TODAY’S GAME
Opponent: Chicago White Sox
When: 1:10 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: ROOT Sports
Radio: ESPN 710 AM
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Jason Vargas (7-11, 4.18 earned run average) vs. right-hander Gavin Floyd (11-10, .45).
NOTES
Multi-tasking rookie
On an empty field Saturday afternoon, Kyle Seager was at shortstop fielding balls and getting pointers from Mariners bench coach Robby Thompson. Saturday night, Seager was back at third base making his 20th start at that position.
Seager has played only 25 games in his first major league season, but he already has become a master of versatility on the infield. Besides third, he also has started once at second base and, last week after Luis Rodriguez was hit by a pitch and injured, twice at shortstop.
They’re all positions Seager has played in college and the minor leagues, and he welcomes the versatility even though it can be unsettling for a young player in the big leagues.
“I just like being on the field and playing,” he said. “The position doesn’t matter to me too much.”
Still, it can make a rookie’s head spin even at one position when he’s facing multiple situations at major league speed for the first time. That’s why Seager’s afternoon sessions with Thompson, an All-Star second baseman when he played with the Giants, are so valuable.
“We’ve talked about all sorts of things _ holding guys on at different positions, how to cover the bag at different positions, how you would play certain players at different positions,” Seager said. “Pretty much all aspects of the infield, he’s helped me out. With each position there’s its own uniqueness.”
There are bunt plays to remember, cutoffs to know, signs and signals. Confusing?
“You think about the scenario _ what type of runners there are, what type of hitter it is,” Seager said. “But it’s not as bad as you would think because when you’re out there, most of the time it (feels) natural.
“Before or after a game, there’s so much more thought going on than when you’re playing. It’s kind of like when you’re first called up and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my god!’ when you first get there. But once you’re on the field, you’re just playing.”
Seager said he feels comfortable at all three positions, even shortstop, which he essentially was thrown into last week after Rodriguez was hurt.
“I played short pretty much through high school and a little bit in college,” he said. “In college I was predominately at second base, and my last year I played the whole time at third base. I’ve gotten a lot of reps at all the positions.”
Bobbleheads from Bernandez himself
The first 20,000 through the gates Saturday night received a “Larry Bernandez” bobblehead, and for a few minutes “Bernandez” himself handed it to them.
The promotion was the result of the Mariners’ popular TV commercial this year featuring ace pitcher Felix Hernandez. In the commercial, Hernandez wears a wig, fake sideburns and glasses, and doctors the name on his jersey to read “Bernandez” in order to convince manager Eric Wedge to allow him to pitch.
For about 15 minutes before the game, Hernandez transformed himself into “Bernandez” and appeared at the home-plate entrance handing bobbleheads to fans. Many stopped to have their photo taken with him, others simply took the bobblehead and walked away without realizing who’d just handed it to them, and some thought the guy was close to looking like the real thing.
Hernandez _ er, Bernandez _ also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Of note
Wedge said first baseman Justin Smoak (broken nose and cheekbone) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday. … Third baseman Chone Figgins (strained right hip flexor) also may start a rehab assignment this week. … Wedge said Mike Carp, who has gotten most of the starts at first base the past two weeks, would get playing time in left field and DH when Smoak returns. … With the Mariners going with a six-man pitching rotation, here’s how their starters line up after today: Blake Beavan on Monday, Anthony Vasquez on Tuesday, Felix Hernandez on Wednesday, Charlie Furbush on Thursday (all vs. the Angels), Michael Pineda on Friday and Jason Vargas on Saturday (at Oakland).
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