That's the initial word we've received from the Mariners after J.J. Putz underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on his right elbow today under the supervision of team medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan. A hyperextended elbow. It caused what the team is calling "triceps tendon inflammation" and an "irritated ulnar nerve'' but no ligament damage. No damage to the flexor bundle in the elbow either.

Putz will not throw this weekend. He is to be re-evaluated on Monday. That means, for the Washington series at least, Brandon Morrow is the closer.

For those of you writing in taking exception to me saying Carlos Silva has pitched well of late, he's allowed five runs over his last 14 innings. That's pretty good. He threw a seven-inning "quality start" yesterday and went eight innings the start before that. Yes, I'm aware he had a rough first inning last week and fell behind 3-0. But he wouldn't have lasted eight innings -- giving his team a chance to get back in the game -- had he not been pitching well.

I didn't say Silva was Cy Young and better than Felix Hernandez. The point being made (I'll spell it out) was that he was throwing better than Miguel Batista and unlikely to be skipped. When's the last time Batista went eight innings this season? Try never. Erik Bedard? Once. Silva has pitched well of late. Meaning lately. Last week and now. Batista, not so much.

To answer another question, Ryan Rowland-Smith becomes the long guy this weekend. If Putz has to go on the DL -- and we'll know more by Monday -- you can always call up Ryan Feierabend from Class AAA (or Jake Woods, since Feierabend is, as one of you pointed out, hurt) for long relief or a spot start.

On the Derek Zumsteg thing, give the guy a break. A bit of an overreaction, maybe, but Rick Sutcliffe has gotten in trouble on-air before for rambling types of, shall we say, less-than-sharp commentary and it sounded like much of the same to me this time. Not just in words, but the tone of voice. A little too slow and casual. As someone who goes on the airwaves a lot, I can tell you that you can't just flap your gums. You have to have your wits about you and use your brain because one wrong word can haunt you for years.

Trust me, I spent yesterday afternoon meeting John Rocker. It doesn't take many words to hurt a reputation.