Mariners notebook: Furbush missed in the bullpen

New York--Joe Beimel was Lloyd McClendon's choice to face Alex Rodriguez with the game on the line in the Mariners series opener against the Yankees Friday night. Had Charlie Furbush not been on the DL would he have been the first choice?

"Yes, that's his spot," said McClendon Saturday morning. "It would have been Furbush absolutely."

Furbush is on the 15-day DL with shoulder tendinitis and may be out a bit longer than expected as he was not able to throw from the mound before the team left for the roadtrip. He is progressing and gaining strength according to trainer Rick Griffin and most importantly has resumed his throwing program. It is a big loss for a pen which has struggled this year.…