Mariners starting CF Reed breaks wrist

[Porter]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Seattle Mariners starting center fielder Jeremy Reed has a broken bone in his right wrist and could miss six weeks.

General manager Bill Bavasi announced Reed's injury on Friday morning at the team's spring training headquarters in Peoria, Ariz. Bavasi said Reed fractured a small bone inside his wrist when he ran into the padded center-field fence at Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday night. Reed was pursuing a fifth-inning fly ball hit by Arizona catcher Johnny Estrada.

Reed remained in the game until the eighth inning, when he yielded for a pinch runner. He said he felt discomfort throughout the last half of the game, but only learned the extent of the injury afterward.

Reed was on a Friday morning flight to Seattle to see Dr. Carleton Keck, a hand specialist and team consultant. After repeatedly emphasizing the team will have a better assessment of Reed's prognosis after Keck sees the player, Bavasi said Reed probably will miss about six weeks.

Until then, utility man Willie Bloomquist or versatile Mike Morse could play for him.

Reed batted .254 in 141 games as the youngest player on Seattle's opening day roster last season. The 24-year-old was expected to begin this season back in center field and perhaps bat second behind All-Star Ichiro Suzuki. Reed and Morse came to the Mariners in a trade for pitcher Freddy Garcia on June 27, 2004.

Reed was hitting .316 (12-for-38) with three doubles, a triple and one home run in 13 spring games

You know maybe Joe Borchard might get ample playing time after all. Unless Bloomquist (who i think would be 1st in line) gets the job this is Borchards big chance.

[Providence A's]

tough break...I didn't know Bloomquist played OF

[Porter]

The only place Bloomquist doesnt play is Catcher and Pitcher.

[Providence A's]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...84_mari25.html

The Mariners still need to find a center fielder in the meantime. There are several options, but not one that stood out early. Bavasi and Hargrove said they needed to talk to each other before discussing any options with the media. They are expected to provide more information today, along with an update on Reed's condition.

Some possibilities:

• The Mariners move infielder Willie Bloomquist to center field. He's more than capable defensively, and already fills in there occasionally. With backup outfielder Matt Lawton serving a 10-game steroid suspension to start the season, the Mariners would likely need to keep an additional infielder on the roster if they moved Bloomquist to the outfield full-time.

• Move Ichiro from right field to center. Hargrove said he had not discussed a potential move with Ichiro — some speculated that the Mariners' silence Friday might have been because that had not been discussed — but when asked directly about Ichiro, Hargrove said he would consider it.

Ichiro has said in the past that he would play center field, and he has played that position in Japan.

"At some point in time, I would [consider it]," Hargrove said. "I don't know that we're there yet. But certainly that's one of the options."

• Use Joe Borchard in center field or in right field (if Ichiro moves to center). The Mariners recently acquired Borchard in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, and he played center field against the White Sox on Friday afternoon, making a couple plays defensively and going 0 for 3 at the plate.

Hargrove said he likes Borchard's speed but that he needs to shorten his swing. Hitting was Borchard's problem in the White Sox organization.

"It seems to be a good opportunity for me," said Borchard, who played center field for three years in the minors.

• Wait until Lawton comes back, and play him in center field (he said he would do it, but does not expect to) or in right field.

• Go outside the organization and acquire a center fielder.

What option do M's fans like the best?

[MarinersFan87]

Move Ichiro to CF, stick Everett in right, and DH Petagine.

This sucks because Reed was hitting great in ST and I was hoping for a breakout year. Damn.

[redsfan28]

The Reds have a CF available... Tony Womack!

You could probably get Junior if you try hard enough.

[love_that_reefer]

How dare you call Womack a CFer!!!! What's wrong with an OF of Ibanez, Ichiro and Everett?

[MarinersFan87]

Ichiro has said he doesn't want to play center. I think he meant that as more of a permanent move, I'm sure he'd play it until Reed gets healthy. Lawton will probably play some center too once he gets off his suspension.

[Porter]

Lawton in Center after the suspension....Id go Borchard in CF. thats just me.

[Fishercat]

I bet you wish you had the immortal Bronson Arroyo now...>_>

Tough break on Reed though (no pun intended), although anything that gets Petagine time is good enough for me.

I'd prefer Borch in CF. Lawton broke down and was busted for roids after going to the Yankees.

[Providence A's]

Bronson Arroyo can play CF?

[Porter]

I bet you wish you had the immortal Bronson Arroyo now...>_>

Tough break on Reed though (no pun intended), although anything that gets Petagine time is good enough for me.

I'd prefer Borch in CF. Lawton broke down and was busted for roids after going to the Yankees.

Im glad we didnt get the immortal Bronson Arroyo. I would have hunted down Bavasi myself.

[Providence A's]

sorry Fisher, but Arroyo is garbage...you'll be happy he was traded after this season...I guarantee it!