Mariners send struggling pitcher Walker to Tacoma

Published 8:45 pm Monday, August 8, 2016

By Bob Dutton

The News Tribune

SEATTLE — In a move that signals their commitment to making a postseason push, the Seattle Mariners optioned struggling right-hander Taijuan Walker to Triple-A Tacoma prior to Monday’s series opener against Detroit at Safeco Field.

“His last 13 starts,” manager Scott Servais said, “he’s had three quality starts. It may be different if we were 10 or 15 games below .500. We’re not.”

The Mariners carried a 57-53 record into Monday’s game, which placed them 3 1/2 games behind the Tigers (61-50) for the American League’s final wild-card spot.

Walker lasted just four innings Saturday while giving up six runs to the Los Angeles Angels in his first start since returning from a month-long stay on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right foot.

Afterward, he attributed his problems to rustiness.

“It takes time when you don’t pitch for a month,” Walker said. “I was really amped up in the first inning (when he gave up a three-run homer to Mike Trout). I just really tried to muscle everything. Nothing was really smooth and fluid.”

Servais suggested Walker’s competitive edge also appeared rusty.

“When you’re one of five starting pitchers,” Servais said, “there’s a certain level of expectation. You’ve got to go deeper in games. You’ve got to be competitive.

“He’s had a few nagging injuries, but where we’re at as a club dictated (the decision) as much as anything.”

The move cleared space on the 25-man roster for right-handed reliever Arquimedes Caminero, who reported Monday after being acquired Saturday from Pittsburgh for one or two players to be named later.

Sending Walker to the minors also means left-hander Ariel Miranda, acquired July 31 from Baltimore for pitcher Wade Miley, will remain in the rotation and fill Walker’s turn Friday at Oakland.

Miranda made his first big-league start Aug. 4 against Boston and got a no-decision after giving up two runs in eight innings.

Servais acknowledged Walker wasn’t happy at the demotion.

“I would hope he wouldn’t be happy,” Servais said. “Let’s send him down. Hopefully, he responds the right way and comes back with a chip on his shoulder, and we get the good Taijuan back.”

Servais also made it clear that he wants to see an improved competitive approach from Walker, who has long been viewed as the heir apparent to Felix Hernandez as the rotation’s front man.

“There are plenty of things for him to work out,” Servais said, “but the biggest thing is he needs to continue to compete. When you don’t have it on a particular night or you give up some runs early in the game, how do you stay in the game?

“You’ve seen what Felix has done here. It hasn’t been great for Felix since he’s been back (from a calf injury). But you look up at the end of the game, and (he’s pitched into the) seventh inning or the eighth inning. He keeps us in the game.

“You learn that. That’s an experienced thing over time. Taijuan, I’m sure, will pick up on that.”

Walker is 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA overall in 17 starts, but he is 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 13 starts since a dominant April (2-0 in four starts while permitting only four earned runs in 25 innings).

“It’s a do-good league,” Servais said. “If you do good, you stay. Where younger players are, at certain points in their career, hopefully you go down (to the minors) and re-start.”

Servais pointed to left-hander James Paxton and catcher Mike Zunino as players who responded well after starting the season at Tacoma.

“Those guys went down, took the right approach and the right attitude,” Servais said. “They’ve come back, and they’ve been major contributors.”