One day into the plan to have Erik Bedard play catch on back-to-back days, the plan changed. Bedard, on the disabled list since July 5 because of shoulder tightness, did not throw Monday as originally scheduled.
The shoulder hasn’t flared up again, but the Mariners and Bedard decided to be cautious and have him play catch every other day during the early part of his throwing program. He made 30 throws from 60 feet Sunday and will throw again Thursday and Saturday, barring a setback.
“We talked to him today and we felt that the best thing, because he’s been out a long time, is rather than go two days in a row, he’s going to go every other day,” trainer Rick Griffin said. “He was going to go two on, one off. But after we talked to him about it … and rather than take any chances, he’ll throw every other day.”
Asked if there’s any chance of a rehab outing later this month, Griffin said that decision is out of his hands. He didn’t sound hopeful.
“We’ve got to get him on the mound before we even think about that. If we get him to that point,” Griffin said. “The pitching coach, the general manager and the manager will decide.
“After he throws Saturday, then we’ll evaluate where we’re at. If he progresses and doesn’t have any problems, then we’ll make a new plan. It’s going to be kind of day-by-day after that. We’ve agreed upon Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at this point.”
Bedard told Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune that he wants to pitch again this season and go into the offseason knowing he’s at full strength.
“You come to a new team and you want to show them what you can do,” he said. “The worst thing possible is an injury that keeps you off the mound. I know there are people who don’t believe I’m hurt.
“I don’t want to go into the offseason not certain I’m healthy. This year has been tough enough. I don’t want to go through a winter like that.”
Of note: Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt’s solid game Sunday, when he went 1-for-3 and drew a walk that fed a late three-run rally, was just what manager Jim Riggleman has wanted to see. It didn’t mean Betancourt had absolved himself from the poor at-bats and overall play that has gotten him benched twice. “It’s an ongoing process,” Riggleman said. “We’re not going to get too high or too low about one ballgame.” … Jose Lopez entered Monday’s game with 27 two-out RBI, fourth-most in club history by a second baseman. Bret Boone had 40 in 2002, 38 in 2001 and 32 in 2003. … Former Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher Tsutomu Iwamoto threw out the ceremonial first pitch Monday — in full uniform — on Salute to Japanese Baseball night. The catcher wasn’t Ichiro Suzuki or Kenji Johjima, who’ve batted off Iwamoto during their time in Japan. It was the Mariners’ Iowa-born Jeff Clement.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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