The Seattle Mariners today announced their tentative 2007 regular season schedule and the big news is that Ken Griffey Jr. is scheduled to return to Safeco Field with the Cincinnati Reds for a weekend series on June 22-24.

Griffey, who recently hit his 563rd home run, was traded by the Mariners to the Reds in 2000 after having spent his first 11 seasons with Seattle.

Other highlights:

• The Mariners open at home with a three-game series against the Oakland A's. Opening Day is Monday, April 2.

• The Pittsburgh Pirates will make their first-ever appearance in Seattle in a series just before Reds come to town.

• Seattle is scheduled to play at Wrigley Field for the first time when the team has a three-game series there vs. the Cubs from June 12-14.

• The New York Yankees will play just one three-game series in Seattle next season (May 11-13).

• The other three AL West teams will play 28 games at Safeco Field next season: Oakland 10 games, Texas and Los Angeles nine games each.

The Seattle Mariners, in an open letter to season-ticket holders on Thursday, announced that general manager Bill Bavasi and manager Mike Hargrove will return for the 2007 season.

The letter – signed by chief executive officer Howard Lincoln and chief operating officer Chuck Armstrong – confirmed that Bavasi and Hargrove will return next season.

"We believe they are the right people to lead us to the next level," the letter states. "We have great confidence in their abilities. In our view, continuity of leadership is extremely important at this time."

The 2007 season is the third year of Hargrove's three-year deal.

"Mike is uniquely equipped to lead a young team. His experience in developing and dealing with young players is one of the reasons we hired him in the first place. And we have watched as Mike has kept all his players – veterans and young players alike – focused and playing hard every day of the season," the letter stated.

The Seattle Mariners have signed a two-year working agreement with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League to be the organization's Double-A affiliate. The Mariners had been affiliated with the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League since 2001.

This is the second parent club in the Diamond Jaxx's nine-year history. Previously, the team was affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.

"The Diamond Jaxx are excited to become a part of the Seattle Mariners family and look forward to seeing first-hand their commitment to developing future Major Leaguers from around the world right here in Jackson," said Diamond Jaxx general manager Jeff Parker.

"We are very excited to bring our players to West Tennessee," said Frank Mattox, the Director of Player Development for the Mariners. "We look forward to bringing a championship back to Pringles Park in the near future."

Pitcher Cha Seung Baek, who has pitched more innings this season than any other in his career, will not make his final start of the year.

Baek, who has been impressive since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, ends his year with the Mariners with a 4-1 record, 3.67 ERA in six starts. He told reporters he's felt soreness after his last two starts.

Manager Mike Hargrove made it official on Sunday: Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez will get one more start this season.

Hernandez will start Saturday against Texas in the next-to-last game of the year. The Mariners have said all season that they will keep Hernandez innings below 200 for the year (including those thrown in spring training) but have had a change of heart after Hernandez's last outing.

Hernandez, who has 199 innings counting the spring, had his last start cut short in Chicago because of rain. In that game, Hernandez went five innings and thew 67 pitches and then began lobbying for one more game. Apparently, he was convincing.

Hargrove told reporters before Sunday's game that Hernandez will not throw more than six innings against the Rangers, which would put his season innings total at 205.

