this and that and the other...

Injury Updates...

• Franklin Gutierrez appears to be well ahead of schedule recovering/rehabbing from his torn pectoral muscle.  He has been throwing and will tart taking BP tomorrow
• Mike Carp suffered a strained shoulder diving for a ball in the outfield in the second game against the A's in Tokyo. He had an MRI upon returning to Peoria that showed no structural damage.  Optimistic estimates have him being ready for the home opener.
• Adam Moore has recovered from the broken bone in his wrist (and played 5 innings in a minor league game on Friday). He will travel to Tacoma when minor league camp breaks on Monday.

Sick Bay...

• Dustin Ackley, Michael Saunders, Carlos Peguero = flu like symptoms
• George Sherrill = respiratory issues

Back from the Japan adventure...
Reports are that everyone is a bit bleary-eyed and it will take some time for all the body clocks to get adjusted (hence, no one who made the trip played in the game last night).  Logistically everything went off without a hitch - 145 made the trip on the Mariners charter and 147 returned (picked up a couple Japanese media to cover the M's back at home).

Go to Japan, gain a fiance...
Greg Johns filed this story (with video) re: Brendon Ryan's proposal

Ryan, 30, proposed to his long-time girlfriend on Tuesday on the Sky Deck on the 54th floor of Mori Tower, one of Tokyo's tallest buildings, surprising her with a ring he'd brought from the United States as part of a master plan he managed to keep secret for months. 

"I had this planned for quite a while," said Ryan. "Once I heard we were going to Japan, I figured it was a pretty cool opportunity. Then MLB heard about it and stepped in and rolled out the red carpet for us and it was just awesome." 

Ryan told his girlfriend, Sharyn, that they were going on a tour and needed to get dressed up. MLB provided a fake "tour guide" who took the couple to the tower, where Ryan waited for the perfect moment. 

"We got up there at sunset so it was starting to get dark and you could see the lights of the city and the Tokyo Tower was lit up," he said. "It was perfect."  Ryan had asked Ichiro's interpreter, Antony Suzuki, how to say "Will you marry me?" in Japanese. "So I dropped that on her," Ryan said. "When she asked me what that meant I got down on a knee. It was kind of cool." 

:::

The hyperactive Ryan thought of everything on this one, even realizing he shouldn't trust himself to bring the engagement ring with him to Japan. 

"One of the smartest things I ever did was give that thing to Felix [Hernandez]," Ryan said, "because I figured if anybody was going to lose it, he could afford it."

M's re-set their rotation for the resumption of the regular season...
@OAK - Vargas, Felix
@TEX - Noesi (vs. Darvish!), Beavan, Millwood, Vargas
which means ~ Felix for the home opener on Friday the 13th!
Here's an explanation on the flip-flop

Alex Liddi named Peoria Rookie of the Year!
selected by "Peoria Diamond Club" made up of Mariners and Padres players

M's release reliever Aaron Heilman who was in minor league camp...
Good luck, Aaron.

Hanging with the best | Road Reflections

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2-1 vs. Dodgers
1-2 vs. Yankees
2-1 vs. Red Sox


ROAD RHYTHM

~ Felix being Felix (not quite as strong in BOS as he was in LA) but definitely coming into his "ace-hood"
~ Super kudos to the bottom of the order who started to take off with the salvage game in Yankee Stadium and continued rolling on into Fenway (in 5 games the 5-9 hitters were 35 of 52 in hits, 16 of 27 in RBI and 17 of 27 in runs scored)
~ the D.A. added two more saves to his total
~ JR hit his 620th career homer in LA and his 621st in the new Yankee Stadium
~ Russell hit a MOON shot in new YS
~ Red Sox fan catches a foul ball in his cap (preventing Youks from catching it) and the inning extends and the M's get three on a double and a homer
~ Comin' from behind is always fun, but doing it in Fenway is sweet! (and on the 4th of July, no less!)



ROAD RUBBISH

~ Jason continued his road woes in LA
~ Sean struggles mightily for the first time all season (in NY and BOS)
~ Some critical errors spoil comeback in NY and BOS
~ Bullpen implosion in Fenway prevents M's from sweeping the Sox
~ Adrian decides he can no longer play through the pain - the Dodger series is his last prior to surgery

Yo Adrian! We're going to miss you...

It appears that Adrian has reached his pain threshold...

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.

:::

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?"

:::

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.

Others weigh in on Adrian's circumstance...

Greg Johns | PI

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.

Shannon Drayer | My Northwest...

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.

Larry Larue | News Tribune...

"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.

Mariner M*A*S*H Unit

They're baaaaack. Adrian's bone spurs....

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...

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.

Collision in the outfield. Endy's season ended...

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.

Endy down for the season (and maybe more)

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Poor Endy!
Just doing his job and his season is lost...

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.

G67 | That's the sweet swing we remember!

