No Morrow in rotation after all

It looks like the Seattle Mariners are going to leave relief pitcher Brandon Morrow in the bullpen. There’s been speculation the past few days, that the team was going to begin the process of stretching him into a starter. Morrow and manager John McLaren spoke today and it looks like the change will have to wait till next year. “He didn’t think it was going to be a good idea to do it during the season,” Morrow said. Part of the decision came down to Morrow’s own success as a reliever.

Tuesday night, Morrow dominated Boston Red Sox hitters Mike Lowell and Manny Ramirez, by blowing them away with fastballs that were 99 and 98 mph respectively. That performance has made McLaren want to keep Morrow in the 7th and 8th inning role, as he feels the team can still be competitive and it gives them the best chance to win. “We’re still talking and stuff,” he said. “I’m not saying we’ve backed off it. But there’s a lot he has to do to get ready to start. We’ve by no means given up on this season at all. What he can do in that eighth inning like that is special. We just want to get him in that opportunity a lot more here coming up. A lot of times we just use him to get some work in. We’d like to utilize him when the game is on the line.” Nice to hear a team 12.5 games back in the division, feels they still have a shot.

Waiting for the off-season may be the best thing for the futures of both, the Mariners and Morrow. The process of stretching Morrow out could put some added stress on his arm, and could possibly lead to an injury at some point this or next year. What the team will most likely do is put him on some sort of weight training program to help strengthen the arm for the added wear and tear it will occur. Sending him back to the Venezuelan league could help in the process, but may add way to many innings to that arm, should he start all of 2009. Regardless, his innings and pitch counts will definitely be needed to watch next year, as transition from an 8th inning reliever to a starter will be a huge jump .

Morrow is still pretty excited about the possibilities of starting. “Starting, I feel like I have more contribution,” he said. Can’t blame him, as a relief pitcher on a losing team you don’t get a chance to contribute much at all. You kind of come in and just try to keep the score close.

Here’s a link to the Seattle Times, for more on this and other Mariners notes.

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Tags: MLB, Seattle Mariners