Opponent: Texas Rangers
When: 3:35 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: KSTW (Ch. 11)
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Ryan Franklin (7-15, 5.15 earned run average) vs. left-hander Kenny Rogers (14-7, 3.42).
Reed done
Center fielder Jeremy Reed tried to play much of the season with a bad left wrist, and Thursday he learned how bad it is.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam showed he has a partially torn ligament that will force him to miss the final five games. He is scheduled to see a hand specialist today and learn whether he needs surgery.
“My gut feeling is I won’t need surgery,” Reed said.
Reed played much of the season on guts, not gut feelings, after a series of jarring collisions with the outfield wall and dives onto the grass to catch fly balls. He’s not sure which of them injured the wrist.
“There are so many plays, constant banging and you never know when it could have happened,” he said.
Reed impressed the Mariners with his defensive play this season, but was disappointed in his hitting. He had a .254 average with three home runs and 45 RBI.
“I think defensively I was solid. Offensively, I need work,” he said. “I need to become more consistent in big situations. I need to get better with runners in scoring position and better against lefties. But I did learn a lot. I figured out the pitching and how they are going to attack me. I think that is going to be key for me next year.”
One thing Reed vows never to change is his aggressive approach to defense, even though that’s what left him in so much pain this year.
“You get so much more respect from your teammates, coaching staff and organization when you play hard,” Reed said. “I pride my game on that. I have had many people tell me that I have to be careful … but for me, I will never stop playing the way I have.”
Manager Mike Hargrove also doesn’t want Reed to play with any less intensity on defense.
“If you start trying to artificially limit things like that, you’re probably setting them up for not being the players that they are and setting them up for further injury,” Hargrove said.
Putz out: Relief pitcher J.J. Putz also is done until next year after suffering a strained hamstring. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 23, when he hurt himself while lunging for a ground ball in Detroit.
Putz, a right-handed setup specialist, was plagued early in the season by big home runs, but he will finish with a 6-5 record, one save and a 3.60 ERA.
Of note: Hargrove said Shin-Soo Choo and Jaime Bubela would play center field in the remaining games. Choo started there Wednesday. … Hargrove said closer Eddie Guardado’s health is fine, even though he did not warm up in the ninth inning Tuesday while two other relievers did. “I’d rather bring Eddie in to start an inning,” Hargrove said. “With your closer, you’d rather give him a fresh start to do his job rather than have him come in and clean up somebody else’s mess.” … Members of the state champion Marysville Little League softball team watched the Mariners take batting practice, then took part in the ceremonial first-pitch ceremony before Wednesday’s game.
Kirby Arnold, Herald writer
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