Mariners
Notebook: Job well done earns Sherrill rest

By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter

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George Sherrill has shown enough in his two months with the Mariners to earn his way back to training camp next spring. So now it's time to rest.

Sherrill, who has been pitching without much of a break for more than a year, will not pitch the rest of the season. He doesn't have an injury, and the club doesn't want to risk one.

"He has pretty much pitched continually since the independent leagues," Mariners manager Bob Melvin said. "He pitched in the fall league, winter ball, winter program. We've seen the velocity go down. It's a little tougher for him to get loose now.

"He has done well here. He has proven he can pitch at the big-league level. We feel we need to shut him down so we don't see something happen."

Sherrill, a 27-year-old left-hander, appeared in 21 games since his July 16 arrival from Class AAA Tacoma. He was 2-1 with a 3.80 earned-run average. He had 16 strikeouts and nine walks in 23-2/3 innings. With the Rainiers, Sherrill was 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA with 13 saves in 36 appearances.

Sherrill is a story of perseverance. He was completely ignored by major-league teams, neither signed nor drafted. He spent 4-1/2 years in the independent leagues before signing with the Mariners in July 2003. He then helped Class AA San Antonio win the Texas League title as he went 3-0 with an 0.33 ERA in 16 games for the Missions.

"We've thrown him into the fire," Melvin said. "That's something we really wanted to impress upon him, 'feel good about what you've accomplished because you've impressed us.' "

Notes

• Another late-season arrival who has earned his roster spot next spring is Bobby Madritsch, also a former independent league pitcher. He held the Red Sox scoreless for eight innings Thursday. He is 4-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 11 outings.
 
"As far as a guy who has come up here to start, he has been the most impressive," Melvin said. "He has done very well for himself. We still have some time left, but he has certainly put himself into position coming into spring training next year to compete for a starting role."

• Ichiro's quest for the most hits in a season is captivating fans. But along the way he can pick off other records as well.

He is closing in on the most hits for a player during any four-year period. The most hits ever over four seasons were 918 by Bill Terry (1929-32). Entering last night's game, Ichiro was on pace for 928 hits in his four seasons. He had 891 hits.

In addition, Ichiro already has 193 singles, breaking his own AL record. The modern major-league record is 202 set by Willie Keeler in 1901.