Nelson Cruz Out!

Nelson Cruz left the Mariners game Saturday night in the fifth inning after getting a single only one of three hits against the Los Angeles Angels in a 4-0 loss.

What the status of Cruz for Sunday’s game and in the near future is not known at this time although according to manager Scott Servais there was no structural damage. For the past month Cruz has had to deal with his hand and sore calf. He was thrown out trying to make it to second base.  He was replaced in the lineup by Mike Zunino who had the game off in the field. I am sure at this point Cruz status will be day to day. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was given Sunday off. Saturday was his 37^th birthday as well.

Depending on what the Mariners are thinking on Sunday Cruz could end up on the ten day disabled list to give him some rest. The Mariners do have four capable outfielders who could take turns as designated hitter if they give him time off without putting him on the disabled list. The Mariners are carrying extra pitcher in the bullpen to so they could bring up another everyday player as well.

Personally I am not a big fan of an everyday designated hitter. A lot depends on the team’s roster. In the case of the Mariners right now Cruz is the best choice of being designated hitter and because of injuries he can’t play a lot in the field. Since they do have four capable outfielders having players taking turns at dh would make sense. Also this would allow players like Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager to have an occasional day off from the field but have their bats still in the lineup and if they were having some nagging injuries like Cruz has.

Robinson Cano being on a ten year contact I would not be surprised when he is older that he would play more at designated hitter and the same would go for Seager. If you have a roster where the team could use an everyday designated hitter I would go for it but I would not get one just to be on your roster.

Now we will see how things go for Cruz the rest of the season. Sunday will be announced who will be on the All-Star team. Will the Mariners have to put another player on that roster instead of Cruz we will see?

James Paxton goes Sunday for the Mariners. We will see how he does now after having a few bad outings though the last one was better than the previous couple of them. It would be nice to pick up another win against the Angels before returning home against the Royals and A’s before the All-Star game. Go M’s.