Major League Baseball

Seattle manager Eric Wedge upset with Jack Wilson

Published Apr. 9, 2011 2:02 a.m. ET

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Just a week into the regular season Jack Wilson's transition to second base for the Seattle Mariners is creating problems.

Wilson was out of the lineup Friday night as Seattle hosted Cleveland in its home opener, and when Wilson will return to the lineup is anyone's guess based on the reaction of new Mariners manager Eric Wedge.

Wilson drew Wedge's ire when the veteran infielder pulled himself from Wednesday's loss at Texas after committing a pair of errors on consecutive potential inning-ending double plays that led to three Rangers' runs. Even more troubling for Wilson was the mistakes came while reigning Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez was on the mound.

After the game, Wedge attempted to cover for Wilson saying he was ''hazy'' and couldn't get straight after making the mistakes. But Wilson compounded the situation by saying it was Wedge's decision to pull him.

Both Wedge and Wilson clarified what happened on Friday, with Wilson admitting he pulled himself. Wedge called the action ''unspeakable.''

''The last thing I want to do is pull myself out of the game. Knowing going into it those were big double plays in a big spot, knowing that when I came out I didn't want to do any more damage,'' Wilson said. ''This is something I'm learning. But that's a pretty big cost to lose a game, especially when you have a Cy Young guy on the mound and not getting it done for him at that point.''

Wedge didn't seem in the mood for hearing reasons from Wilson. Wedge said he and bench coach Robby Thompson both tried to talk to Wilson in the tunnel leading to the clubhouse after his two errors and convince him to return to the game.

''I tried to protect Jack by saying he was a little bit hazy but then he made mention that I took him out of the game. I did not take him out of the game,'' Wedge said. ''He took himself out of the game.''

Asked if this brings into question Wilson's future with the club, Wedge said, ''I'm not going to speak anymore on it.'' General manager Jack Zduriencik said he supported Wedge's decision.

Wilson never played second base before this season when Seattle decided to go with Brendan Ryan as its shortstop and move Wilson to second. The move was made for multiple reasons, perhaps none bigger than Wilson is in the final year of his contract - while Ryan is signed through 2012 - and Seattle's top prospect in the minors is second baseman Dustin Ackley, who is likely to make his major league debut later this summer.

Wilson said his biggest struggle with the transition is on double plays and quickly making the turn while a runner slides in to his blindside. He said he'll continue to put in the work to learn the position, but admitted it'll probably be some time before he's back in the lineup regularly.

Wilson started five of the first six games at second base. Adam Kennedy started on Friday.

''Until that's crisp and I'm confident enough ... you're probably going to be sitting there watching somebody else,'' Wilson said.

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