Mariners Blog

Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

E-mail Geoff| Mariners Forum| Subscribe | Blog Home

July 23, 2008 12:23 PM

Jeff Clement probably out until Saturday

Posted by Danny O'Neil

Jeff Clement didn't require any stitches for the nail that tore off the thumb nail on his throwing hand early in Tuesday's game. He was sore, though, and isn't in the lineup Wednesday. Kenji Johjima is catching with Jose Vidro as designated hitter. Manager Jim Riggleman said Clement can swing OK, but throwing is the issue. He didn't completely rule out Clement playing on Friday, but said since the Mariners are scheduled to face left-hander John Parrish in Toronto, Clement's return likely will wait until Saturday.

"If he's totally 100 percent we may get him in there," Riggleman said. "But if he's anything less than 100 percent I might wait until Saturday when a right-hander's pitching."

Carlos Silva left Sunday's game with a lower-back issue, but Riggleman said before Wednesday's game that Silva is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to make his next start, which would be Saturday in Toronto. Miguel Batista will start on Friday for Seattle.

Riggleman also said he doesn't expect left-hander Erik Bedard to pitch before the end of the month, however, the magnetic-resonance image (MRI) seemed to be a boost to the pitcher.

"He seemed encouraged by the results of the MRI," Riggleman said.

Riggleman said that it told Bedard that the soreness he's feeling in the shoulder is "pretty normal" and allayed questions if there was a more serious problem. Now it's just a matter of when Bedard starts feeling well enough to throw some.

"His tone in the whole thing is kind of a little more positive," Riggleman said of Bedard.

Digg | Newsvine