Mariners - Erik Bedard -P

		Mariners     Erik Bedard -P
		Mar 13, 2012  8:48 pm EST

The health news for the Mariners continues to be pretty good in this camp, nothing potentially more encouraging than the quick recovery of pitcher Erik Bedard. Bedard had surgery last Aug.14 to repair an inflamed bursa and torn labrum in his left shoulder. When the Mariners re-signed him on Feb. 6, the thought was he might not be available until the All-Star break, with the most optimistic hope of May or June. But all signs now indicate that the optimistic view may win out. Bedard threw again today from 120 feet and the plan now is that he could have a bullpen session on March 23, the next major step on the road to returning to action. "He threw from 120 feet today, which is good, and we'll get him on a mound here in another week or so, so we're real happy with where he's at,'' said Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik this morning. "He's coming along faster (than planned). Normally those surgeries are 10 months to a yuear and I think he's a little bit ahead of schedule.'' If Bedard's progress continues at this rate, the Mariners' gamble to re-sign him could pay off in getting an All-Star caliber pitcher for the last five months or so of the season. Zduriencik said there's no question about what happens once Bedard returns. "I know what we're going to do with him --- we're going to pitch him,'' he said. Bedard would likely slide into the No. 3 role behind Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez.

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