Mateo begins way back
TACOMA – The 2,900 miles between Yankee Stadium and Cheney Stadium doesn’t begin to describe Julio Mateo’s journey during the last three weeks.
The troubled relief pitcher warmed up before a game Thursday for the first time since prior to his May 5 arrest for allegedly assaulting his wife at a Manhattan hotel. He’s now with Triple-A Tacoma, instead of the Seattle Mariners.
“I am very happy to be back. I am very excited to be getting a second opportunity,” an apologetic Mateo said at a stadium he hasn’t pitched in since 2002.
After Mateo’s arrest, the Mariners demoted Mateo to Triple-A and then suspended him for 10 days without pay. He’s gone to counseling and then to Arizona, where he pitched in extended spring training.
The players’ union is pushing a pending grievance over Mateo’s suspension and the $54,645 of his $1 million salary this year he stands to lose from Seattle’s punishment. The Mariners will activate Mateo today, and he is expected to pitch for the first time since May 3 during Tacoma’s weekend series in Tucson, Ariz.
“He’s cooperated fully with every thing we’ve asked of him,” Mariners assistant general manager Lee Pelekoudas said. “He’s cooperated with the authorities. And he’s been a willing participant in everything we’ve asked of him. That’s part been encouraging.
“This is the right thing to do, probably.”
But some believe Mateo may be back too soon. He is due back in Manhattan for a hearing on third-degree assault on June 15.
Mateo didn’t say if he will plead guilty to the charge.
“The situation in New York is an unfortunate situation between my wife and I,” he said. “It’s one of those things that no one will know except for my wife and I.”
Mateo said he has not seen or talked to his wife or his young son Julio Jr. since his arrest, the result of a restraining order against him.
The Mariners are not promising Mateo will be back in Seattle. Not yet.
“I’m not going to address Seattle. It’s a step-by-step process. The only thing we are going to address is the first step, and that’s getting him back on the field here,” Pelekoudas said.
Mateo was 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in nine games for Seattle.