A few odds and ends as we enjoy Felix Day…

Erik Bedard’s shoulder, Mariner outlook

As you know, Erik Bedard made it all the way through what was supposed to be his final rehab start before experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder.  As you also know, Bedard is scheduled for another shoulder surgery, effectively ending his season before it really got going.  What you may not know is the goals up the upcoming surgery.

Jeff at Lookout Landing has the goods by way of Le Droit.  Bedard is reportedly having bone spurs removed from his shoulder, which seems like a pesky hangnail after all he’s been through.  While it would have been green if he could’ve made it to the big leagues this year, but this is good news.

Jeff also relays a quote from Bedard about 2011, where Bedard basically says what he was saying last offseason.  “If they still want me, I would like to return,” says Bedard.

The Mariners will decline their option on Bedard but I am definitely in the same boat with Jeff in hoping the Mariners bring him back on the cheap.  What’s the harm?  Hell, I would have advocated bringing him back even if this latest setback were serious.

Shawn Kelley has a setback

Shawn Kelley’s rehab assignment has not been successful.  Kelley came down with a sore elbow in June, and just when it looked like he was about to rejoin the Mariners he’s admitted that he’s not bouncing back after outings like he would healthy.  His latest rehab outing with Everett has been scratched and he will meet with team doctors.

As we’ve been reminding you since the injury, Kelley’s past Tommy John surgery causes any elbow issues to be more concerning than they might be otherwise.  I obviously don’t know what’s wrong with Kelley, but I will say that I’m not necessarily expecting him to be in the Opening Day 2011 bullpen.  Hopefully he can avoid any major setbacks.  We’ll see.

Check out Ryan Divish’s complete report with quotes from Kelley and the team.  Divish also mentions that Ryan Rowland-Smith is set to rehab and that Ian Snell has gone on Tacoma’s DL with elbow pain.

Carlos Delgado?

No, I don’t understand Seattle’s connection to Carlos Delgado.  Do you?  Maybe they have their eye on him for 2011 DH.  If so, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to talk about him down the road.

Bleacher Report continues to drive me up the wall

You are probably familiar with Bleacher Report and how frustrating their organization is for everyone with half a brain.  BR features inexperienced bloggers who often know very little about what they’re writing about spewing nonsense under misleading headlines.  That in itself isn’t all that bad.  There are scores of websites on the internet where this is also the case.  But BR is a big site that brings in a lot of traffic, are featured on Google News, and so on.  I would gladly pay them no mind, but it’s difficult when I get emails and comments from you guys every time they tag a ridiculous trade speculation post with “MARINERS ON THE VERGE OF ACQUIRING [Player X]!!!!??!!!”

Anyway, our buddy Harrison forwarded me their newsletter, which featured this gem:

I am not affiliated with Bleacher Report.  The other sites in this newsletter (Seattle Times, Fox Sports, Seattle P-I) aren’t either.  But they stuck a Bleacher Report link between all of those, apparently hoping that they could make their site look more legitimate by grouping it in with reputable organizations.  I suppose I should be flattered that I was the only site that isn’t a major news source, and the little bit of traffic these newsletters send me doesn’t hurt (I’ve been wondering where the Bleacher Report traffic had been coming from before discovering today), but look at that headline!

This is a link to my post entitled “Does Mike Wilson Deserve a Shot?” Somehow my post detailing Wilson’s struggles, long route to the minor leagues’ highest level and uncertainty surrounding his future as a big leaguer turned into “Mariners Allowing Big League-Quality Slugger to Rot in Triple A?”  What a joke.  I realize that a provocative headline drives more traffic than a straight one, but that’s pushing it.  And given their history, it’s not surprising.

So I sent my angry email asking them to never link me again and that they’re within their rights to drive traffic to their website under false pretenses, but that they had better not drag MY name through the mud ever again.  I don’t need their traffic.

God, I hate Bleacher Report so much.

So if any of your read them, please stop.  Seriously.  There are so many better places to get your fix that there should be no reason to go there.  Besides, what do you get out of it anyway?  You make yourself dumber by reading anything over there.  If you need a list of sites that will not waste your time, I will gladly point you in the right direction.

Sheesh.

Now I’m worked up (again).