If you take a quick look at Mariners rookie reliever Carson Smith's numbers, you can make the easy conclusion he is having a pretty good season. He is 1-2 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.74 WHIP in 24 outings. He also has 28 strikeouts to just five walks in 23 innings.
With closer Fernando Rodney struggling, Smith appears to be a potential option to step into the closer's role, if manager Lloyd McClendon were to make a change. However, if that were to happen, it doesn't appear Smith would be his first choice.
“We have to be careful with him, particularly with his innings," McClendon said, per The News Tribune. "Particularly with back-to-back-to-back (situations). I’m not sure if he can do that. I think his velocity goes down quite a bit.
“He doesn’t yet have his man muscles. He needs to mature and continue to develop. He’s doing a nice job, but I think part of him doing a nice job is the fact we’ve put him in positions where he can be successful. When you’re a closer, you don’t have that (luxury). It is what it is, and you’ve got to go in and get it done.”