:No one wants to say Scott Spiezio’s “miracle comeback” is complete just yet, but neither Speizio nor the Seattle Mariners can believe how far he’s come.
Rejoining the team a week after opening the season on the disabled list with back spasms, Spiezio has gone from medical reports advising back surgery to being able to play again by the weekend.
“I’m amazed how good I feel, how fast I’m coming back,” Spiezio said. “I took ground balls at third base today. I ran and did agility drills. I took batting practice.”
What’s next?
“See how I feel (today), do it again and then maybe start a rehabilitiation assignment,” Spiezio said.
Faced with the possibility of major surgery not quite 10 days ago, Spiezio’s problems – diagnosed as a “soft tissue” injury by the physician now treating him – have been treated with twice-a-day physical therapy.
“We’ve gone from thinking in months to weeks to days,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Spiezio would play tonight if we let him.”
They wouldn’t.
“He likes surprising us,” trainer Rick Griffin said of Spiezio. “He’s come a long way very quickly.”
The Mariners want Spiezio to play a few minor league games before returning to the big leagues, to see live pitching and play in game situations.
“I’ve been stiff and sore the past few days doing baseball things, but not in the back,” Spiezio said. “There’s things I haven’t done yet. I haven’t dived for a ball. I haven’t slid. But I’m close.”
Aurilia on Bonds’ 660th: Rich Aurilia was enjoying his Monday evening when Barry Bonds hit the 660th home run of his career.
“I watched it on TV, and the press conference afterward,” Aurilia said. “I spent eight years with him and consider him one of the best players ever – he has to be.
“I know this. No one ever pitched around me in San Francisco to get to Barry.”
When Bonds hit his 500th career home run, Aurilia was on base ahead of him – a moment he not only treasures but has evidence of.
“I have a picture of us at the plate,” Aurilia said. “I made an out before his 600th home run, and he hit it before I had the chance to sit in the dugout.”
Around the horn: How did the Mariners wind up with reliever Aaron Looper just a week after trading him to Los Angeles for infielder Jolbert Cabrera. They owe it all to Milton Bradley, the Cleveland outfielder the Dodgers obtained a few days later. Once Bradley had to go on the 40-man major league roster, Looper had to come off. The Mariners had the chance to get him back and jumped at it. … Ben Davis and Gil Meche spent their off-day Monday at a local amusement park pretending to be children and pulling it off pretty well. On one roller coaster, the two men were strapped into one car together and photographed at one of the rides more thrilling moments. “You got two big strong looking dudes with a death grip on the seat handle,” Meche said. “We were both screaming.” Davis screaming? “Like a little girl,” he admitted. … When Edgar Martinez produced his 1,200th career RBI on Sunday, it inched him into select company. Only a dozen active players have as many – with Bonds leading the pack with 1,749 RBI. Another familiar name on the list? Ken Griffey Jr. at 1,389.
Larry LaRue, The News Tribune
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