Wedge: Mariners are better for what they experienced this year
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 | 7:06 pm
You know the season is just about over when most of the reporters’ questions are for their season wrapup stories in the next few days and not about anything too pertinent to today’s game.
With that, Mariners manager Eric Wedge said today for the umpteenth time that the organization is better for what it experienced this year despite the pain of 93 losses. And, as he’s said several times this year, Wedge emphasized that the win-loss record is the last place that this year’s work will be reflected. There’s no doubt to him that the Mariners are close to making a good jump in the victory column next year.
“We built a foundation and put things in place that needed to be put in place,” Wedge said. “I feel very good that we’ve done that. It never goes as expected. Instead of seeing seven or eight (young) players, we’ve seen 17 or 18. We got a lot of young people who gained invaluable experience. That’ll only help them.
“The young players should come in next year humbled, yet confident. They’ve just started this journey and there’s still a long ways to go. We’ll be a better team next year.”
A few other notes:
• Shortstop Brendan Ryan, who won’t play again this season because of a neck problem, was to see a spine specialist tonight and planned to see another near his Southern California home soon after the season ends.
• There was a cute scene early this afternoon on the pitcher’s mound. Ken Roll, the athletic trainer and physical therapist who is retiring after 27 years with the Mariners, will work his final game Wednesday night.
Today, Roll walked onto the vacant field with his pockets filled with baseballs. Assistant trainer Takayoshi Morimoto went out with him and crouched behind the plate, and Roll made five or six throws from the mound. It was practice for the ceremonial first pitch he’ll throw before tomorrow night’s game.
Roll is one of those behind-the-scenes people most fans wouldn’t know. To those of us who’ve been around a while, he’s as much a part of the team as the guys on the field. He always greets us with a handshake and a smile, and that’ll be missed.
“He’s leaving after 27 years, and he brought me a bottle of wine,” said James Clifford, the Mariners coordinator of sports science and performance. “That’s the kind of guy he is.”
• Wedge said again today that he isn’t ready to announce his coaching staff for next year although, like Monday, he repeated that he’s pleased with everyone on his current staff.
• And finally, we posted this pop quiz today on Twitter (@kirbyarnold): With Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas passing the 200-inning mark, who are the last Mariners duo to pitch at least 200 innings in the same season?
The answer: Jamie Moyer (202 innings) and Ryan Franklin (200 1/3) in 2004.
With that, Mariners manager Eric Wedge said today for the umpteenth time that the organization is better for what it experienced this year despite the pain of 93 losses. And, as he’s said several times this year, Wedge emphasized that the win-loss record is the last place that this year’s work will be reflected. There’s no doubt to him that the Mariners are close to making a good jump in the victory column next year.
“We built a foundation and put things in place that needed to be put in place,” Wedge said. “I feel very good that we’ve done that. It never goes as expected. Instead of seeing seven or eight (young) players, we’ve seen 17 or 18. We got a lot of young people who gained invaluable experience. That’ll only help them.
“The young players should come in next year humbled, yet confident. They’ve just started this journey and there’s still a long ways to go. We’ll be a better team next year.”
A few other notes:
• Shortstop Brendan Ryan, who won’t play again this season because of a neck problem, was to see a spine specialist tonight and planned to see another near his Southern California home soon after the season ends.
• There was a cute scene early this afternoon on the pitcher’s mound. Ken Roll, the athletic trainer and physical therapist who is retiring after 27 years with the Mariners, will work his final game Wednesday night.
Today, Roll walked onto the vacant field with his pockets filled with baseballs. Assistant trainer Takayoshi Morimoto went out with him and crouched behind the plate, and Roll made five or six throws from the mound. It was practice for the ceremonial first pitch he’ll throw before tomorrow night’s game.
Roll is one of those behind-the-scenes people most fans wouldn’t know. To those of us who’ve been around a while, he’s as much a part of the team as the guys on the field. He always greets us with a handshake and a smile, and that’ll be missed.
“He’s leaving after 27 years, and he brought me a bottle of wine,” said James Clifford, the Mariners coordinator of sports science and performance. “That’s the kind of guy he is.”
• Wedge said again today that he isn’t ready to announce his coaching staff for next year although, like Monday, he repeated that he’s pleased with everyone on his current staff.
• And finally, we posted this pop quiz today on Twitter (@kirbyarnold): With Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas passing the 200-inning mark, who are the last Mariners duo to pitch at least 200 innings in the same season?
The answer: Jamie Moyer (202 innings) and Ryan Franklin (200 1/3) in 2004.
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