Charlton says latest injury isn’t serious
Published 9:00 pm Saturday, June 23, 2001
Opponent: Anaheim Angels
When: 1:35 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: Fox Sports Net (cable)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Paul Abbott (6-2, 4.58 earned run average) vs. left-hander Scott Schoeneweis (6-5, 4.06).
Oh the pain: Mariners relief pitcher Norm Charlton says his latest groin injury isn’t as serious as the one he suffered last month, but it has landed him on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this month.
“I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as it was the first time,” said Charlton, who retired both batters he faced in the sixth inning Friday night, when he suffered the injury. “(The trainers) don’t want me to (mess) it up and not be available in August and September. They want me at full speed at the end.”
That doesn’t ease the frustration that Charlton feels as he looks ahead to another two weeks of rehab after having come off the DL on June 15.
“It’s frustrating to see the team doing so well and not be able to be a part of it because I’m on the DL,” he said.
Back in the bigs: Left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes returned to the Mariners on Saturday as Charlton’s replacement, and he came back with a sense of confidence he didn’t show the last time he was here.
“I’m definitely more at ease,” he said. “The second time is always easier. The more you do something, the more comfortable you feel.”
Fuentes, a 25-year-old who played with the Everett AquaSox in 1996, made his major league debut on June 2. In four appearances earlier this month, he had a 0.00 earned run average and recorded his first major league victory on June 12 with 1 2/3shutout innings at Colorado.
“That was special,” he said. “It was something I dreamed about when I was a little kid.”
Required reading: Rarely do you hear emotion-laden speeches or see motivational messages around a major league clubhouse.
As the Mariners walked inside after batting practice Saturday, nearly all of them stopped to read a quote from Angels pitcher Jarrod Washburn that had been taped to a door.
Among his comments after beating the Mariners 8-1 Friday was, “… we don’t think they’re 18 games better than us.”
None of the Mariners said anything as they walked away, but the body language of some left the distinct impression that they absorbed each of Washburn’s words.
Iron man: Mariners first baseman John Olerud is tied for second place in the major leagues with 708 games played over the last five seasons. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs has played in 709 games. Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves shares second with Olerud.
Kirby Arnold
