Notebook | MRI on M's Bedard shows no serious structural damage

An MRI scan taken Tuesday on the injured left shoulder of Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard was said to have found no serious structural damage.

The team ordered the MRI after Bedard said he was unable to resume throwing in an indoor batting cage Monday as he'd done the day before. Bedard has been on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 5, with what the club says is shoulder impingement.

Bedard is to continue with his regular rehabilitation process. But the team had no timetable for when he'll be able to pitch in a game.

"I was pretty encouraged by what I heard," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said after Tuesday night's game. "I think Erik was encouraged. Whatever was found there, whether it was an impingement, or whatever terminology was used, my understanding is that Erik feels like he's going to get out there and start throwing again soon.

"That's the hope," he added. "I don't know when he'll throw again or when he'll be throwing to a catcher again or just playing catch.

"But we need him out there," he added. "He wants to be out there. There are some things going on there, though, that are just not allowing him to be free and easy."

Riggleman earlier in the day had explained why it took the team more than two weeks to order an MRI on Bedard. At first, he said, the soreness didn't seem to anything overly serious and it appeared Bedard might be ready to start right after the All-Star break.

The start date for Bedard's return to the mound kept getting put off. Bedard was unable to throw during the break and then, a team source told the Times, he had a cortisone shot this past weekend.

When the shoulder didn't respond to any great extent, the MRI was ordered.

Notes

• Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez had little comment Tuesday when reporters tried to ask him pregame about a jaywalking incident outside Safeco Field following Monday night's game. "It's OK," he said. "Don't worry about it!"

Ramirez had left the stadium after the game and attempted to slip away from the throngs of fans by walking across South Royal Brougham Way.

But a police officer directing traffic had signaled for pedestrians to stop at the curb. When Ramirez kept crossing the street, the police officer ordered him to the side and asked him to produce identification.

The police officer -- apparently not realizing who Ramirez was -- asked him if he'd attended the game. After lecturing Ramirez, telling him he could face a $500 fine and arrest for disobeying police, the officer let him go. The jaywalking incident, first reported by The Times in its online edition Monday night, received widespread coverage on the Internet and ESPN's on-air news telecast.

Manager Terry Francona took the news in-stride when reporters told him about it before Tuesday's game. "OK, that's the last straw," he quipped. "I'm not playing him."

• Mariners catcher Jeff Clement left the game in the third inning, shortly after a foul ball he tried to catch near the screen tore the nail off the thumb on his throwing hand. Clement could be available to pinch-hit today, but won't catch again until at least Friday.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.

For the record

Streak: L4

Home: 20-31

Road: 18-31

vs. AL West: 11-17

vs. L.A.: 3-6

vs. Oakland: 4-5

vs. Texas: 4-6

vs. AL East: 11-20

vs. AL Cent.: 7-16

vs. NL: 9-9

vs. LHP: 10-19

vs. RHP: 28-43

Day: 11-21

Night: 27-41

One-run: 11-19

Extra inn.: 2-4

Home attendance

Tuesday's crowd: 38,425

Season total: 1,484,237

Biggest crowd: 46,334 (March 31)

Smallest crowd: 15,818 (May 6)

Average (51 dates): 29,103

2007 average (51 dates): 31,534