Mariners notebook: Reliever Roy Corcoran designated for assignment

To clear room for Friday night's starting pitcher, Ryan Rowland-Smith, the Mariners designated reliever Roy Corcoran for assignment. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu...

By Geoff Baker

Seattle Times staff reporter

To clear room for Friday night's starting pitcher, Ryan Rowland-Smith, the Mariners designated reliever Roy Corcoran for assignment.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said letting Corcoran go was a tough decision.

"It almost reminds me of spring training a little bit, where you've got to let some people go," Wakamatsu said. "He's been a big part of this organization. Such a quality person. It's never fun to do that. It's unfortunate for him, but we've got a need for a starter, obviously, and he was the one that we made the decision to move."

Back at center

Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez was back in the lineup Friday, having missed just two games after crashing into the wall in Detroit.

"He's gotten treatment after the last couple of days," Wakamatsu said. "The trainers have done a good job, and his body's responded. I was kind of curious to see, after that four-hour plane ride, how stiff he'd be. But he seems to have loosened up pretty good."

Notes

• In a pregame chat, 3B Adrian Beltre said he's two weeks away from returning to the Mariners. He has been playing catch and fielding ground balls, and said he would hit off a tee today.

• Ichiro had a special visitor at Safeco Field — hip-hop artist Flo Rida. Ichiro plays three different Flo Rida songs — "In the Ayer," "Jump" and "Sugar" — as his intro music before each plate appearance. Flo Rida, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, actually mentions Ichiro by name in "Jump."

The native of the Carol City projects in Miami Gardens, Fla., presented Ichiro with a plaque containing the song lyrics. The two conversed in English.

"We got a chance to interact with each other," the rapper said. "And he understands where I'm coming from."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ichiro can converse with Flo Rida in English but needs an interpreter for all of his interviews?? Give me a break. Posted on July 25, 2009 at 6:59 AM by Maseman99. Jump to comment

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