SEATTLE — Designated hitter Mike Sweeney hasn’t been able to play a full month this season without having his back lock up, and in the next few days he and the Seattle Mariners hope to learn if the problem is more complex than back spasms.
Sweeney, who went on the 15-day disabled list Monday, will be examined today or Saturday by spine specialist Dr. Stan Herring, trainer Rick Griffin said.
“Based on that, it will be determined if any additional tests are necessary,” Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said.
It’s too soon to think of this as a problem that could jeopardize Sweeney’s season, if not his career. That possibility certainly comes to mind for a player who has dealt with injuries to his back and knees the past few years and was prepared to retire if health kept him from making the team out of spring training.
However, Sweeney said he has been playing with two degenerative discs in his back.
“It’s from years of wear and tear playing this game,” he said. “But I’m feeling better and I’m hoping that when the two weeks (on the DL) are up that I’ll be playing in Detroit.”
Sweeney, who’s batting .250 with three home runs and 15 RBI, is eligible to come off the DL July 21 when the Mariners begin a three-game series at Detroit.
At least until then, the Mariners will use Chris Shelton at DH against left-handed pitching. They called up Shelton from Class AAA Tacoma on Thursday.
Griffin said Sweeney has been undergoing daily therapy and exercises to reduce the back spasms that forced him out of Sunday’s game in Boston.
To make room for Shelton, the Mariners optioned left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas to Tacoma, where he will pitch every fifth day and be in line to rejoin the M’s when they need a fifth starter again on July 25.
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