Are The Mariners Even Trying Anymore? Catcher Jamie Burke Is Their Go-To Reliever

There's a long history of position players coming in to pitch during major league games. It's often seen during total routs when a comeback is beyond reach and the actual pitchers are better off getting rest than work. Yesterday in Seattle, though, backup catcher Jamie Burke came into pitch during the 15th inning of a tie game between the Mariners and Tigers.

Burke didn't embarrass himself but still picked up the loss when Marcus Thames hit a sacrifice fly to win the game. He got Ivan Rodriguez and Edgar Renteria to close out the inning and didn't look bad doing it. Still, how does Burke end up on the mound in that spot? Jim Riggleman didn't have many options after exhausting his bullpen.

Reliever Arthur Rhodes woke up with a sore arm and couldn't get loose. Brandon Morrow had pitched four of the previous five days and Riggleman wanted to give him a day off. Tuesday's scheduled starter, Carlos Silva, had thrown on the side earlier Sunday. Saturday's starter, R.A. Dickey, volunteered to throw, but had tossed more than 100 pitches in his start.

You don't use someone who's hurting and Morrow is probably too valuable to the franchise's future to throw out in those circumstances. Why not use Dickey, though? He throws a knuckleball, which would surely be harder for the Tigers to master than the slider of a catcher. I realize the Mariners season is going nowhere fast but just giving away games hardly seems like the best solution.