Mariners
Notebook: Ailing Olivo is placed on 15-day disabled list

By Jose Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Miguel Olivo might never forget his first week with his new team, and some of the memories will be painful.

The 25-year-old Mariners catcher, acquired Sunday in the trade that sent Freddy Garcia to the Chicago White Sox, missed Wednesday's game because of complications trying to pass a kidney stone. He was hospitalized for surgery, but still was expected to be back in the lineup yesterday.

Instead, Olivo won't be in the lineup for at least two weeks, now that he has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The move is retroactive to June 30, and the Mariners recalled infielder Justin Leone from Class AAA Tacoma to fill Olivo's spot.

Dr. Larry Pedegana, the Mariners' medical director, said the kidney stone removal causes inflammation in the tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder. Doctors had to insert a stent to keep the tube from swelling shut, and the stent is expected to be removed Monday.

Mariners manager Bob Melvin said Olivo will play in rehabilitation games in the minor leagues when he is able — during the major-league All-Star break. After that, Olivo should be ready to get back into the lineup for the Mariners' first series after the break.

Olivo probably won't be available to run or work out until Wednesday at the earliest.

Leone, 27, was in uniform (No. 26) and available to play in the later innings yesterday. He was batting .269 in 68 games with 56 runs batted in for Tacoma, and his 21 home runs were third most in the Pacific Coast League.

Leone was informed of his call-up about 35 minutes before yesterday's first pitch, and didn't arrive at Safeco Field until about the fifth inning.

Olerud to Boston?

A source said the Red Sox are talking to the Mariners about a deal that could send first baseman John Olerud to Boston.
 
Olerud, who has played for the Mariners since 2000, is in the final year of his contract, which pays him $7.7 million this season.

The Red Sox might also be looking for help in the bullpen, after right-hander Scott Williamson left a game Wednesday with an injury. The most likely Mariners relievers to be discussed would be veterans Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Ron Villone.

No hard feelings

Travis Blackley was selected from Tacoma late Wednesday night to be the starting pitcher for yesterday's game. Matt Thornton, called up last week, was supposed to start, but Melvin said he needed another long reliever in the bullpen.

Starter Clint Nageotte was optioned back to Tacoma to make room for Blackley. Nageotte was 1-4 with a 6.85 earned-run average in five games with the Mariners, and gave up five runs on nine hits Wednesday in 3-2/3 innings against Texas.

Thornton's mother and sister had traveled from Michigan for yesterday's game, but Thornton didn't start and never appeared. Still, Thornton didn't seem to mind the rather sudden decision to send him to the bullpen.

"It's no big deal at all. I'm just looking forward to getting out there as soon as I can," Thornton said. "I have no problem doing it (long relief). I get loose easy."

"He understands," Melvin said. "He was fired up for the start obviously, but the big leagues is the big leagues for him and he did well in a relief role (four shutout innings against San Diego last Sunday). Our guys are just a little bit taxed. We still haven't got over that 18-inning game (June 24) in Texas yet, so that's the reason."

Bombs away

Over the years, many long home runs have been hit at Safeco Field. But none longer than the ones the Easton Bomb Squad belted during its slow-pitch softball home-run challenge before yesterday's game.

Four beefy sluggers took turns golfing prodigious shots into the highest reaches of the ballpark, to the delight of the crowd. Brett "The Hammer" Helmer hit the first pitch of the derby into the staircase adjacent to the highest deck in right field.

That brought Mariners closer Eddie Guardado out of the clubhouse and up to the top of the dugout stairs to watch, and it wasn't long before several teammates had joined him. The Texas dugout was also full of curious onlookers.

Notes

• Reggie Williams, the former Washington wide receiver who was the ninth overall pick by Jacksonville in the NFL draft two months ago, threw out the first pitch yesterday. ... Melvin said he believes Ichiro, starter Jamie Moyer and Guardado have a chance to be named to the American League All-Star team Sunday.

Times reporter Bob Finnigan contributed to this report