Success on farm may yield future benefits

SEATTLE - Farm system success gets the attention of any Seattle Mariners manager, but the Tacoma Rainiers' divisional championship is more personal for manager Daren Brown.

The Rainiers clinched the title with a 9-0 win over Fresno on Sunday.

“It’s a little different situation when you’ve been down there with those guys for 100 games of the season,” said Brown, who was promoted from Tacoma to Seattle on Aug. 9 to replace Don Wakamatsu. “We had an eight- or nine-game lead at some point in July. But the roster turnover and the way things go there, it’s going to change. It always does. …

“We had a nine-game lead when we had (Chris) Seddon and (Luke) French down there winning 10 and 11 games in your rotation. You take those guys out, some other guys have to step in, and sometimes it takes a little bit of time. In the end, it usually all equals out, and (I’m happy they won).”

Elsewhere in the organization, Clinton clinched Sunday in the Midwest League, West Tennessee has clinched a Southern League playoff spot, High Desert has clinched in the California League, and Everett won the Northwest League first half.

The Mariners think their prospects are learning valuable lessons amid all of that success.

The big club called pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith back to Seattle after his Thursday start with the Rainiers, but Brown said that was a rehab assignment and therefore a special case. For the most part, the organization hopes to let the current rosters play through their league playoffs.

Brown said part of that is for those clubs, but also because pressure games are an important part of player development.

“I think you’ve got to learn how to win,” he said. “You’ve got a couple of guys down in Tacoma hitting 30 home runs, we’ve got (Matt) Mangini hitting over .300.

“The numbers are good. But the fact that they’ve got a chance to celebrate means they did some things to win ballgames and ultimately beat the other three clubs in their division. That’s what it’s about.”

SHORT HOPS

Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez was feeling ill for the second straight day and was kept out of the lineup Sunday. Gutierrez said he felt better than he did the day before and hopes to be available today when the Mariners begin a three-game series at Oakland. … The win over Cleveland marked the Mariners’ 10th shutout of the season. … With Russell Branyon’s home run in the sixth inning, he has reached base in all seven games he has played against Cleveland this season. … Casey Kotchman’s single in the second extended his hitting streak to a season-high six games. … David Aardsma’s scoreless ninth dropped his ERA to 0.95 since July 11, and gave him his 12th save in 16 appearances over that period.

ON TAP

The Mariners begin their penultimate trip of the season, which will take them to Oakland and Anaheim, Calif. Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. in Oakland. Seattle’s Jason Vargas (9-8, 3.55 ERA) will oppose Oakland left-hander Brett Anderson (3-6, 3.17).

Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com