M's 4 | Dodgers 2
Ms make a minor league deal sending Mike Morse to the Nats for Ryan Langerhans
The bone spurs in his left shoulder have become so painful that Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre has decided to have surgery.The two-time Gold Glove winner tried to play through the pain, but decided at some point between the first two games of the Mariners' Interleague series against the Dodgers that the team would be better if he had surgery sooner rather than later.
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Beltre disclosed after Saturday night's game against the Dodgers that he would have surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles and it will be performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum. He also said that he might play in Sunday's series finale, although that remains up in the air.
"I don't think I can help the team like I wanted to, every day on the field," Beltre said of his decision to have the surgery sooner rather than later. "It got to the point it's really painful. My contribution won't be enough to help the team win. Hopefully I can get it fixed and come back 100 percent."
Beltre is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
"He feels very bad about it," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "He likes what's going on here and wants to be part of this thing."
:::Beltre described the pain as "like being stabbed" and the only reason he hadn't shut it down sooner was because of the way the Mariners have been playing.
"If we were out of it, I probably wouldn't be thinking about [playing]," he said. "We're playing good, and I want to be part of something that might be special. We might get to the playoffs. Who knows?"
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But his determination has been off the chart.
"He's a tough guy," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "By reputation, I knew coming in here that it was awfully hard to get him out of the lineup, no matter what. I know he has played off and on with his shoulder and it has gotten worse."
:::"It creates a dilemma, no question about it," Zduriencik said of the latest setback. "We have lost some vital part of our club, but it opens opportunities for other players. Guys have stepped up."
The short-term solution could be either Jose Lopez or Chris Woodward playing third base and someone, perhaps Mike Morse, being promoted from Triple-A Tacoma.
Minor League third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo, the perceived heir-apparent to Beltre, underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow and currently is on a rehab assignment in Arizona. He has played in only eight games this season.
General manager Jack Zduriencik told reporters in L.A. that he didn't have a firm plan in place yet, but speculated on Jose Lopez moving to third or using Chris Woodward there.
The M's also could consider moving Russell Branyan to third, where he played earlier in his career, which would allow rookie Mike Carp to get playing time at first. That move has some merit, though Branyan would be a defensive liability.
But why not bring Mike Morse up from Tacoma and let him play third? Though Morse has been playing shortstop recently for the Rainiers this year, he seems like a natural third baseman with his size and range.
Morse is hitting .307 in Tacoma with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 65 games. I'd put him ahead of Cedeno by a long shot at this point and certainly capable of hitting with more power than Woodward.
Matt Tuiasosopo seemed the best bet at season's start when he opened the year with the Mariners before being sent to Tacoma, but he underwent elbow surgery in mid-May and is still recovering as well.
Adrian Beltre has said enough. I thought when we spoke to him yesterday that he would opt for the surgery sooner rather than later. When I saw him favoring the shoulder running late in the game, I knew knew this would be the outcome.
Adrian will play his last game tonight then have the surgery to remove bone spurs from his shoulder. He had hoped to be able to play through the pain but it has become impossible for him. Jack Z was told literally minutes ago so we do not have specifics on when the surgery will take place but we do know that the expected recovery time is 6-8 weeks.
It was strange getting the news. Kind of deja vu as it was in the dugout in Anaheim late last season that we got the news that he could not deal with the thumb, and shoulder we would later learn, anymore and that he would play his last game the next day in Anaheim. Tough news for a guy who wants to be out there, very tough news for a guy for who thought the bone spurs have been taken care of.
What now for the M's? Jack Z brought up the possibility of Jose Lopez playing third and sure enough, minutes after he told us, Lopez was over at 3rd taking ground balls. The news is so new his teammates didn't even know. Someone told Mike Sweeney during bp and he headed to the dugout to have some words with Adrian and give him a hug.
Chris Woodward's groin pull has healed enough for him to play. I have to think Mike Morse could get a look as he has played all over the infield in Tacoma. Beyond that, nothing is ready in the system. The M's either have to get very creative with what they have, Branyan at third, Carp at first? Most likely, Jack is going to have to go get some help.
"We've been bracing for this for awhile," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "It creates a dilemma, but it creates an opportunity, too."
Asked if itt were one play that pushed the decision on him, Beltre shook his head.
"It's everything I do, the way it feels every day," he said.Beltre said trying to play through the pain hasn't been working.
