The Mariners have been having trouble scoring runs this season and they are thinking about calling up catcher Jeff Clement and making him the full time DH. Clement is blocked at catcher by Kenji Johjima. Clement has played in 23 games in AAA ball this season and he is 31 for 78 (.397 avg, 1.227 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 5 homers and 20 RBIs. Clement is also showing great plate discipline in the minors as he has walked 22 times while whiffing only 12 times. Jose Vidro will likely get bumped out of the starting lineup if Clement comes up.

This might be the season that Felix Hernandez achieves what everyone said he was capable of. Hernandez has started 5 games for the Mariners this season and he is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has whiffed 31 batters in 37.2 innings so far this season which shows how hard it is for hitters to handle his stuff. He probably should be 5-0 already this season but the Mariners have had problems scoring runs in his starts and the bullpen has had it’s issues protecting leads this season.

The Seattle Mariners have placed IF/OF Mike Morse on the 15-day disabled list but he will miss the remainder of the season. He underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Morse played in 5 games this season for the Mariners and he was 2 for 9 (.222 avg, .697 OPS) with 1 run scored. It’s a shame that Morse got injured this season as he worked his way into a platoon in RF with Brad Wilkerson. He did it with a incredible spring training showcase of hitting. Morse will likely have an uphill climb to make it back to Seattle next season.

The Mariners have placed Erik Bedard on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left hip. Bedard has started 2 games for the Mariners this season and he is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Bedard will be replaced in the rotation by righty R.A. Dickey. The knuckle-balling Dickey has pitched in 1 game for the Mariners so far this season and he worked a scoreless inning. This will be a huge dropoff for the Mariners as they were expecting Bedard to be their #1 starter this season.

31-year old righty swinging J.J. Putz will be the closer when he’s healthy. He has been placed on the D.L. with a rib cage injury and the Mariners don’t know how long they will be without him. Miguel Batista saved the game last night for the Mariners but they will likely keep him in the starting rotation when his spot comes up. Putz was awesome last season as he pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 6-1 with 40 saves, a 1.38 ERA and a 0.70 WHIP. He also allowed only 37 hits while whiffing 82 batters in only 71.2 innings last year. Look for him to be one of the best closers in all of baseball when he gets healthy.

25-year old righty Mark Lowe has the stuff to be a closer but the Mariners won’t likely give him that job because of the workload as they want him healthy all season long. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. He has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has whiffed 23 batters in 21.1 major league innings which shows what kind of stuff he has.

25-year old lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith will be one of the lefties that gets a chance to replace the departed George Sherrill. He pitched in 26 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 1-0 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He is usually matched up well as he whiffed 42 batters in 38.2 innings last year for the Mariners.

23-year old lefty Eric O’Flaherty also wants to pitch late in games this season. He pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 7-1 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

29-year old righty Sean Green needs to throw more strikes this season for the Mariners. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 5-2 with a 3.84 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.

27-year old righty Roy Corcoran was brought up to the majors to replace the injured J.J. Putz in the bullpen. He didn’t pitch in the majors at all last season. He has now pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-1 with a 5.89 ERA and a 2.07 WHIP.

23-year old righty Brandon Morrow might have the best stuff on the Mariners pitching staff but he will start the season in AAA working on his control. He pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last season and he was 3-4 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. He did whiff 66 batters in only 63.1 innings for the Mariners last season but he did walk 50 batters and that’s just unacceptable.

Righties Chris Reitsma, Jon Huber and lefties Arthur Rhodes and Jake Woods will start the season in the minors for the Mariners.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: C+