Seattle Pro Sports (Mariners News)
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MLB (spring) Seattle 4 Anaheim 5 Final |
Mariner closer Kazuhiro Sasaki may be held out of the season opener with Oakland on April 1. Sasaki has not pictched since March 15 and has been experiencing soreness in his right shoulder. Jeff Nelson and Arthur Rhodes are expected to fill in as closers if needed. Sasaki had bone chips removed from his right elbow last Oct. 28 in Japan. The Mariners season opener in Japan has been canceled and the Mariners will open their season in Oakland. Looking for a bright side to the cancelation, the Mariners get extra time in spring training to decide on their opening day roster. Currently the Mariners have not made a final decision on the 11 pitchers they will bring up with them. Two rookies are making a huge impact and are expected to make the teams decision difficult. March 11: LRP Norm Charlton's career is more than likely over. After haveing an MRI test and it showing another tear in his shoulder will have to undergo surgery again. All during the spring he has been experiencing pain during throwing exersizes and has yet to see any game-time action. 40-yr old Charlton refuses to give up saying that if it's possible for him to pitch again, he's going to try. Catcher Dan Wilson will be sidelined at least two weeks and probably longer with a strained stomach muscle on his left side. "It's frustrating for sure," Wilson said March 2. "I think what makes it more difficult is the fact that spring training is a little bit shorter this year. Right now, there's a lot of soreness." The Mariners will play two exhibition games in Tokyo against Japanese teams March 22-23, then open the regular season there March 25 against the A's. Wilson, who hit a career-best .295 with six homers and 44 RBI in 115 games last season, will have an MRI exam in the next couple of days as a precaution. He hurt himself while swinging inside the batting cage Feb. 27. |