1. NY Yankees (2) – Lineup gets a hand with Hideki Matsui’s return from wrist injury.
2. NY Mets (1) – Unsung hero is 2B Jose Valentin, who has good stats (.281-15-51) and a 60-game errorless streak.
3. Minnesota (7) – Francisco’s Liriano’s bum elbow is a real bummer for Twins.
4. Oakland (4) – There’s no doubting Frank Thomas has been a most valuable player for A’s.
5. LA Angels (6) – Yankees, who lost to Angels in ’05 and ’02, hoping this team doesn’t make it to the playoffs.
6. Chicago White Sox (8) – We could have told you Freddy Garcia isn’t a perfect pitcher, but a good one nonetheless.
7. Detroit (3) – Are we witnessing one of the great collapses in baseball history?
8. San Diego (9) – Jake Peavy, who goes Monday vs. Dodgers, owns them in his career (6-1, 2.09).
9. LA Dodgers (10) – Rafael Furcal has most RBI by a Dodgers’ leadoff man since Davey Lopes drove in 73 in 1979.
10. St. Louis (5) – So much for his new home. Jeff Weaver is 0-3 in six starts at new Busch Stadium.
11. Philadelphia (11) – Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins first NL DP combo to have 20+ homers since Rich Aurilia and Jeff Kent did it in 2001.
12. San Francisco (14) – Pitcher Matt Cain (5-0, 0.21 ERA since Aug. 12) deserves mention when talking about best NL rookie.
13. Boston (12) – Weird stat: Gained ground in the standings on Yankees only twice from Aug. 17 to Sept. 13.
14. Toronto (15) – Did you know that John Hattig is the first player born in Guam to play in the majors?
15. Florida (13) – On Monday the Marlins became the last team in majors to reach 1 million in attendance.
16. Texas (16) – There are rumblings that players may be tiring of Buck Showalter’s controlling style.
17. Houston (18) – 40-year-old Craig Biggio, in 0-for-20 slumps, finally shows his age.
18. Cincinnati (19) – Same old story. Griffey’s hurt, there’s not enough pitching, falling out of playoff picture.
19. Atlanta (20) – Last time Braves didn’t win a division title, 1990, pitcher John Smoltz actually had hair.
20. Arizona (22) – After being shown the door, Luis Gonzalez truly is ‘Gonzo.’
21. Colorado (23) – Words you’ve never heard: And now your NL West Champion Colorado Rockies!
22. Seattle (21) – Who knew coaches Dan Rohn and Ron Hassey were the Mariners’ problem.
23. Milwaukee (24) – There’s gotta be hope now that they’re playing two guys named Gwynn and Fielder.
24. Cleveland (17) – Team’s taking no chances with lefty Jerermy Sowers, who’s shut down after 185 2/3 innings.
25. Baltimore (26) – Manager Sam Perlozzo told he’s coming back in 2007. Our question is why he would want to.
26. Washington (25) – More mind-boggling Alfonso Soriano stats: First outfielder to have 40 homers, 30 steals, 20 assists in one season.
27. Kansas City (29) – Here’s what pitcher Runelvys Hernandez throws: Fastball, slider, right hook, upper cut.
28. Pittsburgh (27) – Little known fact that they’ve had a better post-All-Star break record, a 29-26, than the Tigers.
29. Chicago Cubs (30) – No wonder Carlos Zambrano’s back hurts, he’s been carrying the pitching staff all year.
30. Tampa Bay (28) – Just 21, Delmon Young is aptly named and hitting .371 in first exposure to the majors.

This was the lead item on staff writer Larry LaRue's story that appears in today's News Tribune. It addresses the key issue of what is going to happen with the Mariners' coaching staff for next year, and surprise! ... it looks like manager Mike Hargrove might be back.. Here it is:

The news for manager Mike Hargrove and his smaller coaching staff Thursday wasn’t who was fired, but who wasn’t.

Twenty-four hours after Seattle Mariners coaches Ron Hassey and Dan Rohn were fired, all indications were that Hargrove and the rest of his coaching staff – Rafael Chaves, Carlos Garcia, Jeff Pentland, Mike Goff and Jim Slaton – would be back in 2007.

While there was no vote of confidence announced by general manager Bill Bavasi, sources within the organization pointed out that it would make no sense to fire two coaches in mid-September if the manager and his staff were going to be fired the first week in October.

Another indication was that Bavasi and Hargrove have compiled a list of candidates to replace Hassey as the team’s bench coach next season.

Neither Hargrove nor Bavasi would expand much upon the firings, although Hargrove acknowledged telling Hassey he wasn’t coming back next season was emotional for both men.

“Ron is one of my best friends, in or out of the game,” Hargrove said. “Telling him was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”

Were Hassey and Rohn sacrificed so that others could keep their jobs?

Apparently not. The debate on Hassey and whether he was a “good fit” as a bench coach began two months ago, and when the decision was made not to bring him back next year, Hargrove gave Hassey the choice – stay through Oct. 1 or leave.

Hassey chose to leave.

The decision on Rohn, who was in a newly created administrative coaching position, was more about a clash of personalities. Sources said Rohn disagreed with Hargrove’s managing and, worse, talked to other coaches and players about it.

When that got back to Hargrove, Rohn’s departure was a matter of time, sources said.

As for Hargrove, he has one year left on his contract and is expected to return next season. That may not sell season-tickets for 2007, but it makes business sense if the Mariners are to stay with Bavasi – as it appears they will.