"It would be different if I was helping the team, but I'm not," Beltre said.Medical tests show a large spur in Beltre's lefrt - non-throwing shoulder - and nothing short of surgery will repair it.
What will the Mariners do without him?Russell Branyan has played third base in the past, and moving him would let the team slide Mike Carp into the lineup at first base. That said, it's unlikely that will happen.
Branyan is playing well enough at first to handle his own - moving him to third, where he's less effective, wouldn't help Seattle's infield defense.
More likely, Jose Lopez will move from second base to third, and Ronny Cedeno and Chris Woodward can play second base.
The issue isn’t “if” Beltre will need an operation to remove bone spurs that have regrown in the same place, it’s “when.”“It’s the same thing I had last year, bone spurs, only it’s worse. I had X-rays (Tuesday) and they’ve grown back, in the same place,” Beltre said. “I think they’re worse this year.
“I’m going to need surgery, now or later. It’s a matter of how long I can play with the pain.”
Team trainer Rick Griffin acknowledged the inevitability of taking care of the spurs.
“If he had surgery today, he wouldn’t miss the whole season,” Griffin said, “but it wouldn’t be a short rehab, either. Can he play through it? He couldn’t the other day. We’ll have to see.
“It’s Adrian’s call.”
The Gold Glove infielder, in the final year of his contract and considered a valuable entity as the trade deadline approaches, may now be untradable.
“If I lift my arm, it’s there. If I raise my arm over my head, it’s there. If my swing raises my arm, it’s there,” Beltre said. “Any time I dive for a ball, the pain is there.
“I want to keep playing. I’m going to keep playing and see what happens.”
Hurting heart. Jose didn't make it home in time...
Mariners second baseman Jose Lopez's older sister passed away late last week after a lengthy battle with cancer.
The team did not actually find out the details until his agent contacted GM Jack Zduriencik on Monday. It turns out Lopez's sister actually passed away before he could make it down to Venezuela to see her. But he did make it down in time for her funeral.
Hammy whammy. Yuni on the DL...
The Seattle Mariners placed starting shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt on the 15-day disabled list Thursday after he pulled his hamstring running out a ground ball the previous night.
Betancourt injured the lower part of his right hamstring after hitting a ground ball in the eighth inning in Wednesday night's 4-3 win over San Diego. Betancourt was on crutches in the Mariners' clubhouse before Thursday's game and manager Don Wakamatsu said it will be at least 15 days before Betancourt is recovered.
He won't be eligible to come off the DL until July 10, just three games before the All-Star break.
Shoulder still not ready. Erik's return delayed...
Collision in the outfield. Endy's season ended...The Mariners are also delaying the return of Bedard. Expected to return in New York next week, Wakamatsu said it's now likely Bedard won't start again until July 4 in Boston.
Bedard was placed on the DL on June 17, retroactive to June 8, with inflammation in his left shoulder.
Mariners left fielder Endy Chavez is done for the rest of this season and possibly part of 2010 after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), as well as his medial collateral ligament (MCL). He also tore part of his lateral meniscus, which acts as a protective coating to the knee itself. There were no fractures, but he does have a deep bone bruise.
Chavez was injured in the fifth inning Friday when he collided with teammate Yuniesky Betancourt trying to catch a shallow pop fly.
Mariners medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan's preliminary guess is that Chavez will be out nine to 12 months, which means he might not be ready to start 2010 on time. Khalfayan said Chavez "would be limited to what he could do" in spring training.
"It's not just a simple, straightforward ACL tear that doesn't have any other damage," he said. "He has a very severe injury to the MCL. And those can be Grade 1, 2, and 3 sprains and his is a Grade 3 sprain which is a complete tear."
Surgery won't be performed for two to three weeks until the swelling subsides and Chavez gets some range-of-motion back. After that, it will be four months before he can try running again.
M's 7 | Padres 9
Chavez tore a pair of ligaments and cartilage in his knee, the Mariners said Saturday. Team physician Dr. Edward Khalfayan said the likely recovery time for Chavez following surgery will be about nine months to one year."He's in pretty good spirits, but obviously the news that it's a pretty tragic and devastating injury," Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said.
Seattle placed Chavez on the 60-day disabled list and added infielder Josh Wilson to the 25-man roster. Wilson was claimed on waivers by the Mariners on Friday after splitting the 2009 season between the Arizona and San Diego organizations.
