tail off. He’ll figure it out, and he’s going to be fine.”

Cruz in right

After serving as the designated hitter for all but one of the last 15 games, Nelson Cruz is tentatively ticketed for three straight starts this weekend in right field against the Reds in Cincinnati.

“We’ll take it day to day but, yeah, he’ll be in right field,” Servais confirmed. “We need his bat, obviously. He’s a big part of our lineup.”

Cruz started three straight days in right field earlier this season on one occasion: the April 25-27 series against Houston at Safeco Field. He made three straight starts earlier in April, but there was an open date after the second game.

Jackson to Clinton

It appears the Mariners finally saw whatever it was they wanted to see from outfielder Alex Jackson in extended spring training. Jackson was reassigned Thursday to Lo-A Clinton.

Jackson is generally viewed as the organization’s highest-ceiling prospect, but he struggled last year in his first full professional season. He batted just .157 last year in 28 games at Clinton before getting reassigned to extended spring training.

The Mariners then sent Jackson, 20, to Short-A Everett, where he batted .239 in 48 games. Club officials said this spring that Jackson would be leave extended spring training until they believed he had corrected unspecified flaws.

Jackson was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft and ranked No. 1 last year and this season in the TNT Top 10 list of the organization’s top prospects.

Minor details

Hi-A Bakersfield shortstop Drew Jackson is tied for second for hits in the California League with 51 after going 7-for-16 over the last three games and raising his average to .307.

Jackson, 22, is batting .338 over his last 18 games. He won the Short-A Northwest League batting crown with Everett last season with a .358 average following his selection in the fifth round of the draft.

Looking back

It was 22 years ago Friday — May 20, 1994 — that the Mariners won a game by the biggest margin in franchise history in a 19-2 victory over Texas at the Kingdome.

The 19 runs were a franchise record at the time, but Mariners scored 22 on April 29, 1999 in a 22-6 romp over Detroit at the Kingdome.

In the 1994 games, Ken Griffey Jr. and Tino Martinez hit home runs in a five-run first inning that started the rout. Edgar Martinez finished 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and five RBI. Jay Buhner was 4-for-4 with three RBI.

On tap

The Mariners make just their second trip to Cincinnati in 14 years when they open a three-game series at 4:10 p.m. Pacific time Friday at Great American Ball Park.

Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (1-4 with a 4.38 ERA) will face Reds right-hander Dan Straily (2-1, 3.05) in the opener. The game can be seen on Root Sports Northwest and heard on 710 ESPN.

The Mariners hold a 10-2 edge in the all-time series, including a 5-1 mark in Cincinnati. They swept a three-game series in 2002 at old Cinergy Field and won two of three in 2013 at GABP.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.