SEATTLE — It was temporary, but positive.
For the first time since leaving Safeco Field for the hospital on Monday because of a mild stroke, Mariners manager Eric Wedge stopped in the clubhouse Sunday morning to chat with the team. He had discussed the idea with interim manager Robby Thompson on Saturday night.
“He came in and said hello to the boys,” Thompson said. “Had a nice little talk with him. He looks great. Seeing the guys was great. Doing well. Walking good. Talking, I mean the whole thing.
“A big smile on his face. Probably tough for him to leave right now. As we all know, he’d probably love to stay here. He’ll be back soon, though. He’s doing really, really well.”
Thompson said there’s still no timeline for Wedge’s return. While he is out, Jeff Datz will remain in the dugout to work with Thompson and Daren Brown will continue as the third base coach. Wedge, who is watching and listening to games, will not be on the upcoming six-game road trip to the East Coast.
“I think a lot of us were thinking it was more of an update,” Michael Saunders said. “To actually see the big guy come in, address the team, I think it was more about him showing us he was OK. We can be told everything that he’s doing all right … (but) to see the difference from when he was helped off the field to now, was night and day.
“It was extremely encouraging, I think a huge moral boost to this team.”
Morse on the rise?
Michael Morse was originally in the Tacoma Rainiers’ starting lineup Sunday night before being abruptly removed. Morse shook hands with several teammates before leaving batting practice. His rehabilitation assignment (quad) appears to be over.
The Mariners did not announce any roster moves Sunday, but will have an interesting decision to make with the big-league team in order to make room for Morse. Endy Chavez and Jason Bay appear to be candidates for release in order to make room for Morse.
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