PEORIA, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners’ lineup is already starting to come into focus.
Manager Lloyd McClendon pointed to three newcomers — Seth Smith, Justin Ruggiano and Rickie Weeks — as possible fits for the No. 2 slot and said the shortstop, either Brad Miller or Chris Taylor, will likely bat ninth.
Smith and Ruggiano project as platoon partners in right field, while Weeks appears ticketed for similar duty in left field with Dustin Ackley.
“We have options,” said McClendon, who prefers to have Ackley hit lower in the order — probably eighth.
Better options than last year, when the Mariners got a combined .225/.260/.348 slash (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) from their No. 2 hitters.
Smith has a .241/.307/.401 slash (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) in 143 career games as a No. 2 hitter. His career totals are .265/.347/.453 in 865 games.
Ruggiano has a .317/.382/.455 slash in 59 games as a No. 2 hitter. His career totals: .257/.319/.431 in 398 games.
Weeks is .232/.325/.385 in 138 games when batting second. His career totals: .249/.347/.424 in 1,142 games.
The Mariners are already set at four spots: center fielder Austin Jackson will lead off, and three-through-five will be second baseman Robinson Cano, designated hitter Nelson Cruz and third baseman Kyle Seager.
Change for Happ
Veteran lefty J.A. Happ is pondering some changes to his repertoire.
“One of the things we’re exploring with him,” McClendon said, “is he actually has a real good changeup that he hasn’t used a lot. He’s relied on his cutter a little bit more.
“We’re trying to get him to expand on (his cutter) as well, which I think would make him even better.”
McClendon said he believes Happ can provide the Mariners with 200 innings.
“Most clubs that are successful and trying to get to the playoffs,” McClendon said, “you need at least three starters who are going to give you innings; who approach that 200-inning mark.
“I think he’s one of those guys who can give us those type of innings.”
Happ, 32, worked 158 innings last season in Toronto and has never pitched more than 166 innings in any of his eight big-league seasons.
MLB Network rankings
Right-hander Felix Hernandez and second baseman Robinson Cano are among the game’s top 10 players in “right now” rankings by MLB Network.
Hernandez ranks third overall behind Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw and Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Cano placed No. 10.
The rest of the Top 10 (Nos. 4-9): Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, White Sox lefty Chris Sale, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, Giants catcher Buster Posey and White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu.
Three other Mariners made the Top 100: right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma was No. 47; third baseman Kyle Seager was No. 57; and designated hitter Nelson Cruz was No. 66.
SHORT HOPS
Lefty James Paxton remains on track to test his recovery from a sore forearm, perhaps as soon as Monday, by resuming throwing activities. He suffered the injury in early February when he reached to brace himself as he fell to the ground after stumbling in an agility drill. … Rain is in the forecast through Monday, which puts that day’s intrasquad game in doubt. McClendon said, “I don’t think it’s of such importance that we’d reschedule it. Most likely, we’d move on.”
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