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AP Photo/John Froschauer

M's 4 | Diamondbacks 3

I wasn't able to attend the game tonight as I usually do on Friday nights when the M's are at home, as I was honored to attend my God-Daughter's college graduation party (yes, the slide show her mother, my BFF, created brought more than a tear ;-)

Anyway, I did occasionally take a peek at my BlackBerry to check on the score. Seems Jarrod and the M's were down 3-0 fairly early and despite a decent amount of hits, just couldn't get anything going. And then came the 8th ....

I glanced down at my BB and saw that the M's had scored a run, there was a man on second base and Junior was at bat. A minute or so later I glanced down and saw the score was tied - I didn't even need to check the play-by-play, it was obvious what had happend. I could hardly contain my excitement (during whatever conversation I was having at the time). Then I looked down and saw that the M's had a one run advantage - yesssss! I thought to myself!

"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.

"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.

good stuff...

• Awesome to see Junior starting to really contribute on the field as we all can see the difference he has made off the field
• Russell, despite just returning from his grandfather's funeral, picked up right where he left off.
  
• And what about Robby? First day back from bereavement leave (lost his mother-in-law to a car accident) and he hits a run scoring triple ~ don't see THAT everyday from a catcher ~ and, it would prove to be the game winner
• Another QS from Jarrod (shame he didn't get the win) and solid performance from the pen

scary stuff...
Collision course between Endy and Yuni proved to be disastrous for poor Endy...
MRI today and early indications are not good... heal fast and well, Endy!


AP Photo/John Froschauer


AP Photo/John Froschauer


AP Photo/John Froschauer


AP Photo/John Froschauer


AP Photo/John Froschauer


Off to work for a bit and then to the game tonight ...
Here's hoping they have some "good stuff excitement" saved for tonight!

Mariner Matters | 6.17

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bad news...
Erik placed on the 15-day DL with shoulder inflamation...

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."

good news / sad news...
Mike Carp called up for his major league debut major league debut because Russell will be traveling to Georgia tomorrow for his grandfather's funeral.

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.

"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.

fun news...
Wak headed to the All Star Game!

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.

:::

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."

SeeSaw on a roller-coster with a yo-yo!

So much for Brandon's first start of 2009 coming in the comfy confines of Cheeney Stadium as a Tacoma Rainier....

Instead it will be as a Seattle Mariner at Coors Field in Colorado.

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...
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.''

Apparently, Erik has come up with a shoulder problem...

.....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.

Never a dull moment :-)

Mariner Matters | 5.12

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Russell seeing the ball better literally...


KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / GETTY IMAGES

This season, Branyan's .289 batting average is roughly 60 points higher than his career total. He still has power; leading the Mariners with seven home runs, seven doubles and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .935.

And while he's still prone to strikeouts, he's now fanning once every 3.3 at-bats instead of every 2.5.

"I think it's helped me really pinpoint and focus on the ball," Branyan said. "I see the ball exactly where it is."

Branyan spends 10 minutes a day, usually at home, training his eye muscles by donning special glasses and following a moving set of three-dimensional arrows on his laptop with help from a joystick. He can adjust the arrows' speed and vary programs — dealing with depth perception, tracking, focus and other visual areas — as he becomes more adept at following the images.

"We call it weight training for the eyes," Seiller said. "What we do is, we work on the speed and efficiency of the eye movements. And when you do that, you give the batter more time."

There are two components to Vizual Edge: the training program and an evaluation process that identifies visual strengths and weaknesses.

Zduriencik and the Brewers used both. Zduriencik has introduced Seiller's evaluation program into Mariners scouting, and the team has begun 15-minute eye tests on most amateur prospects being considered for the June draft.

"It helps you identify which players may have gifted vision," Zduriencik said. "And also, if any red flags pop up, you can look into it further to make sure it's not a serious issue that can come back to bite you later."

Congrats on #5000 , Mr. Niehaus!

AP Photo

The man who has been the voice of the franchise since its expansion inception in 1977 called his 5,000th Mariners' game Thursday when Seattle lost to Kansas City 3-1 in Kauffman Stadium.

The Hall of Fame announcer has missed just 90 games over those 33 seasons, not a bad attendance record.

When Niehaus called his first Mariners game in 1977, Jimmy Carter had just replaced Gerald Ford as president. Star Wars was debuting in theaters. The first Apple II computers were just hitting the market.

The Hyphe-ator tosses simulated game...

Rowland-Smith said the best part of the session was "facing hitters, seeing some swings-and-misses and getting ground balls and stuff. You feel like you are actually a baseball player again, not just a cheerleader on the top step of the dugout."

Rowland-Smith has been recovering from triceps tendinitis for more than a month.

He broke camp as the fifth starter and pitched against the Athletics in Oakland on April 10, going 3 1/3 innings. He has been sidelined ever since.

The game plan is for the lefty to throw a bullpen session on Thursday and then begin a short rehab stint at extended spring training in Peoria, Ariz. He would then travel to Triple-A Tacoma for perhaps two starts before returning to the Mariners.

"It could change, but I have it all written down on a calendar," he said. "I'll probably be back [with the Mariners] at the end of the month."

Manager Don Wakamatsu was pleased with Tuesday's workout.

