Mariners are lacking punch at DH

The job qualifications couldn't be any more straightforward.

Hit.

That's all the designated hitter is required to do in the American League. No throwing. No catching. No running other than the pesky 90 feet between bases.

A team can pick any player for that spot without regard for his defensive abilities, and yet that position has the worst batting average of any position in the Mariners lineup this season. Seattle's designated hitters have batted a cumulative .193, slightly worse than the .199 that Mariners first basemen are hitting.

Seattle began the season with switch-hitting Jose Vidro as the designated hitter, then shelved him behind prospect Jeff Clement a few weeks ago. That trial run stopped with Clement's demotion to the minor leagues Sunday, and manager John McLaren said the Mariners will go back to Vidro at that position for today's game in Detroit.

"He's here basically for his bat, so we're going to try and get that going," McLaren said.

These are lean times for the position Edgar Martinez filled so ably for so many years in Seattle. He was so proficient that baseball's yearly award for the top designated hitter bears his name.

This season, Mariners DHs have combined for two home runs and a slugging percentage of .289, both marks at the bottom of the American League.

The Mariners aren't alone in terms of diminished production from the position. Production of designated hitters has declined overall in the American League this season. Cleveland's Travis Hafner has struggled and Boston's David Ortiz still is trying to overcome a cold start. After Sunday's games, AL designated hitters were down in batting average (.243 after hitting .268 in 2007), on-base percentage (.333 from .355 last season) and slugging percentage (.403 from .449).

The Mariners' decline in power from the position dates back to last season, when Vidro arrived and the Mariners fell to last in the league in home runs by their designated hitters with nine. This season, Vidro isn't hitting for a decent average, either — just .207.

Vidro started only two of the past 13 games, suffering from soreness in his back. But injury didn't remove him from the lineup in the first place. The Mariners turned to Clement in hopes he would provide more punch.

Clement spent some time as designated hitter at Tacoma while he was in a catching platoon with Rob Johnson, but McLaren said the adjustment to full-time DH can be a challenge for younger players.

"Some kids have some nervous energy," McLaren said. "It took Edgar a while to find the niche."

When McLaren was on the coaching staff with Toronto in the late 1980s, Blue Jays designated hitter Cliff Johnson found a way to fill time by filling his belly.

"He'd go eat candy bars and somebody would come tell him his next at-bat was coming," McLaren said. "He'd show up and he'd go hit."

That's fine. Hitting is all that a designated hitter is required to do. Now, if the Mariners could just get someone to do that consistently.

Mariners recall Reed

Outfielder Jeremy Reed has been recalled from Class AAA Tacoma, taking the roster spot of Clement.

Reed, who turns 27 on June 15, was hitting .349 with six home runs and 21 RBI for the Rainiers. He will be in uniform today in Detroit.

The Mariners also claimed right-hander Tracy Thorpe off waivers from the Blue Jays. Thorpe was 2-0 with four saves in 13 games for AAA Syracuse before he was designated for assignment on May 10.

Thorpe is 27-36 with 35 saves and a 4.49 earned-run average in nine minor-league seasons, all in the Toronto organization.

Note

• Mariners play-by-play announcer Dave Niehaus will receive the 2008 Ford C. Frick award Saturday at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Niehaus is scheduled to speak on his career during a one-hour program that begins at 2 p.m. in Cooperstown.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com