Odd man out
With outfielder Mike Carp getting closer to coming off the disabled list, the Mariners have a decision to make about who he will replace on the 25-man active roster. Carp sprained his right shoulder in the season-opening game on March 28, and he was eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list on Friday.
Either backup third baseman Alex Liddi and or reserve outfielder Casper Wells could be sent to Class AAA Tacoma when Carp returns.
“We got some tough decisions ahead of us, but that’s a good sign,” said Mariners manager Eric Wedge. “… We’re gonna keep the guys up here that we feel gives us the best chance to win ballgames, and the ones that stay up here are going to be because they continue to do that.”
Liddi — making his second start of the season Saturday night — said that whether he stays or goes is out of his hands, and he’s just focused on playing the best baseball he can to make Wedge’s decision more difficult.
“That’s not really up to me,” Liddi said. “I gotta do my thing, try to help the team and whatever happens, happens.”
Montero hitting streak
Mariners catcher/designated hitter Jesus Montero, who hit a homer and a two-run double, extended his hitting streak to eight games on Saturday, which is tied with five other players for the longest active streak in baseball. Montero is 10-for-27 (.370) during the streak and has a hit in every game this season except for the season-opening game in Japan.
When he’s at the plate, Montero says the hitting streak is the farthest thing from his mind. He’s just focused on swinging and making contact.
“You don’t think about that, you just go out there and try to hit the ball hard,” Montero said.
Wedge said once the 22-year-old Montero gets more comfortable in the big leagues, his hitting, and those of several other young Mariners, will continue to improve as the season progresses.
“(Montero is) finding his way, but doing okay, still getting his hits,” Wedge said. “I think he’s missed some pitches that he should of hit but I think I can say that about a few of our guys, which is not uncommon early in the year, especially for younger kids.”
Sherrill goes on DL
Left-handed reliever George Sherrill was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday with a strained flexor bundle in his left elbow. Sherrill said that after warming up twice at Texas he had significantly less velocity on his pitches and knew something was wrong.
“Any good breaking ball bounced, and hurt,” Sherrill said, adding that a similar problem occurred once in spring training.
The left-hander — who is currently taking anti-inflammatory medicine — had an MRI on Saturday.
David Krueger, The Herald
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