Sports

POSTED: Friday, Sep. 26, 2008

MARINERS NOTEBOOK: Bedard gets good news

For the last few months, there has been little good news about Erik Bedard, particularly the condition of his left throwing shoulder.

But some of that changed on Friday afternoon with the report that exploratory shoulder surgery performed earlier in the day showed no tears to the labrum or rotator cuff.

"The surgery report is very good news," Mariners general manager Lee Pelekoudas said in a press release. "There are no structural issues with the shoulder, which should allow for a positive timetable on Erik's full recovery."

There was some fear that there was a tear in the labrum – in fact, Bedard himself feared it was torn.

But the surgery performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles revealed no tear; only some slight fraying that was cleaned up with a technique called "minor labral debridement."

Perhaps the most serious thing to come of the surgery was the removal of a cyst in the shoulder. Mariners trainer Rick Griffin couldn't comment on Bedard's status because Bedard didn't sign an information waiver.

Manager Jim Riggleman was surprised to have such a quick report, but said: “It sounds good."

Extensive repair of the labrum would have necessitated almost a one-year recovery period.

Instead, Bedard could be back by spring training. The estimated recovery time for the procedure Bedard had is about six months.

An exact timetable won't be set until Bedard starts the rehabilitation progress.

"Just the fact they went in there creates some rehab time," Riggleman said.

Bedard will pitch again and most likely for the Mariners. Had there been major damage the Mariners had the option of not tendering him a contract for next season. However, now it’s likely Seattle will offer him a contract.

Bedard's last start was on July 4 against the Tigers. He left the game in the fifth inning and complained of shoulder pain afterward. However, he told reporters that the discomfort started in his second start of the season in Tampa Bay in April, but that he tried to pitch through the pain until it became unbearable.

Bedard made 15 starts for the Mariners this season. He finished 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched.

Feierabend finished for year

Left-hander Ryan Feierabend has been scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday with a sore left elbow.

"He's a little tender and … we don't see any reason to pitch him," Riggleman said. "We have 16 pitchers here so we are not going to send someone out there that doesn't feel right."

The tenderness is in Feierabend's left elbow. Earlier in the season he was shut down with pain in the elbow. But it's not the same injury.

"It's not the same place, but very close to it," Riggleman said.

Feierabend finishes his late season call-up with a 1-4 record and a ghastly 7.71 earned run average. Teams are hitting over .300 against him.

"I think he’s just like anybody trying to do it with location and change of speed, you have to be sharp and fine-tune it," Riggleman said. "It comes with time. I know Tom Glavine got hit around pretty good, but he learned from it and got better and better."

R.A. Dickey will make the start instead on Sunday in the season finale. Dickey (4-8) has started 13 games this season.

Woman as Seattle GM?

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said his team is vetting a wide range of general manager candidates, pointedly leaving open the possibility of Seattle hiring the first female general manager in major league history.

Highly regarded Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng is considered an option.

The 39-year-old Ng has had her job for seven seasons and was a top adviser to New York Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman before that. She was believed to be the final candidate beaten out by Ned Colletti when Los Angeles selected a new GM in 2005.

She may be getting a second interview soon.

“It’s time for some fresh thinking,” Armstrong said.

He and team CEO Howard Lincoln said the replacement for Bill Bavasi, fired June 16, and temporary in-house fill-in Lee Pelekoudas will be an outsider with new ideas to resurrect the franchise.