Chavez was injured in the fifth inning of Friday night's 4-3 win over Arizona. Trying to chase down a pop into shallow left field, the charging Chavez collided with retreating shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt. The pair banged knees, causing Chavez's right leg to hyperextend. Khalfayan believes the hyperextension tore Chavez's anterior cruciate ligament, and when Chavez flipped and landed hard on the field, his medial collateral ligament was torn.
Khalfayan, who is also a team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, likened Chavez's injury to those sustained by Seahawks receivers Deion Branch and Nate Burleson. He attended to Chavez on the field Friday night and was confident that Chavez had torn both ligaments.
It'll likely be another few weeks before Chavez can undergo surgery and the full extent of the damage is revealed. Surgery will occur once swelling goes down and rehabilitation is expected to begin immediately after surgery.
Khalfayan said with most ACL tears, he keeps patients from running for three months. With Chavez, it will likely be four months before the speedster will be given the OK to run.
There's at least one person who doesn't blame Yuni for the collision (Greg Johns)...
The ball was hit in a tough spot -- directly between two on-rushing players who were hustling to make the catch. You can't criticize Betancourt for being lazy on one hand, then rip him for making what turned out to be an incredible, hustling catch on this one.
Unfortunately, Chavez was going full out at the same time and both were eying the ball and not each other.
Yes, Chavez called for the ball. But if you watch the video here from mlb.com, you'll see Chavez didn't yell until the very last second ... far too late for Betancourt to change his momentum or direction.
"Today was special," Griffey said, grinning over his 618th career home run, the hugs he got from nearly every giddy teammate and then the fans' curtain call he answered by emerging from the dugout and tipping his batting helmet.good stuff..."Just a little chance of giving back, appreciating all the things they've done for me over the years," Griffey said of the people who have loved him since he was a 19-year-old rookie star here two decades ago.
Johnson thinks Griffey is special, too. His locker neighbor shared heartfelt condolences with him Friday, after Johnson returned from being gone five days to Texas following the death of his mother-in-law. Griffey told the young catcher how he got through losing loved ones -- including his best friend, Frank King, who died 13 months ago at the age of 38 of cancer.Johnson called his wife, who is still in Houston with their son, before he took batting practice. Hours later he watched Griffey's heroic moment in awe -- and then became a hero himself.
"I couldn't think of a better situation. So many of us wouldn't be here in this stadium if it wasn't for him," Johnson said of Griffey.
Bedard, 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 11 starts, has not pitched since June 7. The 30-year-old missed a start in Colorado last weekend with the inflammation before being placed on the DL retroactive to June 8.He is scheduled to see Los Angeles Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Thursday. Yocum performed shoulder surgery on Bedard in September.
"I'm hoping this is just precautionary. We backdated the DL, which bought us some time," general manager Jack Zduriencik said before the Mariners played the San Diego Padres.
"What we're hoping for is that he's ready to go next week," Zduriencik said. "That's our best plans for him and we hope that happens. We'll know a little more after tomorrow. Nobody wants to take a chance. We're close, we're right here and Yocum's very familiar with him and what's gone on in the past."
It sounds like Carp might not be here much beyond, when Russell Branyan is going to be in Georgia at his grandfather's funeral. The Mariners are hoping that Branyan is back in time for Friday's game in Seattle, at which time Carp might be back with Tacoma.fun news..."We're looking at short-term right now,'' manager Don Wakamatsu said of Carp's stay. "But it's a great opportunity for him. There's probably not a better place to come for your debut than San Diego."
Especially when your entire family is in nearby Long Beach. They hustled down for tonight's game; Carp left 28 passes.
KANSAS CITY -- Joe Maddon has known Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu for more than 25 years. Maddon just met Royals manager Trey Hillman last season.
Both will be at Maddon's side when he manages the American League All-Star team at the 80th All-Star Game on June 14 in St. Louis.
Maddon, who earned the honor of managing the American League side after leading the Rays to the World Series in 2008, selected Seattle's Wakamatsu and Kansas City's Hillman as coaches for Midsummer Classic.
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Maddon said he met Wakamatsu in the early 80s, when Wakamatsu was playing at Arizona State.
"He was a catcher there and Jim Brock was the manager at that time. Actually, I was a young scout and a Minor League manager myself. Coach Brock invited me out to work with his catchers and one happens to be Wak," Maddon said. "I just thought it would be a great opportunity for him, being his first year in Seattle, to come to the All-Star Game. It should be, in some ways, beneficial to him and to that franchise."
