Today’s game
Opponent: Minnesota Twins
When: 1:40 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: Fox Sports Net
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Ryan Feierabend (0-1, 7.88 earned run average) vs. left-hander Glen Perkins (11-3, 3.90).
Guardado healthy, happy with Twins
It has been a surreal week for Eddie Guardado.
Monday, the Texas Rangers traded him to the Minnesota Twins and, after he hurried from Kansas City to Seattle, he pitched a scoreless inning against the Mariners.
Tuesday, he looked into the Twins’ own dugout, then across at the Seattle Mariners’, and realized how strange this game can be if you stay in it long enough.
“I know all the coaches over here (with the Twins) and only a couple of players,” said Guardado, who pitched for the Twins from 1993-2003 and for the Mariners from 2004-2006. “I know all the players with the Mariners but none of the coaches.”
Guardado has bounced back from Tommy John elbow surgery and, at age 37, is pitching meaningful innings again. Finally, he’s doing it with a team contending for a division title.
“What can be more exciting than being with your old team again in a pennant race? I’m going to be me and I’m going to have fun,” he said.
Yes, there’s still that side of Guardado.
He spent much of Tuesday stepping gingerly around the ballpark knowing Mariners closer J.J. Putz has had revenge on his mind since spring training. In February, Guardado snuck into the Mariners’ spring training clubhouse in Arizona and left a few unpleasant surprises in Putz’s locker.
“I talked to him in the bullpen last night and he said, ‘I’ve got something for you,’ ” Guardado said.
When they were together with the Mariners, Guardado not only showed Putz the nuances of closing a game, he became his tutor in the art of practical jokes.
“The thing is, I think he’s scared,” Guardado said. “He’s telling me he’s going to get back at me, but I think he’s really scared. With me, I don’t stop.”
That’s how he approaches his career. Guardado said he never considered giving up despite injuries the past few years.
“I got through the Tommy John but I kept plugging away,” he said. “Texas gave me an opportunity and I made the most of it. I never stopped working and I never stopped grinding. That’s what it’s all about. Those who grind and stick it out are the ones who’ll be on top.”
Batista back to pen: With Carlos Silva coming off the disabled list to start Sunday and Brandon Morrow coming up from Class AAA Tacoma during the next homestand, the Mariners’ starting rotation faces another shakeup.
One shoe fell Tuesday when manager Jim Riggleman said Miguel Batista would return to the bullpen. Batista pitched six strong innings Monday night in his first start since Aug. 4.
Riggleman didn’t say who would leave the rotation when Morrow is called up. Morrow, who pitched Tuesday night for Tacoma, probably will make one more minor league start before rejoining the Mariners for their home series Sept. 5, 6 and 7 against the Yankees.
Of note: Riggleman on the use of instant replay, which will be used on disputed home runs beginning Thursday: “I hope that’s the extent of it. The human element that the umpires bring to the game is appreciated by the fans and the players.” … Asked about the humor in being traded for a pitcher named Mark Hamburger, Guardado described this exchange with Rangers GM Jon Daniels: “He said, ‘We’ve traded you for Mark Hamburger.’ I said, ‘A hamburger? What’s with that? Where’s the fries and the milkshake?’” … Seattle Storm star Sue Bird, who helped lead the U.S. women’s basketball team to a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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