Pitching staff stays at 11
According to the TNT blog, Roy Corcoran has been designated for assignment to make room for Ryan Rowland-Smith’s return to the rotation. I wouldn’t expect Corcoran to get claimed, of all the guys on the roster he should be just about the easiest to pass through waivers. But if not, Sean White is doing the stuff he did last year but better, so it would hardly be a tragedy.
As nice as it is to have more guys on the bench (now please untie Chris Shelton from it), the move suggests how the team plans to fill Sunday’s rotation slot. Vargas would be right on schedule for it, but that requires another move, probably swapping out for a position player as off days dwindle and we return to a 7-man bullpen. That gives a couple more days before a tougher decision has to be made, and even that might be postponed if Gutierrez’s neck, Griffey’s knee, or one of several backs simplifies things a bit.
Apparently Shelton is starting today!
I would like to see Griffey take one for the team and go on the DL for 15 days with a bad knee. That was we could get Shelton’s RHB into the lineup against these lefties and we could also bring up Vargas for Sunday.
Also, according to the official announcement, Josh Wilson has cleared waivers, if anybody cares.
Well, the official announcement also says they’re calling up somebody named “Ryan Rowand-Smith”, so take it for what it’s worth.
The important thing is that they got to 11.
Corcoran…if they lose him…hohum. He wasn’t impressing anyone this year. bb/k ratio 17/6 over 19 innings? He was a little too wild for my taste out of the pen. Thanks Roy for your efforts but don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
Hmm… I forgot we even had Corcoran. No loss there.. haha
He wasn’t ever used, thats why. If Wak was never going to use him (and rightfully so, since he was erratic and inconsistent), why keep him around?
Good luck to Corky, I hope no one talks too much trash, he might not have been an all star pitcher but he is an incredibly nice and friendly guy. Granted that doesnt get big league hitters out, but he is genuinely a good person. When most of the other players at a road game last year ignored my curteous pleas for a ball or a signature or just something for my son, he and Brandon Morrow took the time to come over and chat and sign a ball. He is a good friendly guy and I hope him the best in the rest of his career.
I agree that Corky was the most obvious choice to take off the roster as far as pitchers, but his last two appearances he looked pretty good. Locating the fastball much better, but no big deal.
Can’t wait to see RRS
Baker is back, and blogs:
“As we mentioned up top, Franklin Gutierrez is back in tonight’s lineup. He only missed two games after crashing into that wall in Detroit.
“He’s gotten treatment after the last couple of days,” Wakamatsu said. “The trainers have done a good job and his body’s responded. I was kind of curious to see, after that four hour plane ride, how stiff he’d be. But he seems to have loosened up pretty good.”
Speaking of plane flights, the Mariners are going with right handed hitter Chris Shelton as tonight’s DH as opposed to Mike Sweeney. With Sweeney’s recent back issues, Wakamatsu was reluctant to play him after the long flight back from Detroit. It also gives the Mariners another opportunity to play Shelton and keep him fresh.”
I am so stoked to watch RRS today. Hopefully he can return to last years form and stick in the rotation for years.
Gutierrez had to play tonight — it’s his bobblehead night. At the very least he had to come out as a pinch hitter and knock a grand salami into the Guti-land centerfield seats…
But, but, but he and Lowe are best buds. Sending him down will destroy the bullpen chemistry. Destroy it!