Mariners Blog

Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

July 3, 2009 at 12:15 PM

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Mariners activate pitcher Shawn Kelley, option Mike Carp back to Class AAA

Posted by Geoff Baker

We told you a couple of days ago that this move was coming. The Mariners had planned to activate relief pitcher Shawn Kelley off the disabled list in order to have some bullpen insurance in case Erik Bedard made a start on Saturday. Bedard isn't starting until Tuesday, but the Mariners went ahead and made the move anyhow.

Mike Carp, pictured above, heads back to Class AAA. Why did the Mariners do this?

After all, they could have shipped off somebody like Roy Corcoran, who hasn't pitched all that much. But then again, the Mariners haven't used Carp all that often either. And this bullpen is feeling a little drained after having to work five innings last night in New York.

So, with a brief reprieve -- perhaps -- tonight as AL Pitcher of the Month Felix Hernandez takes the mound, the M's see two other possible long bullpen outings after that with Garrett Olson and Brandon Morrow set to go.

And so, they have loaded up on the bullpen arms.

Kelley hasn't pitched in almost two months since tearing his oblique muscle. He's an effective weapon against lefthanded bats, something the Mariners have been short on in their bullpen. The Red Sox have a few lefties who can do damage.

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Mariners activate pitcher Shawn Kelley, option Mike Carp back to Class AAA

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