Ichiro set to come off DL Wednesday - 棒球

原文轉自官網

SEATTLE -- The blood test Ichiro Suzuki on Monday afternoon indicated the
Mariners right fielder is ready to come off the 15-day disable lost on
Wednesday, right on schedule.

"Everything with Ichiro looks fine, and he should be activated tomorrow."
Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said on Monday during his pregame media
session. "But there are a couple of issues before deciding what we'll do."

The Mariners must make a corresponding roster move and the organization is
waiting to see how healthy outfielder Wladimir Balentien's left wrist and
elbow are before making a dicision.

Balentien was injured while tring to make a diving catch in right field
against the Athletics on Saturday in Oakland. He didn't play in Sunday's
series finale but worked out on Monday at Safeco Field.

Balentien took batting practice on Tuesday. His status for Monday's home
opener was not immediately known, but if he's still sore, there is a good
chance the he would replace Ichiro on the 15-day DL. Seattle probaly would
either keep backup third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo on the roster or send him
back to Triple-A Tacoma and promote another player to fill Balentien's spot.

Ichiro has completely recovered form the severe fatigue he experienced soon
after joining the Mariners in Spring Training following the three-week World
Baseball Classic. A bleeding ulcer was diagnosed as the cause of the fatigue
and he had spent the past two weeks in Peoria, Ariz, recovering.

His workload has been gradually increased and although rain washed out his
plans to play right field in an intrasquad game, he still managed to get
20 at-bats during two previous games against Mariners Minor League Players.

When he retures to action, he will continue his persuit of a hitting
milestone for a Japan-born player.

The eight-time American League All-Star needs just three hits to become
that country's all-time leader.

Ichiro enters the 2009 season with 2,349 hits with the Mariners. He
accumulated 1,889 during his nine-year career in Japan with the Orix Blue
Wave, batting .353 in Japan, compared to .331 with Seattle.

Isao Harimoto, the current record holder among Japanese players with 3,085
hits during a career that started in 1959 and ended in 1981, arriving in
Seattle on Tuesday. He will be at Safeco Field beginning Wednesday night
to watch Ichiro complete his pursuit of the record.

期待Ichiro快點歸來


--