Spiezio can't shake injury bug

SEATTLE -- If it isn't one ailment keeping veteran switch-hitter Scott Spiezio sidelined, it's something else.
A sore back, which might be related to a slightly pulled groin he suffered two days ago in Tacoma during a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Rainiers, had Spiezio shaking his head inside the Mariners clubhouse prior to Wednesday night's game against the Phillies.

"The amazing thing is it happened just when [third baseman Adrian] Beltre went down and I was ready," he said. "I was ready."

Spiezio, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since April 19 with a strained oblique muscle, was performing well for the Rainiers, batting .326 while playing some games at third base, other games at first base and also handling the designated hitter duties.

"I was taking [pregame] infield at Tacoma and slipped on the wet grass," Spiezio said. "I tweaked my groin a little, but played the game that night and got two hits."

He sat out a couple of days to allow the groin time to heal, but when he came back, his back was acting up and it got progressively worse over a three- to four-day period.

He's not sure, but believes he might have hurt his back while compensating for the groin injury.

"All I know is a week ago, I was ready, and now I can't bend over to put on my socks," Spiezio said. "I actually feel better today, but all I can do is get treatment on my back."

Beltre is sidelined with a sore left hamstring, missing his second consecutive start Wednesday night.

If Spiezio had remained healthy last week, he probably would have returned to the Mariners on Tuesday, started at third base against the Phillies that night and filled in until Beltre returned.

Instead, he reports to Safeco Field every day and spends most of his time getting treatment, hoping that the discomfort will disappear as quickly as it came and he can resume the season.

Spiezio said the injury isn't related to the lower back injuries that he sustained before the 2004 season.

"This is in a different area," he said. "It's not like last year. I've had some tests done on it, and they can't find anything [wrong]. Hopefully it will go away in a couple of days. It can't be old age, I'm only 32. [Braves infielder Julio] Franco is almost 50."

Hargrove supports Robby: Manager Mike Hargrove watched highlights of the heated exchange between Frank Robinson and Mike Scioscia stemming from a pine tar incident in Tuesday night's game between the Nationals and Angels in Anaheim.

Robinson, the Nationals manager, asked the umpires to check Angels reliever Brandon Donnelly's glove. When pine tar was discovered, Donnelly was ejected from the game, prompting the Angels manager to tell Robinson that he would reciprocate.

Later in Tuesday's game, Scioscia complained that the strings were too long on the glove being worn by a Nationals pitcher, and they had to be shortened.

"Pitchers using pine tar is not an accepted practice," Hargrove said. "Are there people that do it? Obviously there are. But it is not an accepted practice. It's against the rules, and I thought Frank was well within his rights to do what he did. Beyond that, I don't know what happened.

"[Pine tar] doesn't make the ball do anything, but it gives you a better grip on the ball. I used to put it on my fingers when I would pitch batting practice in the Minor Leagues. The balls are slippery, and it was difficult gripping on them."

Asked if more managers might start inspecting more gloves, Hargrove said, "I don't think it's a big problem, I really don't. If Scioscia hadn't reacted the way he did, we probably wouldn't be talking about this in depth the way we are today.

"The big story to me was the fact Frank did what he had to do as a manager fighting for his ballclub. Was it gamesmanship? Sure. But there's nothing wrong with that."

Say it isn't so: Plans were unveiled in New York for a $800 million stadium to be built close to the House Ruth Built.

Reliever Jeff Nelson spent nearly six seasons playing at Yankee Stadium and he said: "I hate to see them tear it down. It is such a historical place.

"It's probably outdated a little bit," he added, "but it's not that bad. "The only thing lacking are luxury suites."

Nelson said the home-field advantage built over the years is something special and could be difficult to duplicate.

"I know some teams are intimidated playing there, especially in the playoffs," he said. "They are intimidated by the fans and the successful history of the team."

The new Yankee Stadium is supposed to open in 2009.

"I'll still be alive, but I'm not even sure if I'll be pitching in 2006, let alone in 2009," he said.

Mariners scout passes away: Carroll Sembera, a Mariners scout since 1993 and the Midwest scouting coordinator, passed away in Shiner, Texas, on Tuesday night.

"Carroll was a terrific scout, but more importantly, he was a wonderful man," said Benny Looper, the Mariners' vice president of scouting and player development. "He was a true friend and great asset to the Mariners and will be sorely missed on a personal and professional level."

Sembera, 63, played in the Major Leagues for the Astros (1967-67) and Expos (1969-70), where he saved the first victory in franchise history.

Medical update: Beltre took pregame batting practice, but it was monitored closely, and he still could miss another three or four games with a sore left hamstring. The Mariners would rather be cautious and lose the third baseman for a few days rather than risk further damage that would put him on the 15-day disabled list.

"It's more days-to-days than day-to-day," Hargrove said.

Backup catcher Wiki Gonzalez (hamstring) has been cleared to start a rehab assignment, which could start as early as Friday.

Reliever Rafael Soriano had another strong bullpen session and will pitch a simulated game Saturday at Safeco Field.

"We'll see where we go from there," Hargrove said.

Sign the dotted line: Three more Draft picks, including ninth-round selection Bryan Sabatella, a third baseman, and right-handed pitchers Brett Bannister (19th round) and Ari Kafka (26th round) signed on Wednesday.

Seattle has now signed 13 of its 48 selections from the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, including eight of its top 25 picks. The Mariners took 14 high school players and 34 college players.

Bannister is the son of former Mariners left-handed pitcher Floyd Bannister, who played with Seattle from 1979-1982. His brother, Brian, played at the University of Southern California from 2000-2003 and now is a member of the New York Mets organization.

After going 8-3 with a 3.56 ERA as a freshman, Bannister missed the 2003 and 2004 seasons after suffering a strained ulnar collateral ligament, eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He was 4-3 with a 4.98 ERA this season in 47 innings.

Up next: The three-game Interleague series ends Thursday with Mariners right-hander Joel Pineiro taking on Phillies right-hander Brett Myers at 7:05 p.m. PT.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/