Mariners Insider - And Batista Goes Down Again

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

Posted by Larry LaRue @ 07:51:25 pm

Manager Jim Riggleman has a vision, a Mariners rotation with five healthy starting pitchers.

So far, that's all it is - a vision.

Twenty-three pitches into his start Wednesday, Miguel Batista called trainer Rick Griffin to the mound and then left the game with a strained right groin.

If you're counting, that's one pitcher (Felix Hernandez) on the disabled list with a sprained ankle, another (Erik Bedard) sidelined by a tender shoulder and now a third (Batista) unavailable.

Felix is due back Friday, and Ryan Rowland-Smith will probably slide into Batista's spot if needed.

Categories: Game Updates • 1 comment

COMMENTS:

Comment by dave8557 @ 08:53 - Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Batista is a nice guy and a gentleman. But he is not helping the Mariners. This injury is a blessing. It's a chance to get Morrow in the rotation. Or RR Smith.

Batista's days are numbered as a major leaguer.

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Mariners Insider

You will find news, observations, anecdotes, analysis and photographs on this blog. The purpose is to keep readers informed, but also give them a feel for the team and its players, and a place to go to read about baseball.

Contributors:

Ryan Divish has been with The News Tribune since 2006, covering the Tacoma Rainiers and high school sports. Divish played baseball at Dickinson State University and also earned a journalism degree from the University of Montana.
E-mail Ryan.

Larry LaRue has covered the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball for The News Tribune since 1988. E-mail Larry.