Pryor granted freedom from sling

SEATTLE – Stephen Pryor was all smiles on Monday in the Mariners clubhouse.

Why?

Because he was finally free.

Not free from the Mariners, but free from the sling that his right arm had been locked into for the last six weeks. He got the clearance on Friday.

“It feels awesome,” he said.

Pryor had surgery to repair a torn latissums dorsi below his throwing shoulder. The recovery required the arm to be immobilized in the sling for over a month and a half. That meant the only time it could come out was for bathing. The rest of the time it was locked into place, including at night.

“Sleeping was hard,” he said. “I kind of layed in bed on my back. It was awkward and hard to get comfortable.”

Now that he sans sling, Pryor will slowly strengthen his arm with physical therapy.

“I haven’t done much, but I can tell that it’s weak,” he said.

He also feels weak. He’s noticeably thinner having lost 10 pounds off his sturdy frame.

“I lost a bunch of muscle,” Pryor said.

The strengthening process is lengthy. Pryor won’t pick up a baseball for quite a while.

“I’m hoping to start playing catch in mid or end of January and come into camp already throwing,” Pryor said. “Hopefully I will be able to start the year with the team.”

Saunders shut down

Unless something drastic happens in the final six games of the season, Joe Saunders made his last start for the Seattle Mariners this season on Saturday night in Anaheim. He took the loss, giving up six runs on seven hits.

Saunders posted an 11-16 record in 32 starts with a 5.26 ERA. The losses and ERA were career highs.