Mariners Notebook: Halama sent to AAA
Stark called up from Tacoma to replace lefty
By DAN RALEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
After yesterday's game, John Halama was dressed all in black. Shirts, shoes, pants. His attire fit the moment, a time of personal mourning.
The Mariners' fourth starter, a 14-9 pitcher last year but struggling to regain that form this season, was sent to the minors, switching places at Class AAA Tacoma with right-handed pitcher Dennis Stark.
Halama, 6-5 with a 5.42 earned-run average, was summoned to manager Lou Piniella's office after the afternoon game against Oakland and informed of the demotion.
Asked how he accepted the news, a taciturn Halama responded, "How would you take it?"
"Not well," was the answer.
"That's how I took it," the lefthander said.
Piniella said it was tough sending down someone who has previous big-league success, but the move had to be done.
"We're trying to get Johnny straightened out," Piniella said. "We want him back here, obviously, but he's got to get straightened out. Let's hope he pitches well."
Halama was tagged for the loss in Wednesday's 6-3 defeat to the A's, serving up a second-inning grand slam to Ramon Hernandez and lasting just five innings.
Piniella told him his pitches were consistently up, with balls normally hit for grounders turning into line drives.
"My numbers don't indicate I'm throwing well," the 29-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., native conceded. "I had five innings pitched and gave up six earned runs. And I don't deny that, but I executed my pitches and they were hit for base hits.
"I'm going down to do the same I've been doing here (earlier) and get back."
Losing one of their own, teammates Aaron Sele and Jose Paniagua crowded around the forlorn pitcher and offered condolences after reporters left Halama alone.
Stark, 9-1 with a 2.03 ERA at Tacoma, had a previous five-game stint with the Mariners in 1999, but didn't fare well. In 6 1/3 innings as a reliever, he was tagged for 10 hits and seven earned runs.
The 26-year-old Ohio native appears to have better command of his pitches. In 97 1/3 innings at Tacoma, he walked just 22 hitters.
Stark will start tomorrow afternoon in Anaheim, opposing the Angels' Ramon Ortiz.
Stark called up from Tacoma to replace lefty
By DAN RALEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
After yesterday's game, John Halama was dressed all in black. Shirts, shoes, pants. His attire fit the moment, a time of personal mourning.
The Mariners' fourth starter, a 14-9 pitcher last year but struggling to regain that form this season, was sent to the minors, switching places at Class AAA Tacoma with right-handed pitcher Dennis Stark.
Halama, 6-5 with a 5.42 earned-run average, was summoned to manager Lou Piniella's office after the afternoon game against Oakland and informed of the demotion.
Asked how he accepted the news, a taciturn Halama responded, "How would you take it?"
"Not well," was the answer.
"That's how I took it," the lefthander said.
Piniella said it was tough sending down someone who has previous big-league success, but the move had to be done.
"We're trying to get Johnny straightened out," Piniella said. "We want him back here, obviously, but he's got to get straightened out. Let's hope he pitches well."
Halama was tagged for the loss in Wednesday's 6-3 defeat to the A's, serving up a second-inning grand slam to Ramon Hernandez and lasting just five innings.
Piniella told him his pitches were consistently up, with balls normally hit for grounders turning into line drives.
"My numbers don't indicate I'm throwing well," the 29-year-old Brooklyn, N.Y., native conceded. "I had five innings pitched and gave up six earned runs. And I don't deny that, but I executed my pitches and they were hit for base hits.
"I'm going down to do the same I've been doing here (earlier) and get back."
Losing one of their own, teammates Aaron Sele and Jose Paniagua crowded around the forlorn pitcher and offered condolences after reporters left Halama alone.
Stark, 9-1 with a 2.03 ERA at Tacoma, had a previous five-game stint with the Mariners in 1999, but didn't fare well. In 6 1/3 innings as a reliever, he was tagged for 10 hits and seven earned runs.
The 26-year-old Ohio native appears to have better command of his pitches. In 97 1/3 innings at Tacoma, he walked just 22 hitters.
Stark will start tomorrow afternoon in Anaheim, opposing the Angels' Ramon Ortiz.
