Mariners notebook: The new routine finally gets underway

After a spring full of mostly day games, and with Opening Day behind them, the Mariners finally have what can be considered a normal day. A 7:07 Central start allows for a schedule that they will see the majority of days during the season. Routines can be set and, not surprisingly, they will be a little different this season.

The team will have advance meetings on the first day of a series like normal, but they will be held in a room that has been designated for those meetings rather than in the clubhouse. The hitters will have daily hitters meetings as opposed to meetings at the start of series. This is something that Edgar Martinez started last year and something the veterans requested be continued.

“It’s just part of getting ready for the game now,” said Nelson Cruz. “I think you have so much information about pitching and defense and what’s going on in the game that sometimes you can lose key points of what pitchers have or what pitchers are going to bring. It is always nice to have that reminder.”

In addition to the meetings, early work will be assigned. We saw that Tuesday with Scott Servais throwing batting practice to Nori Aoki, Franklin Gutierrez, Dae-Ho Lee and Cruz hours before BP. Servais throwing batting practice is something we will see often. It is a different look for the manager, who usually stands behind the cage during BP.

“A lot,” Servais answered when asked what he got out of throwing BP. “Just to see it. It’s not my place to speak up and say a whole lot – Edgar is working on specific things, but you can see a lot from throwing BP. I love throwing, I always have. I can work the ball in certain areas where guys want it or need work. I can also put it in good spots so they can feel good about themselves.”

There will be extra defensive work as well. Servais prefers to bring the infielders out early for work rather than having them get that work in during batting practice when so much is going on. It won’t be a daily thing, but we will see it. The outfielders will have their drills as well.

“They need to keep throwing,” said Servais. “Outfielders don’t throw enough. In my opinion it is probably one of the lost arts in the game. They don’t take infield like they used to. Which is OK, I understand that, but they still need to come out and make their throws whether it is in infield or coming out and throwing to the bases accuracy wise.”

Servais will leave it up to the infield and outfield coaches to schedule the work.

Lineup!

Notes

• Lee makes his first big league start after making his debut as a pinch hitter Monday. Lee was the first one in the dugout before Tuesday’s game.

• Seth Smith will get his first start of the season on Wednesday as the Rangers will go with the righty Colby Lewis. We should see Steve Clevenger catch his first game as well with the day game after the night game. While saying it was likely, Servais would not fully commit to having him in the lineup. If Chris Iannetta has another night tonight like last night, Servais might go with him again as Thursday is an off day.

• Probables for the series against Oakland: Friday, Taijuan Walker vs. TBD; Saturday, Nathan Karns vs. Rich Hill; Sunday, Felix Hernandez vs. Chris Bassitt. The Mariners will not face Sonny Gray as originally scheduled as he was pushed to Wednesday after missing Opening Day with food poisoning.