Nice to be back at the ballpark after a week covering the amateur draft and watching (on TV) the Mariners play some gritty baseball.
It’s 3 o’clock of the beginning of an AL West showdown against the Angels, and to no surprise a bunch of Angels are on the field for early work – baserunning, fielding, blocking behind the plate. During those years when the Angels were winning the West and the Mariners were the farthest thing from it, a lot of people pointed to that early-work work ethic and said, “See, that’s what the Mariners need to be doing more of.”
Excuse me, but look who’s in a 2-8 tailspin and closer to the bottom of the division than the top – the 31-36 Angels. The Mariners (34-32) do their share of early work, too (and I’m not sure there’s a ton more of it going on now than before). Just thinking out loud here, but I’m thinking some talent, work ethic and lack of distraction seem to be making a difference.
No lineups yet for tonight’s game. Until then, and until we make a pass through the clubhouse and spend a few minutes with manager Eric Wedge, here are a few notes:
• The Mariners have activated left-handed pitcher Mauricio Robles from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Class A High Desert, and to make room for him on the 40-man roster they transferred closer David Aardsma from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. Robles had surgery March 22 to remove loose bodies from his left elbow.
Aardsma has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and last month was shut down until further notice. There’s no timetable on Aardsma’s return, although it seemed a few weeks ago that he may not begin throwing again until sometime in July, provided the elbow responded to treatment.
• Not necessarily Mariner-related, but a cool event will take place Wednesday in Everett. Former Mariner Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen will speak at the Everett Holiday Inn at the Hospice Hearts Luncheon to benefit the Providence Hospice & Home Care Foundation of Snohomish County.
Registration is at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon starts at noon. Money raised will aid the foundation, which includes hospice, palliative care services, Camp Erin, The Carousel Program (for pediatric hospice and home care) and bereavement services in Snohomish County and Camano Island.
For information on the event and the foundation, call Connie Wittren at 425-261-4805.
• The Mariners’ wives will hold their annual Mystery Mariners Grab Bag sale during Friday night’s game at Safeco Field. Inside each sealed paper bag will be one baseball autographed by a Mariners player or manager Eric Wedge. Each bag costs $50 and can be purchased on the main concourse near Section 128, at the skybridge entrance to the Terrace Club and on the Suite Deck and the Diamond Club. Proceeds will benefit Mariners Care, the team’s nonprofit foundation.
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