SEATTLE — Keeping the pitchers fresh
The Mariners not only have set up their starting rotation for the games after the All-Star break, they’ve mapped it out for the rest of the season. Part of the plan is to be careful with the innings they load on their young pitchers, particularly rookie M
ichael Pineda.
Manager Eric Wedge said it goes well beyond Pineda.
Felix Hernandez has pitched 1211/3 innings in 17 starts, Jason Vargas 1041/3 in 16 starts, Erik Bedard 83 in 14 starts after missing two years with a shoulder injury, Doug Fister 1021/3 in 15 starts going into his game Sunday, and Pineda 952/3 in 15 starts.
“Michael stands out because it’s his first full season,” Wedge said. “But … we’ll have to watch. Bedard, it’s been awhile since he’s done it. Vargas was built up last year but he keeps piling up innings. Fister will be throwing more than he ever has. I think we’ll be able to manage it.”
Wedge said the Mariners will stay in rotation after the break and use off days in order to give the starters an extra day between starts.
Where things could get really dicey, especially as they try to avoid overloading Pineda, is if the Mariners find themselves fighting for the division lead in the final weeks of the season.
“If it gets to the point where it gets a little tight at the end, it’s going to be for good reasons,” Wedge said.
Wedge is a big believer in monitoring “stressful” innings that pitchers experience, especially late in a start. He says a long inning deep into a game has much more impact that a long first inning.
“The first inning is the only mulligan you can get because you’re coming out fresh,” Wedge said. “You still have to monitor it, but when you get deeper into the ballgame, that’s when you really have to keep a close eye on it. Where you really extend yourself is when you go out there and push through an inning and get deep into an inning. That’s when fatigue sets in, when you’re reaching back, and you’ve really got to be careful.”
Kelley getting closer
It’s still too soon for relief pitcher Shawn Kelley to target a return date from an elbow injury, but his next few weeks could get fairly active. Kelley, who had elbow surgery last summer but has experienced a couple of setbacks, is scheduled to throw off flat ground Tuesday and Wednesday, throwing on back-to-back days for the first time.
“If that goes well, then maybe a bullpen in Oakland and another in L.A. (the first week of July), and then maybe go out on a rehab assignment,” Kelley said.
Kelley’s elbow barked during his last minor league rehab assignment, so it’s still too soon to put a firm date on his return to the big leagues. If he doesn’t have a setback this time, though, he could be ready in late July.
Of note
Wedge on veterans Jack Cust and Jack Wilson, who’ve lost their starting roles: “This is the big leagues. This isn’t a hobby. I believe in giving opportunity, but at certain points in time you’ve got to make adjustments and make some changes. That’s what we’ve tried to do. We’re in the business of winning as many ballgames as we can, but I believe in handling all 25 as best we can.” … Injured closer David Aarsdma threw off flat ground Sunday — 12 minutes at 90 feet — and is on an every-other-day throwing schedule as he recovers from an elbow ligament strain. … Sunday’s game started at 7:10 p.m. to avoid a conflict with the Seattle Sounders’ soccer game in the afternoon at nearby CenturyLink Field.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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