SEATTLE -- Leave it to Logan Morrison and a bit of historic timing to quickly find a way to put a career milestone in proper perspective.
Morrison's home run late in the Rays' 9-2 loss to the Mariners on Saturday night was the 100th round-tripper of his Major League career, an achievement that speaks not only to talent but longevity -- he's been in the big leagues since 2010, when he broke in with the Marlins at the age of 22 -- and persistence.
But Morrison didn't exactly get to bask in the glow of his round-number benchmark. That's because Angels slugger Jose Pujols hit his 600th career homer on the same night. And Pujols' homer was a grand slam.
"All I have to do is average 50 for the next 10 years, and then I'll be right there with him," Morrison said Sunday morning before the Rays faced the Mariners.
Kidding aside, Morrison said he doesn't think much about the compilation of numbers over time. What's more important, he said, is the constant search for good swings, of barrel-to-ball contact that results in getting the ball in the air. That leads to home runs, and he's got 16 so far this season in 185 at-bats.
Heading into Sunday, Morrison had a slugging percentage of .551 and an OPS of .898, which blows away any numbers he's put up in his career to date.
But Morrison knows baseball is often a humbling game, which is why he doesn't seem to put too much stock into his scorching start.
"It's a constant process," Morrison said. "I feel all right where I'm at right now and I'd like to keep it going."
And about that triple-digit total?
"It's better than not hitting any," Morrison said.
"I mean, I'm just trying to take it one day at a time, win each pitch, try to get a good pitch to hit, put the barrel on it and see what happens. That's really the only thing I'm thinking about."
Rays manager Kevin Cash has thought a bit more about what Morrison's contribution has meant to the club so far this year.
"This whole season's been a nice feather in his cap, feather in our cap," Cash said. "He's continued to get big hit after big hit."
Norris out: As expected, catcher Derek Norris was out of the Sunday lineup after leaving Saturday night's game in the eighth inning after suffering a back spasm following a lineout.
Cash said Norris "came in better" Sunday morning and could theoretically be used in an "emergency" situation, but that the staff was hopeful that Norris would get through the long flight back to Florida in good order and possibly be ready for Tuesday's home game against the White Sox.