Mariners bring up veteran Norton

Looking for more pop in the lineup, the Mariners called up veteran infielder Greg Norton from Triple-A Tacoma Friday and designated outfielder Charlton Jimerson for assignment.

Norton, 35, is a switch-hitter. In Tacoma, he was hitting .409, with two doubles and three RBIs in seven games. He played two games at first base and three in the outfield for Tacoma.

The M’s have 10 days to either trade, release or assign Jimerson outright to the minors.

“We debated it coming out of spring training, whether we’d use Jimerson or Norton’s bat off the bench more,” Seattle manager John McLaren said. “The way it’s been going, we need to get a different look.”

Norton is a career .252 hitter in 11 seasons with four different teams. He hit .243 in 75 games with Tampa Bay last season, with four homers and 23 RBIs.

He said he had mixed feeling about being called up. Tacoma was about to go on a road trip to Colorado Springs, a short drive from where his family lives, in Denver.

“On the other hand, I’m going to the big leagues, so it kind of balances out,” Norton said.

Jimerson had just one at-bat and was primarily used as a pinch runner. Because of the M’s offensive problems, the opportunity to use Jimerson rarely came up. Slower players – Kenji Johjima, Jose Vidro, Brad Wilkerson – have hit little, limiting the possibility of Jimerson to use his blazing speed as a pinch runner.

“I’m still shocked,” Jimerson said shortly before Friday’s game. “What is it, 10 games (into the season)? Shocked.”

Not just another series

Even though it’s early in the season, McLaren said the three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels is important.

“Whenever you play your rivals, it means a lot,” he said. “It’s not a do-or-die situation by any means. We just want to play well. We’ve won two of three series, but then we had that terrible series in Baltimore, where they swept us.”

Putz improves

Injured closer J.J. Putz, on the 15-day disabled list with a rib-cage injury, threw well before the game, McLaren said.

“He was good; he threw free,” McLaren said. “I just got the good news. I don’t know the next step. Stay tuned.”

Notable

Going into Friday’s game, the M’s had leads in five of their six losses. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Mariners are the fifth team in A.L. history to lose five or more of their first seven games and to have had a lead in all of their losses … Through 10 games, Richie Sexson was tied for the A.L. lead with nine walks. He’d drawn at least one walk in eight games, including seven of the last eight. Six of his walks have come on a full count … Going into the game, Seattle’s bullpen had a 6.75 ERA, 29th in the majors.