Injured pitcher Erik Bedard made 30 throws from 60 feet Sunday morning in the outfield at Safeco Field, then delivered the best news the Mariners have heard in nearly a month.
He felt fine.
It was the first time Bedard has thrown pain-free since he went on the disabled list July 5 because of tightness in his left shoulder.
“Just the fact that he felt good throwing and didn’t have any discomfort, that’s a great sign,” said trainer Rick Griffin, who monitored Bedard’s five-minute session. “Every day we’ll add to it.”
Bedard will throw again today, and Griffin joked that it would be 31 throws from 61 feet.
“I told him not to worry about his mechanics,” Griffin said. “Just hit the glove and get used to throwing again.”
Since Bedard’s last start, July 4, he tried to play catch once but continued to feel discomfort, so the Mariners ordered a magnetic resonance imaging exam which didn’t show any structural damage.
Unable to throw a baseball until Sunday, Bedard had spent 2-3 hours a day in the training and weight rooms, strengthening the shoulder and working on his conditioning.
“He’s been working hard every day,” Griffin said.
Asked if it’s too early to project when Bedard will pitch again, Griffin smiled.
“We’re projecting that he’ll play catch tomorrow,” he said.
Honoring Niehaus: A week earlier, Dave Niehaus stood in Cooperstown, N.Y., with thousands of family, friends and baseball fans in front of him and 56 Hall of Famers behind him.
Sunday, the Mariners’ play-by-play announcer was honored again during a pregame ceremony at Safeco Field, where the crowd gave him a loud standing ovation when he was introduced.
“Last Sunday was a lot easier,” he said. “Reggie Jackson told me not to look behind me when I gave my speech. Now I have to look forward and this is more intimidating.”
Niehaus went into baseball’s Hall of Fame last Sunday as the 32nd winner of the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting contributions to baseball.
“Each and every one of you stood on that dais with me,” he told the crowd at Safeco Field. “The award is yours, not mine.”
Among those participating in the ceremony was former Mariner Edgar Martinez, who presented Niehaus with a crystal microphone from the organization.
Of note: Sunday’s victory ended the Mariners’ seven-game home losing streak and was only their second in 10 games against the Orioles. … In his second game back after missing a week because of a torn thumbnail, catcher Jeff Clement went 2-for-4 for his first multi-hit game since July 5.
Kirby Arnold, Herald writer
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