If Bavasi fired Hargrove and hired another manager to a multiyear deal, that manager would be a lame duck should the team then fire Bavasi next season. As it stands, the Mariners are apparently willing to give both the general manager and manager one more year to return to contention in the American League West.

The Seattle Mariners not only lost, 10-0, to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday but lost two coaches as well.

Minutes after the game, general manager Bill Bavasi announced today that bench coach Ron Hassey and Mariners administrative coach Dan Rohn are no longer members of the staff.

Hassey was informed prior to last night's game that the club would not be
offering him a contract for the 2007 season. After discussions with Manager Mike Hargrove and Bavasi, Hassey determined it would be in the
club's best interest to make the move immediately.

"I have tremendous respect for Ron and am sorry he will not fi nish out the season with us," Hargrove said. "It was a very difficult decision for him, but Ron believes the team is best served by having an opportunity to make a change immediately, rather than waiting until the off-season to announce this move.

"I very much appreciate all of Ron's hard work over the past two seasons. He is a good man and a good friend, and I wish him all the best in the future."

Hassey was in his second season as the Mariners bench coach and his sixth season overall as a Major League coach.

Rohn was informed after today's game that his contract would not be renewed for the 2007 season and that he was relieved of his duties, effective immediately.

Rohn was in his first season as a Major League coach and his ninth as a coach in the Mariners organization. He spent the previous five seasons as manager of the Tacoma Rainiers.

No announcement has been made on a replacement bench coach. The administrative coach position will not be filled for the remainder of this season.

Pitcher Rafael Soriano won't pitch again this season, the Mariners announced Wednesday.

Soriano, who was at Safeco Field before the game with the Toronto Blue Jays, was hit just over the right ear by a line drive on Aug. 29. He has not played since the injury and is still having minor headaches.

The CT scan he had Tuesday was reviewed by Dr. Rich Ellenborgen and Dr. Stan Herring this morning and it was normal. The medical staff will continue to monitor Soriano for the remainder of the season.

Chris Snelling entered Tuesday's game on an 0-for-16 skid which had dropped his batting average down to .281. He ended the dry spell, however, with a first-inning RBI single.

Before the game, I talked with Snelling, who had also endured a 4-for-42 streak earlier this season while with the Rainiers.
On slumps

This from Larry LaRue, the News Tribune's Mariners writer:

Once the minor league regular season ends this week – and the Seattle Mariners return home Friday – eight players will be added to the roster, six of them Tacoma Rainiers.

Three players, outfielders Adam Jones and T.J. Bohn and utility player Greg Dobbs, will return to the Mariners, but five others will be called to the majors for the first time.

That group will include Rainiers pitchers Francisco Cruceta and Cesar Jimenez and Tacoma infielder Oswaldo Navarro. From Double-A San Antonio, the Mariners will call up pitchers Travis Chick and Ryan Feierabend.

Two of those pitchers will be make September starts to keep Felix Hernandez below 200 innings for his 2006 total.

For the most part, the others will get playing time as pinch runners, pinch hitters and late-inning defensive replacements – or pitch out of the bullpen on an as-needed basis.

In addition, two minor league coaches – San Antonio manager Daren Brown and his pitching coach, Scott Budner, will join the Mariners on Sept. 14 and finish the season with manager Mike Hargrove’s staff.

