PEORIA, Ariz.
Kurt Warner Youth Jersey . -- Taijuan Walkers ascension to a spot in the Seattle Mariners rotation is on hold. The Mariners shut down their top pitching prospect for at least one week on Friday after exams revealed inflammation in the bursa of his right shoulder. Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said the decision was made after Walker flew to Los Angeles to get a second opinion on the sore shoulder that has limited him during spring training. "It definitely (stinks)," Walker said. "I feel good about the situation. Id rather not push it and fight through something and make it worse. Im just going to take the time off, get healthy and move on." Walker was examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles on Thursday. He confirmed the original diagnosis of the Mariners medical staff in Arizona. For now it appears to be a minor setback and something many pitchers experience at one time. But Walker was being counted on by Seattle to be at the back end of its rotation and answer at least one question behind ace Felix Hernandez and American League Cy Young finalist Hisashi Iwakuma. Even Iwakumas status is a bit of an unknown as he has yet to throw because of a finger injury. Iwakuma was having his finger re-examined later Friday. The entire starting staff is in flux aside from Hernandez. "(A) lot of opportunities and we have a lot of big arms to hopefully take advantage of those opportunities," McClendon said. "Well see what happens. I just hope they dont all eliminate themselves. Then we have a problem." Walker is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. The 21-year-old has quickly risen through the Seattle farm system and his major league debut at the end of last season only heightened expectations about what he could bring to the Mariners rotation in the future. Walker made three starts last September with a 1-0 record and 3.60 ERA. Walker showed up for camp with a sore throwing shoulder and had been limited to throwing off flat ground so far. He had long toss throwing sessions on back-to-back days earlier this week, leading to the hope of a bullpen session, but that has now been altered. Walker said he could feel the discomfort in his shoulder when he threw but didnt consider it painful, but rather more nagging. "This guy, were not just talking about 2014, were hopefully talking about the next 15 years," McClendon said. "We have to be cautious and we have to be smart." Walker is taking anti-inflammatory medication along with giving his arm a rest in the hope the inflammation will clear up. He said the visit to Los Angeles was reassuring, as was word that his MRI exams were clear and showed no structural damage. "Honestly, Im just going to try and take it day by day, see how I feel each day and not worry about the start of the season, just worry about getting ready first, getting healthy first," Walker said. "I dont want to get too ahead of myself and push anything." Walkers wont be going back to the beginning of his program but it could be difficult to have him ready by opening day due to the week of rest. If he follows the plans of Seattles other starters, Walker would start with flat-ground throwing, followed by three bullpens and two sessions of throwing live batting practice before possibly throwing a simulated game. Thats a best-case scenario and only works if he doesnt experience any discomfort in the shoulder through the process before finally getting into an actual game setting. "As far as the actual amount of time, its hard to say that because we still have to go the day-to-day thing, but we want to have a plan for him so he can look down and in his mind know where he is at and where he is going to be," Seattle head athletic trainer Rick Griffin said. "But the biggest thing is it has to be progression, day-to-day and pain free."
David Long Jersey . The Raptors had an early deadline Sunday, a dreaded afternoon game, and they left the bulk of their work until the last minute, as theyve done so many times before.
Nolan Cromwell Youth Jersey . The thunderous cheers quickly changed to an appreciative chant: "Ma-son! Ma-son! Ma-son! Headed to New York with new life, Mason sure earned this curtain call. PERTH, Australia -- Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard each won their matches to give Canada a 3-0 victory over Italy in a group tie at the Hopman Cup on Thursday. But that was not quite enough to give the team a berth in Saturdays final. Poland narrowly reached the championship by winning a set in mixed doubles against Australia to mathmatically clinch and then went on to win the evening tie 2-1. Canada would have needed an Australian victory to reach the final. Montreals Bouchard needed only 15 minutes on court for a 4-0 victory as Flavia Pennetta quit with right wrist pain to hand Canada a 1-0 lead. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., hammered 10 aces and 21 winners in his 6-2, 6-4 win to keep Italys Andrea Seppi winless over six matches and two editions in Perth. Canada won the mixed in a walkover due to Pennettas injury absence. The 23-year-old Raonic said hes pleased with his improving form as the Australian Open start approaches on January 13. "I played much better today, it was night and day between today and my previous two matches," said Raonic. "I had to take matters into my own hands, thats something weve been working oon.
Cory Littleton Youth Jersey. I took the initiative today. "We are leading into a Grand Slam, and you want to make the most of every competitive opportunity." Bouchard would have preferred to have played a proper match against Pennetta, who said that she woke up feeling poorly with the wrist pain, which she also felt at times last season when she returned to the WTA after surgery. "Its disappointing not to play a full match, but Flavia was having problems," said Bouchard, 19. "I was excited to play. "Its also tough to play an injured opponent, it can do things to your game. But I was playing with confidence, I believe in my game and am confident. I feel good, Ive had a good start to the year." Bouchard was playing for the first time since Canadas last group match Sunday. On her one of days off, she visited a horse show and also advised Raonic against going swimming with non-lethal sharks in the city aquarium, which he did anyway in a publicity effort for the event. The 32nd-ranked Bouchard had previously beat Australian Samantha Stosur and fell to Pole Agnieszka Radwanska prior to the Pennetta result. ' ' '