CLEVELAND – There has been a change in plan with Seattle Mariners catcher Miguel Olivo, who will join the team today in Denver before a three-game series against Colorado.
A day after saying the team would “lay eyes on Olivo” in Seattle once this trip ended, manager Eric Wedge said Olivo would be in Colorado today.
“There’s no chance he’s coming off the disabled list,” Wedge assured the media. “We just want to test him over a few days ourselves before we send him out on a rehab assignment.”
Olivo strained a groin muscle and landed on the 15-day disabled list May 1. Last week he caught a few bullpen sessions with the Tacoma Rainiers before they began a trip of their own.
Now, Wedge wants to see Olivo – but not too closely.
“He had a similar injury last spring, and we probably let him come back too soon, and that was my fault,” Wedge said. “Miguel wants to play. If it were his choice, he’d be coming to Colorado to play.
“If I had it to do over again, I’d have given him three or four more weeks before activating him. But I looked right into his eyes and …”
Wedge clapped his hands together.
“… he got me. I’m not looking in those eyes again. I know what I’d see.”
VERSATILE MR. LIDDI
Alex Liddi, left fielder.
A night after the Seattle Mariners put him there for the ninth inning, Liddi made his first big-league start in the outfield and did a fine job – except at the plate.
The big right-handed hitter went 0-for-4 and was pulled late in favor of Casper Wells. It won’t be the last time Liddi gets a start in left.
Liddi has started games this season at first base, third base and designated hitter, now left field. His defensive mindset is simple.
“If I’m in the game, playing anywhere, I get to hit,” Liddi said. “The more places I can play, the more opportunities I’m likely to get.”
Before each game, Liddi shags balls in the outfield, takes ground balls at first base, third base and – yes – shortstop, which he played for the Tacoma Rainiers at times last summer.
SHORT HOPS
Left-handed specialist Lucas Luetge made his 15th appearance Thursday and has now pitched 10 big league innings without allowing a run. … Kyle Seager will miss the Indians. He has batted safely in all nine games he’s played against them and, at Progressive Field, is 14-for-25 in his career. … Working the eighth inning Thursday, right-hander Steve Delabar appeared in his 20th game – matching the most by any American League reliever this season. ... Michael Saunders had two RBI Thursday, his 13th and 14th of the season. They came after 14 games without one. ... With runners in scoring position, the Mariners were 2-for-18 Thursday.
ON TAP
Seattle plays the Rockies in Denver at 5:40 p.m. (PDT) in a game broadcast on Root Sports. Probable starting pitchers: Kevin Millwood (1-4, 5.09 ERA) vs. Alex White (0-2, 6.75).
LARRY.LARUE@THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM BLOG.THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM/MARINERS @LARRYLARUE
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