News
Ichiro sidelined by sore calf muscle
Right fielder listed as day-to-day; Wilson returns to lineup
By Christian Caple / MLB.com
08/24/09 8:30 PM ET
SEATTLE -- Ichiro Suzuki was out of the Mariners lineup on Monday against the A's with tightness in his left calf. This is the second time this season Ichiro has sat due to health issues, the first coming at the beginning of the season when he missed eight games with a bleeding ulcer. His calf won't force him to the disabled list, though, as he's listed as day-to-day and could return as early as Wednesday. Manager Don Wakamatsu said Ichiro had been playing through the tightness for about a week. "He's had this tightness in his calf for a little while now, where he's been getting massages on it, tried to stretch it out," Wakamatsu said. "I think it finally just grabbed on him a little bit." Ichiro leads the Majors with 184 hits this season, 16 shy of his ninth consecutive 200-hit campaign. He's second in the American League with a .359 batting average. Wakamatsu said it was obvious the calf was bothering Ichiro when he didn't run as hard on a ground ball against Cleveland on Sunday as he usually does. Franklin Gutierrez was in the leadoff spot instead, and Bill Hall took over for Ichiro in right field. Wakamatsu said Gutierrez was the obvious choice to slot into the top of the lineup in Ichiro's absence. "When you try to do a lineup like that, you try to look at all different options," Wakamatsu said. "And I think he's the probable choice." In more positive health news, shortstop Jack Wilson was in the lineup for the first time since Aug. 12 after missing 10 games with a Grade 1 hamstring tear. Josh Wilson, who filled in admirably for Jack Wilson in his absence, was not in the lineup.Christian Caple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
