Charlton back in M's camp

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Thursday, March 21, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The left-handed pitcher who the Seattle Mariners sorely need in the bullpen finally walked through the door on Wednesday. He brought the experience of a major league veteran, the knowledge of a clubhouse leader and the strut of a man confident in his ability.

Unfortunately, he also carried the scar of a man who's a year away from pitching again.

Norm Charlton arrived at the Mariners' training camp Wednesday, ready to resume the rehab on his shoulder and eager to be with his teammates again.

Charlton, an integral part of the Mariners' success last year as the second left-hander in the bullpen, had rotator cuff surgery in January and will miss the season. He has spent the last month rehabbing in Seattle and will remain with the Mariners for the rest of spring training.

"It's nice to be back," Charlton said. "You miss being in the locker room with a bunch of guys."

Charlton said he has every intention of pitching again but knows, at age 39, time isn't doing him any favors. Still, this injury was easier to accept than others in his career.

"When I did my elbow, I was young and I still had the majority of my career in front of me," he said. "Now, the majority of my career is behind me. It's one of those things that happens. It's not like I didn't do things to keep it from happening. I'd done my exercises and I pitched. I got a certain number of throws and I had to fix it."

- ICHIRO'S SKID: Ichiro Suzuki went 0-for-4 Wednesday to continue a three-day hitless streak and send Japanese reporters scurrying for reasons why.

They asked McLaren for his observation of Suzuki's 0-for-11 streak and got this answer:

"My observation is this: Batting champion. One of the best in baseball."

- ROSTER CUTS: The Mariners trimmed four players from their major league roster by optioning right-handed pitchers Wascar Serrano and Greg Wooten to Triple-A Tacoma and left-handed pitcher Matt Thornton to Double-A, and re-assigning catcher Scott Maynard to the minor league camp.

There are 34 left in the major league camp. The M's must get to 25 by opening day.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to Mariners 2002 index