Mariners notes: Morrow’s roster bid all but sure

PEORIA, Ariz. – Final roster decisions won’t be made until next weekend, but one thing has become a near certainty for the Seattle Mariners.

Rookie pitcher Brandon Morrow, a spring training invitee who has eight games of professional experience, has all but made the team.

“I don’t have a whole lot of problem with it,” manager Mike Hargrove said Saturday. “There’s been a lot of discussion but if he continues to throw the way he’s throwing, I know what my recommendation is going to be.”

Morrow, a right-hander who was the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft, has shown his 97 mph fastball and a diving splitter, but also poise on the mound that convinces the Mariners he can succeed at the major league level.

Seattle loves what Morrow, 22, can give it late in the game when there’s nothing better than a power arm to pull out of the bullpen. He hasn’t allowed a run in five exhibition games, and opponents are hitting .087 off him.

Sherrill shows hope

Left-hander George Sherrill, who has struggled this month more than any of the Mariners’ relievers, pitched a scoreless seventh inning to drop his spring ERA to 15.00.

It was a positive outing for Sherrill, even though he walked one hitter and left his fastball high in the strike zone several times.

“He got it down more, but he didn’t get it down enough,” Hargrove said.

Lowe improves

Reliever Mark Lowe, out until midseason because of elbow surgery, was re-examined and said he could begin throwing as soon as this week.

Lowe had surgery on his right elbow last October, then again last month to remove scar tissue that was limiting his flexibility.