By Shannon Drayer

The Mariners are short a catcher as Miguel Olivo has suffered a strained right groin after getting a foot stuck in the turf chasing a swinging bunt in the 9th inning of the Mariners game against the Rays tonight. John Jaso had been used as a pinch hitter at the top of the inning so Jesus Montero had to be pulled from the DH position to catch.

This puts the Mariners in an interesting position. Priority number one at catcher has been to break Montero in slowly and carefully. I can see Wedge catching him a bit more but I don't think he just throws him into the fire. John Jaso has yet to catch a game this year. Before the game today Wedge said that he would like to get him behind the plate a little, but how much? Does he want him to be the primary catcher or does he call up Guillermo Quiroz to split the work?

Olivo, Montero and Jaso are the only catchers on the Mariners 40 man roster but George Sherrill who will undergo Tommy John Surgery later this week has yet to be placed on the 60 day DL so there will be room on the roster if the Mariners want to go with Quiroz. We could learn more after the game.