HeraldNet: Putz is back; Rowland-Smith sent down ... for now



RECENT POSTS:
• Frick Award voting continues without Rizzs October 6 • What to do with a stubborn first ... uh .. second baseman September 30 • Riggleman on discipline and the Mariners' future September 28 • Bedard surgery report: No labrum tear September 26 • Upset teammates should accept Ichiro for what he is September 25

Archives:



RELATED ARTICLES:
• 2007 World Series MVP out for Red Sox October 7 • Retro feel to this year's NLC series October 7 • MLB NOTES: Schilling ponders come back October 7 • Angels beat Bosox in 12 to stay alive October 5 • Dodgers' most compelling number: Zero October 5 • Sabathia looking for more than money October 5 • Phillies advance to NLCS October 5 • White Sox stay alive, beat Rays 5-3 October 5 • Phillies' lefty, switch hitters concern Dodgers October 5 • Dodgers eliminate Cubs October 4


ADVERTISEMENT <script language=JavaScript src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/vj?z=heraldnet&ct=122081&dim=169231&abr=$scriptiniframe"></script><noscript><a href="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/cc?z=heraldnet"><img src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/169233/0/vc?z=heraldnet&ct=122081&dim=169231&abr=$imginiframe" width="160" height="600" border="0"></a></noscript>

Mariners Blog

July 20, 2008

Putz is back; Rowland-Smith sent down ... for now

Posted at 1:56 pm by By Kirby Arnold

Mariners closer J.J. Putz came off the disabled list today, as expected. Left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma, a surprise.

Putz, on the DL since June 12 because of a hyperextended right elbow, has thrown well in two minor league rehab outings and, according to manager Jim Riggleman, will ease his way back into the closer role.

The intriguing side of the move is Rowland-Smith, who has pitched well in every role the Mariners have asked -- relief and starting. Roy Corcoran or Cesar Jimenez seemed more logical bets to be sent back to Tacoma, but the Mariners have a plan with Rowland-Smith.

Rather than leave him in the uncertain world of long relief and spot starts at the major league level, they're sending him to Tacoma strictly as a starter. He'll work every five days and build up his pitch count.

You can count on him being back with the Mariners, and my guess is sooner before it's later. The trade deadline is 11 days away and considerable speculation has focused on starter Jarrod Washburn.

"I doubt very much that it will be all the way to September before we see him again," Riggleman said of Rowland-Smith.

Return to Mariners Blog

TODAY'S TOP JOBS

View All Top Jobs

>> view all top homes

>> view all homes

<script language=JavaScript src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/vj?z=heraldnet&dim=100749&abr=$scriptiniframe"></script><noscript><a href="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/cc?z=heraldnet"><img src="http://ads.heraldnet.com/servlet/ajrotator/105699/0/vc?z=heraldnet&dim=100749&abr=$imginiframe" width="728" height="90" border="0"></a></noscript>
\|Contact Us \|Advertiser Services \|Home Delivery \|Newsstand Locations \|Classifieds \|Feedback \|About the Company \|Work@the Herald \|Site Map	© 2008 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA.