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Mariners Blog
July 8, 2009

 
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Ichiro gets a "day off" at DH, and other Mariner matters


Posted at 11:59 am by By Kirby Arnold

Nothing really new out of manager Don Wakamatsu's morning briefing with reporters. As expected, Ichiro Suzuki is the DH today as Wakamatsu tries to give him a break after noticing signs of fatigue.

There were more questions about the possibility of moving shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt from shortstop to second base (with Jose Lopez going from second to third and Chris Woodward from third to shortstop) when he comes off the disabled list.

Wakamatsu's basic answer is that it's an option the team is looking at, but it's also a move that may not happen because it also means moving two other players. Then he used Russell Branyan as an example of a player who faced a steep learning curve by just moving to first base in spring training. "With Russell, we had to have cue cards out there."

Betancourt will begin a rehab stint tonight with Class AAA Tacoma, playing second base no less. He'll play shortstop on Thursday.

The Mariners will play another day with a 13-man pitching staff and only three position players on the bench. And, with Suzuki at DH, they'd better hope none of their outfielders gets hurt. The bench consists of DH and sometimes-outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., backup catcher Rob Johnson and infielder Josh Wilson.

Remember Wilson? He's the infielder claimed off waivers last month who is fast becoming the Mariners' next Luis Ugueto. Remember Ugueto? He's the speedy infielder the Mariners took in the Rule 5 draft in 2001 who was little more than a non-factor on the 2002 team. Instead of referring Ugueto by name, former manager Lou Piniella simply called him the "Rule 5 kid." Asked how he planned to use Ugueto, Piniella patted the bench and said, "right here beside me." So far, Wilson has stayed right beside Wakamatsu.

Also, DH Mike Sweeney, on the DL with back spasms, had an X-ray on Tuesday and may have an MRI as the team looks for reasons why his back has continued to lock up this season. Nobody wants to jump to conclusions, but if there's something more serious than spasms you've got to wonder about what it will mean to Sweeney's future.

Here are today's lineups (with Russell Branyan batting third. Hmmm):

ORIOLES
Adam Jones, center field
Nick Markakis, right field
Ty Wigginton, second base
Aubrey Huff, first base
Nolan Reimold, left field
Luke Scott, DH
Melvin Mora, third base
Gregg Zaun, center field
Robert Andino, shortstop

Right-hander David Hernandez (2-2,4.15 ERA)

MARINERS
Ichiro Suzuki, DH
Chris Woodward, third base
Russell Branyan, first base
Jose Lopez, second base
Franklin Gutierrez, center field
Ryan Langerhans, right field
Kenji Johjima, catcher
Wladimir Balentien, left field
Ronny Cedeno, shortstop

Left-hander Jason Vargas (3-3, 4.14)
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