:::He coached in the 2003 All-Star Game while serving as the bench coach of the Angels. And he's happy to have Wakamatsu and Hillman on board as he prepares to fill the manager's seat for the first time.
"I've always been a big Wak fan and I've gotten to know Trey and I like Trey. I think that the relationship between St. Louis and Kansas City made it the right thing to do."
Joe Maddon has known Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu for more than 25 years. Maddon just met Royals manager Trey Hillman last season. Both will be at Maddon's side when he manages the American League All-Star team at the 80th All-Star Game on June 14 in St. Louis.
Maddon, who earned the honor of managing the American League side after leading the Rays to the World Series in 2008, selected Seattle's Wakamatsu and Kansas City's Hillman as coaches for Midsummer Classic. Maddon's Tampa Bay staff, including third-base coach Tom Foley, hitting coach Steve Henderson, first-base coach George Hendrick, pitching coach Jim Hickey, bench coach Dave Martinez and
bullpen coach Bobby Ramos, will accompany Maddon to St. Louis as well.
Maddon said he met Wakamatsu in the early 80s, when Wakamatsu was playing at
Arizona State. "He was a catcher there and Jim Brock was the manager at that
time. Actually, I was a young scout and a Minor League manager myself. Coach
Brock invited me out to work with his catchers and one happens to be Wak,"
Maddon said. "I just thought it would be a great opportunity for him, being his
first year in Seattle, to come to the All-Star Game. It should be, in some ways,
beneficial to him and to that franchise." Wakamatsu said Maddon offered
him the job when the Rays visited Seattle earlier this season. "I've known Joe for 25 years, and was honored he'd ask me, especially a first-year manager," Wakamatsu said. "It's quite an opportunity. I'll bring my family with me and have them share it with me."Wakamatsu' players were also excited to hear that their first-year skipper was headed to St. Louis. "[Ken] Griffey [Jr.] said the greatest thing about me getting picked is we probably won't have a workout [during the All-Star break]," Wakamatsu said.
Ackley went 5 for 6 on Tuesday and became the CWS' career hits leader in North Carolina's 11-4 victory over Southern Mississippi.
"I think everybody saw today what everybody on our team and myself have seen the last three years with Dustin Ackley," North Carolina coach Mike Fox said. "It was an unbelievable performance, and we've seen that before from him day in and day out. He's one sensational player, and I'm glad the nation got to see a little bit of that today. We needed it."
The Tar Heels (48-17) eliminated the Golden Eagles (40-26) and sent Southern Mississippi coach Corky Palmer into retirement.
Ackley, the No. 2 overall draft pick by the Mariners, has 27 hits in 14 CWS games.
Ackley doubled and hit four singles to all parts of the field. The left handed-batting first baseman, who has hits in 21 consecutive NCAA tournament games since 2007, singled to left in the third inning to break the record of 24 career hits by Stanford's Sam Fuld (2001-03).
Kyle Seager, a third-round pick by the Mariners, homered as the Tar Heels had a CWS record-tying 23 hits.
Ichiro’s take: “Ken is a special person, a special presence.
“He’s brought a lot to the team, a new attitude, and he’s done it on and off the field, in the clubhouse and the dugout. He’s great for the team. We’re much closer together than we’ve been.
“It’s not just what he might say or do, it’s his character,” Ichiro said.
They have become more than friends. Ichiro plans to visit the Griffeys in Florida after the season, and has invited the entire Griffey clan to his home in Japan.
Their relationship, Junior said, is both unique and simple.
“Outside of baseball, making a friend takes a lot of time. In baseball, we’re all together every day. Not five days a week – every day. So things can happen more quickly,” he said.
“Here’s why we’ve become friends: trust. I don’t want anything from him, he doesn’t want anything from me, except friendship. There are no ulterior motives. I just want to be his friend. There’s no hidden agenda.
“For both of us, that can be rare.”
General manager Jack Zduriencik acknowledges signing Junior was, in part, an effort to change the clubhouse – and to make Ichiro more comfortable in it.
“Of course, it was a factor,” Zduriencik said. “We’d heard the stories about last year, and I knew the presence of Ken Griffey Jr. would give him instant respect in the clubhouse.
“Did I think he’d help Ichiro feel more a part of this club? Yeah, I did. Did I know it would click? No. But it has, and I hoped it would.”
Ichiro was 22 when he first met Griffey in 1995. Junior was already a major league star.
“The way he approached me in our first meeting is the same way he does today. He doesn’t base friendships on ability or status,” Ichiro said. “If he’d known I was ticklish back in ’95, he’d probably have jumped on me then, too. People can change over time, but he hasn’t – not since we first met in ’95.
“That’s one thing that keeps friendships alive, someone who doesn’t change.
Morrow was called into the manager's office and asked if he would like to start tomorrow. I am told he said sure, and thought it would be for the Rainiers. "How about here in Colorado?" Wak then asked him. Even better. Shortly after I saw Brandon with a bat heading to the cages. Got to be ready to hit in the NL parks...Apparently, Erik has come up with a shoulder problem...
Wak made a curious statement when telling us the news today. "It's a situation where we can take him to 60 (pitches) and maybe build him here," he said. "He has been getting work up here. We feel that's the direction we're heading right now with him.''
.....the shoulder problem cropped up in Bedard's last start, June 7 (last Sunday) against the Twins. The Mariners won 4-2, and Bedard got the victory, but he lasted just five innings (101 pitches). He gave up four hits, two runs, walked four and struck out four.
Wakamatsu said the decision to scratch Bedard tomorrow was "precautionary." He said, "It was a matter of how close he was to being where he felt it wasn't going to jeopardize anything. He could probably pitch, but we felt it safest not to.''
Bedard didn't pitch after July 4 of last year because of shoulder problems, and underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Sept. 26. Dr. Lewis Yocum removed a cyst and performed a minor labral debridement (which is removal of non-healthy tissue). The point is, he has a history with that shoulder, so, yes, this is something to worry about. But if he's back out there on Friday against the Diamondbacks, as the Mariners plan, that would be obviously encouraging. No doubt teams thinking about trading for Bedard will be watching him even more closely.
As for Brandon Morrow, he gets to stay in the majors a bit longer -- maybe more than a bit -- as he transitions to the rotation.
"Olson came out a little too aggressive. He was amped up and couldn't find his command," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "After the rain delay, I saw a different pitcher. He came back out, battled and saved the bullpen."oh btw...
Just got done talking with Brandon Morrow, who confirmed what's been known internally within the team for some time. He's off to Class AAA Tacoma to work on becoming a starting pitcher again as soon as the Mariners can call up pitcher Roy Corcoran from his injury rehab assignment. Might happen this week.
"It's going to be the long road this time,'' he said. "Last year, it was the month in AAA and everybody knew I was coming back.''
Not this time. This time, there is no timetable. Morrow wants it that way. Wants to work on the mechanical changes he's already sought to improve up here. He feels he's been selling himself short. I asked him that very question, whether he felt he was cheating himself out of becoming the best he can be.
"Yeah, definitely, that was another thing,'' he said. "I think it limits me in the bullpen and I definitely had the wrong mindset, I guess, when I was going out there early in the year. I wasn't fully ready, I guess. Yeah, selling myself short. I think I can be a good starter. I think I have the pitches for it. I think I can mix my pitches well. I've been working on my location with all of them. I know I have the stamina to do it. I've always been able to keep my velocity and stuff late in the game, even when I didn't havce great control. I mean, that's always been my biggest problem.''
In the same clip, Morrow adds that his concerns about his diabetes were just something he used as an excuse to convince himself he was doing the right thing. He says now that he was never really certain.
"It was a hasty decision to go to the bullpen,'' he said. "The short forearm tightness injury (in spring training). that kind of started the doubts in my mind.''
And when that happened, he reverted to the one thing he knew and felt comfortable doing -- the bullpen. It was only later on, when he began struggling there, too, that he realized he may have made a mistake.
Now, he's about to find out whether that's the case. And whether starting is what he's truly meant to do.
Talked to Morrow. He's a starter. However long he needs in the minors, he is ready for it and wants to do it right.
One thing I did see was Yuni taking ground balls during batting practice with more focus than I have ever seen. No hot dogging or half assing it. He really attacked the balls that were hit to him. Seen the same thing on the field tonight. Didn't like the first pitch out after a 7 pitch hit by Lopez in the fourth, but he has shown a little something extra in the field tonight. Moving like he is 15 pounds lighter.
