Bedard still ailing
Not only is Erik Bedard all but off the trading block because of his sore left shoulder, the chances of him pitching again before the end of this month are getting slimmer.
Bedard, on the disabled list since July 5 because of tightness in his shoulder, came back from the All-Star break feeling no better, manager Jim Riggleman said.
Bedard won’t throw a baseball until Monday at the earliest, and then it’ll only be a session of playing catch.
“He didn’t come out of the break feeling significantly better,” Riggleman said. “We’re not going to test it out throwing until Monday and hopefully he will be ready to throw some firm catch. If not, we’ll go from there.”
Bedard had been considered one of the Mariners’ top trade possibilities before the July 31 trade deadline. The injury puts that into serious peril because there’s a good chance he won’t pitch before then. At best, Bedard would return during the Mariners’ road trip late this month to Toronto and Texas.
“We don’t have a specific timetable,” Riggleman said. “We’re not looking at trying to pitch him on the 31st. It will be based on how he feels. The 31st is kind of irrelevant when a guy has a tender arm.”
LaHair to start today: First baseman Bryan LaHair was officially called up from Class AAA Tacoma on Friday, even though he was with the Mariners at their workout Thursday.
Riggleman said LaHair, a left-handed hitter, would start today’s game against Indians starter Jeremy Sowers, the least fearsome of the four straight left-handers the Mariners are facing on this homestand. Left-handed-hitting catcher Jeff Clement also will play today.
“With Clement and LaHair here, I wish we were mixing in a couple of right-handers after those four days off (for the All-Star break),” Riggleman said. “If it wasn’t for those four days off, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. It will feel a little strange to those guys after being off four or five days and then facing a lefty, and be off again. But that’s part of the process.”
Of note: Closer J.J. Putz took what might be the final step from the disabled list, pitching 12/3 scoreless innings Friday night for Class AAA Tacoma against Tucson. He didn’t allow a hit and struck out one, throwing 13 of his 17 pitches for strikes. Putz has been on the disabled list since June 12 because of a hyperextended right elbow. … With Bedard still unable to pitch, R.A. Dickey will stay in the rotation and start Tuesday against the Red Sox. … Mariners play-by-play announcer Dave Niehaus took the first of four games off Friday. … The Mariners and Indians will wear 1989 uniforms today.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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