Former Mariner outfielder Mike Cameron held a press conference Friday before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Seattle’s home opener. During the gathering, he announced he’s officially retiring from Major League Baseball “as a Mariner.”
“I was excited to be invited to throw out the first pitch by the Mariners,” Cameron said. “On my way here on Wednesday, I decided that I wanted to retire as a Mariner. My memories and my time here were a joy both on the field and with my family.”
Cameron came to the Mariners from Cincinnati in 2000 as part of the trade that Ken Griffey Jr. to the Reds. Cameron played four seasons in Seattle, earning two Gold Gloves and an appearance in the 2001 All-Star Game played at Safeco Field.
He said that was his favorite memory of his time in Seattle.
“Being told I was going to play in the All-Star Game right here in my backyard, that was pretty special,” Cameron said.
The former centerfielder said he’s not sure what the future holds, but he wants to take a year off to spend time with his family. Cameron said that while in Seattle he drove past his former house and texted a picture of it to his wife.
“I thought that it was only fitting (to retire a Mariner),” Cameron said. “It’s probably the one place that feels like it’s home for me.”
Sherrill placed on DL
Left-handed relief pitcher George Sherrill was placed on the 15-day disabled list — retroactive to April 10 — with a strained flexor bundle in his left elbow. Sherrill has appeared in two games this season. He is 0-0 with a 27.00 earned-run average in 11/3 innings.
Left-hander Charlie Furbush, a member of the Mariners’ opening-day roster in Japan, was recalled from Class AAA Tacoma. Furbush didn’t appear in a game before being optioned to Tacoma on April 4. In Tacoma, Furbush was 1-0, allowed just one hit in four innings and struck out six.
“George’s been struggling a little bit physically and just having trouble getting over the hump so we’re going to get him looked at today, put him on the DL,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said before Friday’s game. “Charlie was, you know, the next guy up. He did everything he could do to make the team to begin with but we just weren’t able to make it work numbers-wise.”
Carp on the mend
Outfielder Mike Carp, who went on the disabled list March 29, began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tacoma on Friday night in Fresno, Calif. Carp sprained his right shoulder in the fourth inning of the season opener against Oakland in Tokyo, but finished the game.
Wedge said there was no timetable for Carp’s return.
“We’re just going to play it day-by-day right now, get him some at-bats,” Wedge said.
Carp was named to Baseball America’s 2011 All-Rookie Team, along with teammate Dustin Ackley.
You again?
Friday night was the fourth “Opening Day” the Mariners have shared with the Oakland Athletics this season. The two teams opened Cactus League play on March 2, squared off in the Major League Baseball season opener in Japan on March 28 and met in the A’s 2012 home opener in Oakland on April 6.
“We’ve played them a lot,” Mariners leadoff hitter Chone Figgins said. “I think that’s the one thing about being in the (American League) West, you know, you play your teams so many times because we don’t have that fifth team.”
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