Published: Sunday, May 23, 2010
Ailing Mariner shortstop Wilson questions his future
SEATTLE — It appears that injured Mariners shortstop Jack Wilson is feeling more than the strain of his right hamstring.
Wilson, had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on the injury this week after suffering a setback during a minor league rehab game with the Class AA West Tennessee DiamondJaxx. The MRI showed “a little bit of a strain,” according to manager Don Wakamatsu, who didn’t believe Wilson would miss much more time.
Wilson was hardly as positive when he talked with reporters Saturday about this injury and others to his legs that have limited him to 57 games since the Mariners acquired him from the Pirates in a July 29 trade last year.
“Is this the way it’s going to be the rest of my career, and if so how long is my career going to last?” Wilson asked before anyone else could. “I worked hard all offseason to get ready. It didn’t do much good. I stretch now more than ever — there’s nothing more I can do. Some days it’s going to be good, some days it’s going to be tight.
“In reality, there is nothing more I can do. I’m out two weeks every time I do this. I have bad hamstrings. If I have to walk away, so be it. It’s no fun being on the DL as much as I have been here. I’ve played maybe a fifth of the games. It eats at you.”
That’s not a very cheerful self-appraisal for a guy who re-upped with the Mariners in the offseason for $10 million through the 2011 season.
Wakamatsu was a little more positive in his expectation of Wilson.
“It doesn’t seem serious,” Wakamatsu said. “We’re just hoping he can continue to strengthen the leg and he can be back in there with no problems.”
Playing the hot hands
Wakamatsu, who played 141 different lineups last season, started the same nine players Saturday that he used the first three games of the homestand. For good reason.
DH Mike Sweeney had hit two home runs and driven home six runs in the previous game; catcher Josh Bard was 5-for-9 with three doubles and a home run on the homestand; and shortstop Josh Wilson was 5-for-10 in the three games.
“Guys are swinging the bat,” Wakamatsu said. “We’ve got some young guys on the bench we’d like to get some playing time. But ... we’re going with what’s working right now.”
Regardless how Sweeney performed Saturday, Wakamatsu said he plans to sit him today and start Ken Griffey Jr. at DH. It’ll be Griffey’s first start of the homestand.
With Monday being a day off, it’ll allow Sweeney to rest his often-tight back for two days before he’d be ready to play on Tuesday against the Tigers.
Wakamatsu didn’t say how he would make out the lineup for that game, which could be his first opportunity to keep Griffey on the bench while starting left-handed-hitting Michael Saunders in left field and moving switch-hitting Milton Bradley to DH.
Of note
Cliff Lee became the first pitcher in Mariners history to allow eight runs but record the victory. Lee pitched 61/3 innings Friday and allowed eight earned runs, but got plenty of support in the Mariners’ 15-8 victory. ... Erik Bedard played catch Saturday and, unless there’s discomfort in his left shoulder, may pitch a bullpen Sunday in Seattle. His comeback from surgery last August suffered a setback May 11 when he felt discomfort after a simulated game. ... The catcher for the Bedard bullpen might be Adam Moore, who’s making great progress with his strained left knee, according to Wakamatsu. Moore was injured May 15. ... Pitching matchups for the two-game series against the Tigers are Doug Fister vs. Justin Verlander on Tuesday and Jason Vargas vs. Jeremy Bonderman on Wednesday.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
Wilson, had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on the injury this week after suffering a setback during a minor league rehab game with the Class AA West Tennessee DiamondJaxx. The MRI showed “a little bit of a strain,” according to manager Don Wakamatsu, who didn’t believe Wilson would miss much more time.
Wilson was hardly as positive when he talked with reporters Saturday about this injury and others to his legs that have limited him to 57 games since the Mariners acquired him from the Pirates in a July 29 trade last year.
“Is this the way it’s going to be the rest of my career, and if so how long is my career going to last?” Wilson asked before anyone else could. “I worked hard all offseason to get ready. It didn’t do much good. I stretch now more than ever — there’s nothing more I can do. Some days it’s going to be good, some days it’s going to be tight.
“In reality, there is nothing more I can do. I’m out two weeks every time I do this. I have bad hamstrings. If I have to walk away, so be it. It’s no fun being on the DL as much as I have been here. I’ve played maybe a fifth of the games. It eats at you.”
That’s not a very cheerful self-appraisal for a guy who re-upped with the Mariners in the offseason for $10 million through the 2011 season.
Wakamatsu was a little more positive in his expectation of Wilson.
“It doesn’t seem serious,” Wakamatsu said. “We’re just hoping he can continue to strengthen the leg and he can be back in there with no problems.”
Playing the hot hands
Wakamatsu, who played 141 different lineups last season, started the same nine players Saturday that he used the first three games of the homestand. For good reason.
DH Mike Sweeney had hit two home runs and driven home six runs in the previous game; catcher Josh Bard was 5-for-9 with three doubles and a home run on the homestand; and shortstop Josh Wilson was 5-for-10 in the three games.
“Guys are swinging the bat,” Wakamatsu said. “We’ve got some young guys on the bench we’d like to get some playing time. But ... we’re going with what’s working right now.”
Regardless how Sweeney performed Saturday, Wakamatsu said he plans to sit him today and start Ken Griffey Jr. at DH. It’ll be Griffey’s first start of the homestand.
With Monday being a day off, it’ll allow Sweeney to rest his often-tight back for two days before he’d be ready to play on Tuesday against the Tigers.
Wakamatsu didn’t say how he would make out the lineup for that game, which could be his first opportunity to keep Griffey on the bench while starting left-handed-hitting Michael Saunders in left field and moving switch-hitting Milton Bradley to DH.
Of note
Cliff Lee became the first pitcher in Mariners history to allow eight runs but record the victory. Lee pitched 61/3 innings Friday and allowed eight earned runs, but got plenty of support in the Mariners’ 15-8 victory. ... Erik Bedard played catch Saturday and, unless there’s discomfort in his left shoulder, may pitch a bullpen Sunday in Seattle. His comeback from surgery last August suffered a setback May 11 when he felt discomfort after a simulated game. ... The catcher for the Bedard bullpen might be Adam Moore, who’s making great progress with his strained left knee, according to Wakamatsu. Moore was injured May 15. ... Pitching matchups for the two-game series against the Tigers are Doug Fister vs. Justin Verlander on Tuesday and Jason Vargas vs. Jeremy Bonderman on Wednesday.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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