SEATTLE — David Aardsma has pitched pro ball for eight years, including most of the past five in the major leagues and all of the past two in the high-anxiety closer role for the Seattle Mariners.
You’d think a minor league rehab outing, even the first time he’s faced hitters this year, wouldn’t pump the adrenaline like a regular-season save situation in a big-league stadium.
Not for Aardsma, and not in Tuesday night’s outing with the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers.
Aardsma, who had surgery on his left hip in January, hadn’t pitched in a game since Sept. 19 last year and he said he got nervous a full day before his outing. The nerves calmed down after he arrived at the ballpark and settled into his game-day routine, but before he was called to the mound in the eighth inning the adrenaline overwhelmed him.
It really overwhelmed him, especially when he trotted to the mound and the folks at Cheney Stadium played his heavy-metal entrance music, “Ladies and Gentlemen” by Saliva.
“They played the video, too,” he said. “I liked it, but I was already so amped and excited to go out there, it got me to a different level.”
So, that’s where the leadoff walk came from?
“No question, because I got ahead of him,” he said. “I was ahead in the count and then I tried really hard to strike him out and blow it by him. I wasn’t even close.”
Aardsma followed that by allowing a two-run homer by Colorado Springs’ Mike Jacobs, plus another walk and a hit before getting out of the inning. He finished with 22 pitches, 10 for strikes.
The key, Aardsma said, was that his arm and hip felt fine and he’s ready for another outing with the Rainiers on Friday.
“From there, I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know what they have planned for me.”
Manager Eric Wedge said Aardsma likely would need three or four rehab outings before he’s activated.
Unlike other closers who’ve pitched the first inning of a rehab game before yielding to that day’s regular starter, Aardsma prefers to pitch late.
“I can’t do it,” he said. “When you’re a starter, they tell you, ‘You’ve got 15 minutes. You’ve got 10 minutes. You’ve got five minutes.’ I don’t know what five minutes is. Five minutes doesn’t relate to me warming up. I’ve got 10 pitches. I have to be ready. Part of it was being out there (in the bullpen) hearing that phone ring and them saying, ‘Aardsma, you’ve got it.'”
First major league start
On the morning of Carlos Peguero’s first major league start, manager Eric Wedge was asked about his first start. It brought back the vivid memory of a 24-year-old Red Sox catcher who had to face the Mariners and ace Randy Johnson on Aug. 21, 1992, at Fenway Park.
“I remember before the game I’d said to myself, ‘I’m not going to cheat. I’m not going to cheat. I’m going to wait and see it first,'” Wedge said. “Hell, I struck out on three pitches the first time — swinging, so I got my cuts in. Next time I fouled one off but I struck out on three more pitches, also free-swinging. And the next time I started a little bit earlier, made a little adjustment, and flew out to deep center. Griffey went up and caught it on the wall. Next time, he (Johnson) was out of the game.”
Against a Mariner few may remember, left-hander Shawn Barton (who pitched 14 games with the M’s that year), Wedge hit with a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
The Mariners won 5-2.
Of note
Another rehabbing Mariner, right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley, threw a 35-pitch bullpen Wednesday morning in Peoria, Ariz., and is expected to be in Seattle today to finish his recovery from elbow surgery last season. Kelley is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list May 30. … Adam Kennedy’s ninth-inning home run Wednesday not only was his first this season, it was the first of his career at Safeco Field. … Jack Cust’s two strikeouts Wednesday gave him a team-high 22 for the season, and one fewer than Felix Hernandez has struck out. …
Kirby Arnold, The Herald
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