"He has made some adjustments in his mechanics, and I think he has improved," the manager said. "What I was looking for was the reaction of the hitters and his command. I thought he stayed behind the ball well today, and his breaking ball had late break."

Carlos ... can he figure it out?

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JOHN SLEEZER / MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

As Brandon come off the DL, Carlos goes on and Jason takes his place in the rotation.

Shannon's report

PI

Let it not be a trend....

Between recent DL stints for Roy Corcoran (neck), Brandon Morrow (bicep) and Shawn Kelley (oblique) and illnesses of Jarrod (flu), Felix (flu) and Junior (diverticulitis) the 25-man roster is starting to resemble a hospital wing. And those who are those who aren't hurt are still just a bit tuckered from the little15-inning affair (in which every BP arm was used).

Here's what Shannon's said of the situation...

Wak called the loss of Kelley to the pen "devastating." Everything in the pen had been pushed back with the loss of Morrow and Kelley's emergence was crucial in that equation. He is a legitimate 8th inning guy.

Could be devastating to the team too as they have been relying on pitching. The pen has taken several hits but this one may prove to be too much (no word on who will be coming up). Jakabauskas, to the rotation for RRS. Corcoran out with a neck strain. Morrow out, not 100 percent with the forearm tendinitis. Not only has there been turnover, but the pen is spent right now also.

I do not know how David Aardsma got through the 9th and I am stunned that he was throwing 97. Aardsma pitched or was up and hot in the pen every game of this homestand.

Denny Stark, tough to watch but gamely available on his third straight day. Sean White and Miguel Batista were not. The team does not have a day off until Monday.

If ever there was a time for Carlos to step up (and Jarrod to keep on keepin' on) THIS would be it.

Comings and Goings

The past few days have seen some roster movement/shifts...

To the 15-day DL
RHP Roy Corcoran (stiff neck - eligible to return May 14th)
RHP Brandon Morrow (bicep tendinitis -eligible to return May 9th)

Recalled from AAA
LHP Jason Vargas
RHP Denny Stark

Activated from the 15-day DL
C Kenji Johjima

Designated for assignment
C Jamie Burke

Remember the "D" and find the bats | Home Highlights

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Halos & Tiggers & Rays (5-4)

ROSY RAPTURE

The Mariners won...
~ the 1st game of every series
~ two of three series at home
~ five of nine games at home

Ichiro back, still showing a flair for the dramatic...
~ lead-off hit in his debut, and later in the game ~ a GRAND SLAM
~ lead-off home run in the last game of the stand ~ that would be the ONLY run of the game

Endy picked up at home where he left off on the road...
~ 1HR - 12B - 3RBI - 5BB
~ one of the few non-pitchers w/o an error

Overall offense struggling but, bottom-averages are still team contributors...
~ Jose team leader in RBI
~ Franklin team leader in runs scored
~ Junior team leader in BB
~ Adrian team leader in doubles, 2nd in runs scored

You just KNOW that, especially Adrian and Jose, are going to hit eventually ~ just look at the back of their baseball card

AND - - - M's may be hitting a paltry .250 as a team, but they DO lead the league in BA w/RISP



PALLID PONDERINGS

To say the D has been a disappointment is an understatement....
NINE errors on this home stand alone that accounted for FIVE unearned runs ~ TOTALLY unacceptable (the worst culprit? ... Yuni) Hope Wak gets a handle on that REAL quick.

The bats really need to pick it up...
Started out great, scoring 15 runs in the first series with the Halos, then only 8 v.s the Tigers and 7 against the Rays - for a total of 30 runs scored compared to 34 runs allowed.

Some minor, nagging injuries factored in to the bleaker side of things...
Russell tweaked his back on a sliding in safe at home in the first game with the Tigers. Then, Mike tweaked his back on a check swing in the second game against the Rays (after going 3 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI) which then necessitated Jamie Burke to play 2B in the last game of that series (since BOTH Russ and Mike were out)

Whew! Sounds like all will be well w/Ichiro

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Ichiro on 15-day DL to nurse bleeding ulcer...

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a bad feeling when Ichi was lifted for a PR earlier in the week. Luckily, sounds like they have everything under control and that he should be back in the lineup when the M's return from their first road trip (MIN and OAK) to open the season against the Halos...

Storey explains that ulcers can be caused by a combination of things, a certain bacteria, stress, too much acid production, or even medications such as anti inflammatories.

Regardless of the cause, once treatment is started and meds are prescribed to reduce acid production they usually heal over three to four days.

The medical team was pointed in the direction of a possible ulcer because according to Story, Ichiro was experiencing stomach pain and had told them the symptoms had started right before the WBC.

Upon his arrival at camp this spring, Ichiro did speak of the pressure of the WBC and the stress that it caused him. When asked if this could have caused the ulcer Storey replied,

"I would suspect that one of the primary causes was all of that stress. I suspect that is partly what started the process."

:::

The good news is, this does not appear to be serious, they are prepared, and there is no indication that Ichiro will not be able to come back on the 15th as planned.

Stay tuned, roster moves tomorrow, workout day Sunday, opening day and further Ichiro medical update on Monday.