The Seattle Mariners demoted closer Tom Wilhelmsen to Triple-A Tacoma after their game Monday evening so that he can attempt to regain his old form, reports Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.
Mariners demote Tom Wilhelmsen to Triple-A
Seattle is sending its closer down to the minors in the hopes that he can find his lost control.
Otto Greule Jr
More M's: The Bartender Takes His Leave
Wilhelmsen, 29, began the season as the Mariners’ closer -- and was absolutely lights-out through the first month and a half the year -- but has fallen on hard times of late. The right-hander initially lost his job as the M’s fireman in mid-June after blowing four saves in nine chances, but won the job back in July with a string of strong outings.
The Folly of Youth
Everth Cabrera and Jesus Montero were supposed to be building blocks. Maybe they still are. But are they Melky Cabreras or Bartolo Colons?Things were seemingly back on track for Wilhelmsen until last Thursday, when he surrendered four runs and walked two while failing to record an out in a crushing loss to the Boston Red Sox.
With Thursday’s implosion, the right-hander now owns a 4.37 earned-run average along with roughly five walks per nine in 47⅓ innings on the year. Wilhelmsen has never had stellar control, but his elevated walk rate and diminished strikeout numbers have led to a strikeout-to-walk ratio (1.3) that is less than half of what he achieved in 2012, his first season as the M’s closer.
The Mariners have not yet announced who will be replacing Wilhelmsen on the active roster. Conveniently, the club has an open spot on the 40-man roster as a result of Jesus Montero's PED suspension, so they could bring up a young reliever like Logan Bawcom or Brian Moran without moving anyone else around.
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