Long break for Bedard
Erik Bedard’s first half officially ended Tuesday, when the Seattle Mariners said the oft-injured left-hander would not start before the All-Star break — and wouldn’t be among the first two or three starting pitchers afterward.
“We have enough pitching to get us to the break and then four days during the break, so why not use it to help him get rid of all the nagging things bothering him?” asked manager Jim Riggleman.
Acquired in a trade before spring training and named the Mariners’ opening day starter, Bedard has missed games this season because of a sore hip, back spasms and now a tender left shoulder.
When healthy, he’s gone 6-4 with a 3.67 earned run average, pitching 81 innings in 15 first-half starts.
With Bedard sidelined, the Mariners will return Ryan Rowland-Smith to the bullpen and start Jarrod Washburn on Saturday, then Miguel Batista on Sunday.
And after the All-Star break?
Riggleman said the tentative plan was to start Felix Hernandez, Washburn, Silva and then Bedard after the break.
“It would be nice to start the second half with the pitching staff we envisioned coming out of camp,” Riggleman said. “If we get Felix and Erik and J.J. (Putz) back healthy, we’re a much improved team.
Hernandez and Putz are on the disabled list, scheduled to return to the team early after the All-Star break. Bedard reported a tender shoulder after his last start.
Bedard had no comment on the team’s decision, and has stopped talking to the media in the Northwest. He did grant an interview to a Philadelphia radio station.
New M’s order: Riggleman put together a new-look infield and first-time lineup against Oakland, sitting both shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and second baseman Jose Lopez.
In their place, he started Willie Bloomquist and Miguel Cairo.
Why?
“Lopez fouled a pitch off his knee and is tender, although it’s nothing serious,” Riggleman said. “I just decided to give them both one last day off before the All-Star break. They’ll go the rest of the way, and probably a long way in the second half before their next day off.
“You’re talking about two potential All-Stars. They both hit, have great arms, good hands. In time, they’ll learn the strike zone and take more walks. When they do that, they’re an All-Star combo.”
Short hops: Washburn was credited with the second complete game of the season Monday. The other? Hernandez went the distance on April 16th, here in Oakland. … A year ago, when they won 88 games, the Mariners were 27-23 in one-run games. This season? They’ve played 27 one-run games — and gone 10-17 in those. …Seattle’s second-round draft pick, outfielder Dennis Raben, has had an eye-popping start to his professional career. Playing for Everett, Raben is 10-for-12 — with five doubles, a home run, five RBI and eight runs scored.
Larry LaRue, The News Tribune
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