Mariners notebook: Walker shut down for two weeks

By Shannon Drayer

ARLINGTON, Texas – Taijuan Walker will be shut down for two weeks after an MRI revealed a right shoulder impingement. Walker was seen by team Dr. Edward Khalfayan. I spoke with general manager Jack Zdurineick Wednesday afternoon and he expressed hope that after two weeks of rehab and treatment Walker would be able to resume his throwing program.

“You have to take the big picture into account,” he said. “It’s a setback but it is also a part of it. We are hopeful we get him back 100 percent, and it sounds like we will in due time, but we just can’t take chances.”

Zduriencik went on to say that pulling Walker from his start for Triple-A Tacoma was the right thing to do, and that the 40-man roster will be taken into consideration when choosing a starter for the Mariners on Sunday.

That starter will not be Blake Beavan, as he was put on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis. James Jones was called up to take his place on the roster, but obviously he will not be making the start Sunday – although he did pitch in college so maybe it is a possibility (no, they are not to that point yet). More likely we will see Brandon Maurer or Anthony Fernandez get the start.

Jones wasn’t the only new face in the clubhouse today as Nick Franklin was also called up and in the lineup tonight.

Lineup

Almonte 8
Miller 6
Cano 4
Seager 5
Saunders 9
Franklin DH
Smoak 3
Ackley 7
Zunino 2

Felix

This is a new one. Notice anything? Six of the starting nine (seven of 10 if you count Felix) are completely home grown signed or drafted by the Mariners. Eight of nine have spend time in the Mariners minors. Franklin is at DH tonight and most likely will flip positions with Robinson Cano tomorrow. We may not see Franklin every day, but we most likely will see quite a bit of him. Lloyd McClendon said that he will play some short, third and outfield. Franklin did not play any outfield while with Tacoma and told me that he still doesn’t have an outfield glove. He used Michael Saunders’ in spring training and will use whatever is available tonight.

“I will go out there with a catcher’s glove if it means I get to play,” he said.

Notes

• The make-up date for the no-rain rainout in Oakland has been set — it will be made up as part of a doubleheader May 7. The first game will start at 12:37 p.m., and the second will be played 30 minutes after the first ends. According to union rep Charlie Furbush, the Mariners wanted to play the doubleheader on May 6, but the A’s, who are off on May 8, wanted a day/night doubleheader. With the doubleheader, the Mariners will now play 17 straight games over a stretch in May.