Michael Saunders, Alex Liddi and Steve Delabar headed to Seattle
Sep 5, 2011, 6:01 PM | Updated: 9:06 pm
After the Tacoma Rainiers’ season ended today the Mariners called up three more players. Michael Saunders, Alex Liddi and Steve Delabar will be in uniform tomorrow for the M’s.
It is very interesting that the Mariners just called up three especially after losing two outfielders in yesterday’s game. Casper Wells is day to day with a bruised elbow but Franklin Gutierrez is out for the remainder of the year. Mike Carp is in left tonight and Trayvon Robinson in center. There is no word yet as to how much playing time Saunders could get but if Carp his limited mostly to first base and DH then Saunders could see significant playing time.
Eric Wedge said today that Chone Figgins could play the outfield as well. I don’t believe we will see much of this for the remainder of the year but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more of him in the outfield in spring training.
When Liddi makes is debut it will mark the first time a player born and raised in Italy has played in the big leagues. Liddi plays third and of course can DH. I may be tough to find him playing time.
Ron Fairly had an interesting idea on the pregame roundtable segment. He said that he would like to see Ackley some in center, Seager at second and Liddi at third. I wouldn’t mind seeing that myself. One way to get Liddi more looks and also get Ackley and Seager into their natural positions. This could be interesting.
Who is Steve Delabar you may ask? Delabar is a right-handed reliever who was signed April 20 by the Mariners and climbed from Everett to Tacoma quickly. In 10 appearances with the Rainiers he put up a 0.69 ERA, striking out 18 and walking 6 in 13 innings pitched. He spent five years in the Padres organization and pitched in the Independent Leagues from 2007-2009. He missed the 2010 season after undergoing elbow surgery. A move will have to be made to put him on the 40-man roster, placing Gutierrez on the 60-day DL is an option.
News and notes…Wily Mo Pena is back with the team after leaving for the birth of his first child. His daughter was born Friday in Tampa Bay. Mom and baby are just fine. Dad is very proud and a little tired…Casper Wells will play winter ball this year. The Lara Cardenales announced this today and Casper confirmed. He is looking forward to getting the additional at bats this winter…
