ANAHEIM -- Mariners pitching coach Bryan Price received a one-day suspension Friday for his actions in Oakland earlier in the week and right-handed reliever Julio Mateo went on the 15-day disabled list because of an elbow problem that has been bothering him for several days.
The busier-than-usual roster shuffle also included the promotion of right-handed starter Gil Meche and right-handed reliever Scott Atchison from Triple-A Tacoma. Meche started Friday night's game against the Angels and Atchison was in the bullpen.
Julio Mateo / P
Born: 08/22/79
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 175 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
Price served his suspension Friday night after his appeal earlier in the day was denied by Bob Watson, the vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball.
"I talked with [Watson] and he's a very nice man," Price said. "He listened to what I had to say and then told me I had left the dugout to argue [with plate umpire Charlie Reliford]. The manager can do that, but a coach cannot.
"It's a clear-cut rule and therefore he wouldn't" drop the suspension.
The ejection occurred in the fourth inning of Monday night's game. Left-hander Travis Blackley thought some of the pitches he was throwing that inning were strikes, but they weren't being called that way by Reliford.
Blackley became more irritated and he ended up walking four batters in that inning and allowing four runs that cut deeply into what had been a five-run Seattle lead.
"I probably was aware of the rule, but it wasn't something I thought about at the time," Price said. "The dugout in Oakland is situated where you almost have to step out to get [the umpire's] attention.
"I didn't want to be yelling at him and not be seen."
When he walked onto the field, Price was immediately ejected.
"I don't apologize for my actions," he said. "The only thing I am remorseful for is we were winning the game, 5-1, and, all things considered, when you are up 5-1, you have to show more restraint."
Price said he would stay in the clubhouse Friday night and watch the game on TV.
"It will give me a better view of where his pitches are on and off the plate," he said of Meche's return to the starting rotation.
The placing of Mateo on the DL was somewhat surprising.
"He has had this for a while, but he never complains," manager Bob Melvin said. "He has kept pitching with it. If we were in the midst of a pennant race, it probably would be a lot tougher to do, but the doctors looked at him [Thursday] and said he needed seven to 10 days to recover. So the thing to do was put him on the disabled list."
Mateo has appeared in 40 games this season, posted a 1-2 record and 5.02 ERA.
Atchison becomes the Mariners' long reliever. He had a 5-3 record and 4.21 ERA in 40 appearances with Tacoma, striking out 75 batters in 69 1/3 innings and was selected to play in the Triple-A All-Star Game earlier this month.
The Mariners' 49th round draft choice in 1998 said he was half asleep in his apartment early Friday morning when he received a phone call.
"I noticed the number and realized it was from somebody important," he said.
The 12:30 a.m. call was from Rainiers manager Dan Rohn.
"He asked me what I was doing and when I told him I sleeping, he said, 'You need to get here to get your bags because you're going to Anaheim.' I told him I would be there in a few minutes."
The right-hander returned to Cheney Stadium, packed his bags and was on a 9:30 a.m. flight to Orange County.
"I know quite a few of the guys here, so that makes it a little easier on me," he said, looking around the visiting clubhouse at Angel Stadium and seeing eight players who spent some time with the Rainiers this season.
"It's good to be here," he added.
Three's company? Only two Mariners have batted higher than .440 in a month and Ichiro Suzuki is trying to become to third. The list currently consists of Joey Cora (.449 in April 1997) and Edgar Martinez (.447 in Sept. 1988 and .441 in May 2000). Ichiro went into Friday night's game against the Angels batting .444.
Thar she blows: The blown save by Eddie Guardado in Thursday night's game was the team's third straight. Seattle's bullpen has five blown saves in its last seven save opportunities.
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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