News
Silva tosses simulated game Wednesday
Right-hander has been sidelined with shoulder inflammation
Right-hander Carlos Silva has not pitched for the Mariners since May 7. (Ted S. Warren/AP)
By Christian Caple / MLB.com
08/26/09 9:24 PM ET
SEATTLE -- Carlos Silva threw 40 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday at Safeco Field, the most recent step in his progression toward pitching in a baseball game again. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said everything went well, and Silva will likely throw one more simulated game before being sent to Triple-A Tacoma for a rehab assignment. "We'll know a little bit more tomorrow when he comes in," Wakamatsu said. "See how he feels, whether we're going to do another sim-game or whether we're going to look to send him out. I think at this point, we'd probably do one more sim-game." Silva has been on the disabled list since May 7 with right shoulder inflammation. He was 1-3 with an 8.48 ERA in six starts before going on the DL. If he's able to return to the Mariners in September, he'd come out of the bullpen for the rest of the season. Wakamatsu also said he'd like Silva to be able to play Winter Ball in Venezuela. "He's been dormant for so long, I know it's important in his mind that he's able to work and get work on things," Wakamatsu said. "Number one, to test his shoulder. Number two to get all his pitches to work for him. He's got to pitch in that case." Pitching coach Rick Adair had been telling Wakamatsu that he was happy with Silva's mechanics, particularly his arm angle, but that he felt he needed to go against some actual hitters to get a feel for some things. Wednesday's simulated game was important in that respect. "He's been working on this for so long that he needs to get some hitters in there and get some adrenaline going," Wakamatsu said.Christian Caple is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
