The Mariners are nervous enough having Adrian Beltre “test” his surgically repaired left shoulder and thumb the next two games before he decides whether to play in the World Baseball Classic.
Now we learn that he’s got a tender back and, instead of playing third base this afternoon against the Dodgers, he’ll DH.
It’s one more nugget to fuel the Mariners’ argument that Beltre should remain in camp and not play for the Dominican Republic in the WBC.
“Gong from zero to 100 is more my concern, and that’s what we’ve talked to him about all along,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “Playing DH today and possibly playing (the field) tomorrow, then going there and trying to compete is a tough deal. That’s been our concern all along. We’ve trie to advise him over and over again that let’s take it a little bit slower than faster becaue he hasn’t been in a competitive environment.”
Other notes from this morning’s meeting with Wakamatsu:
-Outfielder Wladimir Balentien still hasn’t arrived and the Mariners aren’t sure when he will because of visa problems.
-Third base coach Bruce Hines has gotten three runners thrown out at the plate in the first two games. At this pace over a 162-game season, that will make 183 runners thrown out at the plate.
OK, we exaggerate. Wakamatsu defends Hines, saying there’s no tougher job on the staff than third-base coach. Wakamatsu did it himself and has a tale to tell about one of his first games during spring training with the Texas Rangers.
“It’s almost to a T what I went through” he said. “I remember the first game I got run over by the third baseman. Somebody forgot to tell me not to watch the ball.”
-Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt’s exhibition debut has been pushed back to Monday after he felt some discomfort in his hamstring during Thursday’s workout.
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