Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is out of the lineup for a second straight day with lingering pain in his right side. The team has not moved to put him on the IL, awaiting results of imaging he had done yesterday.
Raleigh first felt the pain after Friday night’s game, and said he became concerned when his soreness didn’t abate as usual the next day, causing him to alert the training staff.
“Just trying to play it safe,” said Raleigh. “It was just a little sore, and I think they’re trying to be precautionary
with it, play it safe rather than let things linger…As an athlete you’re always using your core, so you just want to be smart, right? You don’t want something that could be a day or two to turn into weeks or a month.”
Raleigh said there was no specific moment that triggered the pain – not a particular throw or swing or catch or foul tip – just general soreness that he initially shrugged off at the time as the usual postgame dings and dents before realizing the pain intended to linger.
Manager Dan Wilson said that Raleigh had imaging done, but the results of the MRI are still pending. “Once we get some feedback and understand where he’s at, we’ll make decisions.”
For his part, Raleigh said he woke up today feeling “a lot better” and has gradually been improving since Friday night. “Compared to where it was feeling post-game Friday and yesterday early, very positive, very encouraging.”
“Cal is continuing to make strides,” said Wilson. “He’s got a little soreness in his side, and we want to make sure of where we’re at…he’s going to test it a little bit today and see where he’s at.”
Although it sounds like concern levels are low, the Mariners are being hyper-vigilant with Raleigh, given the nature of the injury – obliques are notoriously tricky, as Bryce Miller or Luke Raley will attest – the punishing position he plays every day, and how early it is in the season.
“Overall, looking at it, it’s May,” said Raleigh. “Trust me, I want to be out there. But obviously, thinking about the team and the long-term picture and thinking about the guys in there [the clubhouse], taking a day is probably best for everybody, including myself.”
The only pain bigger than the one in his side is having to sit out of a second straight game, something that’s difficult for a grinder like Raleigh, who prides himself on his iron-man constitution and ability to play through the nagging bumps and bruises that are synonymous with being an everyday catcher. But he says he has to put his “ego and pride” aside, and ensure he’s not hurting the team in the long run.
“In the moment you hate it, but down the line, I think it’ll pay dividends…It sucks at the time, but you just have to try and be smart and think of everybody else in the clubhouse and not just yourself.”
“Obviously it’s not what I want to be doing, but better safe than sorry in this scenario.”
