As Jerry Dipoto was revealing details of the forearm strain that put James Paxton on the disabled list Friday, the Mariners general manager stood a few feet away from a Gaylord Perry jersey display.
The symbolism was rich.
Invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch Saturday — the 35th anniversary of the Hall of Famer’s 300th victory — Perry, 78, has vivid memories of his astonishingly brief history with the disabled list.
He hurt his ankle sliding into second base in 1966. The injury forced Perry to miss two weeks, but soon he was back on the mound, resuming a career remarkable for its durability.