5 P.M. UPDATE: The Mariners announced that they’ve optioned relief pitcher Roy Corcoran to Class AAA Tacoma, which clears room for Erik Bedard to be activated from the disabled list for tonight’s start.
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The sun is shining, the roof is pulled back and so are the sleeves on my fleece. As Danica Patrick said in victory lane last week: Finally!
It doesn’t look like there will be a DL situation with MIguel Batista, who was walking with a slight limp Saturday after he came out of Friday night’s game because of a strained groin. Manager John McLaren expects Batista to make his next start, scheduled for Thursday at Cleveland.
McLaren’s biggest concern is getting the offense going, and two of his slumping regulars — DH Jose Vidro (.195 average) and catcher Kenji Johjima (.194) are on the bench tonight. Greg Norton (3-for-8 this season) is the DH and Jamie Burke (.214) will catch.
McLaren said this is Johjima’s day off, and that he’ll catch Sunday afternoon’s game. He also called it a day off for Vidro, although he made it clear some hitters need to get going or we’ll see more lineup shuffling like this.
“We need to get some guys going here,” McLaren said. “We’re a month into the season now. Wev’e gone far enough. We’ve given everybody an opportunity. This game is about winning, it’s not about me being everybody’s best friend. It’s about doing what’s best for the Seattle Mariners.”
McLaren said he’d deliver that message to the team after batting practice. The Mariners are 1-7 in one-run games this season and aren’t doing the little things that could turn that record around. For example, Yuniesky Betancourt went back to his flailing ways at the plate Friday night with the bases loaded and one out, lunging at the second pitch he saw and grounding into a rally-killing double play.
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