1. New York Mets (1) – These Mets are no mutts; in fact, they’re top dogs.
2. Oakland (4) – Proving it’s better to win ugly than to lose pretty.
3. Detroit (2) – Like a lot of cars from Detroit, you have to wonder if Tigers have enough gas left in the tank.
4. New York Yankees (3) – Only Randy Johnson, Cy Young and Warren Spahn won at least 15 games three years in a row after turning 40.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (11) – Just think of the parking nightmares: Dodgers will set surpass 1982’s attendance record of 3,608,881.
6. Chicago White Sox (5) – Hey Freddy, throw to first every once in a while. Opponents are 36-of-37 stealing bases of Garcia.
7. Minnesota (6) – A sure thing: Twins have won 21 straight games at home when Johan Santana pitches.
8. St. Louis (13) –How much do they regret trading Dan Haren, Kiko Calero and a prospect for Mark Mulder?
9. Los Angeles Angels (8) – Playoff hopes look slimmer than Jered Weaver standing sideways.
10. San Diego (10) – More girth equals playoff berth? Hefty lefty David Wells added for playoff push.
11. Boston (7) – Injuries caused too many holes in these Sox.
12. Philadelphia (14) – Move over, Michael Jack Schmidt. Ryan James Howard is the new Phillies’ home run king.
13. Texas (12) – With six homers in 11 at-bats, Mark Teixeira owns Orioles pitcher Bruce Chen.
14. Toronto (15) – Once promising season overshadowed by volatile manager John Gibbons’ confrontations.
15. Houston (20) – A valiant playoff run or is it too little, too late?
16. San Francisco (16) – In wacky NL, could finish last in the West or win the wild card.
17. Florida (19) – Pitcher Josh Johnson strong candidate for NL Rookie of the Year.
18. Cleveland (21) – They’re sweet on pitcher Jeremy Sowers, who has a 2.37 ERA since All-Star break.
19. Cincinnati (9) – Fading in the stretch like one of our bets at Emerald Downs.
20. Seattle (26) – Rafael Soriano incident reminds that baseball can be a deadly game.
21. Atlanta (22) – Brian McCann (.340, 16 homers) is NL version of Joe Mauer, minus the headlines and sideburns.
22. Arizona (18) – Movie about slumping baseball team: Snakes on a downward plane.
23. Colorado (27) – Future is now for 2005 1st rounder Troy Tulowitzki, who is in the bigs.
24. Baltimore (25) – Made some progress but at rate they’re going, they’ll be in contention in 2010.
25. Milwaukee (17) – Haven’t had a September to remember since Pat Listach won Rookie of the Year in 1992.
26. Pittsburgh (27) – Fans would surely trade another season of bad baseball for a Super Bowl title.
27. Chicago Cubs (24) – Only 28 more days left to blame Dusty Baker for team’s troubles.
28. Washington (29) – Old saying, new twist: Washington’s first in war, first in peace, last in NL East.
29. Kansas City (30) – Something good, something bad: Win two in Minnesota but can’t complete first road sweep in last 85 tries.
30. Tampa Bay (28) – Even with those funky glasses, Joe Maddon had to see this year was going to be tough.

This just in from the Associated Press:

Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander Jon Lester (Bellarmine Prep) has a form of lymphoma and will start treatment in the coming week, the team announced Friday.

Enlarged lymph nodes were identified when Lester, 22, was tested to determine the cause of back pain that sent him to the disabled list last Monday. The club said Friday he has a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Manager Terry Francona visited Lester on Thursday morning and several players commented later that day, before the diagnosis was announced.

Lester is 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 81 1-3 innings.
Lester was called up to the majors for the first time June 10, when he started in a 7-4 loss to Texas. He wasn’t involved in the decision. He improved to 5-0 with a 1-0 victory at Kansas City on July 18.

On Thursday, reliever Mike Timlin said baseball pales in significance to Lester’s health.

“It’s his life. It’s not him not being able to get out of the sixth inning,” Timlin said. “He’s 22. That’s a long future not to have if you come up with an illness that you can’t get rid of so we are praying for him.”

“Winning baseball games, yeah, that’s great. Losing baseball games, no, that’s not very much fun. But dealing with horrible things in human life, that’s a whole lot worse than losing.”

Lester was Boston’s first pick in the 2002 draft. In his first four minor-league seasons, he had a 24-22 record with a 3.38 ERA in 73 games, 69 of them starts, and was considered one of the Red Sox top prospects.

Last year with Double-A Portland he had an 11-6 record and led the Eastern League with a 2.61 ERA.

This season with Triple-A Pawtucket, he was 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts before being promoted.

Needing a reliever to fill in for the injured Rafael Soriano, the Mariners recalled Emiliano Fruto from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Fruto, 22, has made 14 appearances out of the bullpen for Seattle in 2006. In 46 innings, he has allowed 12 runs, struck out 19 batters and held his opponents to a .286 average. This will be Fruto's fourth stint with Seattle this season, having had three prior recalls.

Fruto was optioned to the Rainiers on Aug. 4 and posted a 0-2 record, two saves and a 3.55 ERA (5ER/12.2IP) in eight appearances with Tacoma. Overall, he's notched a 1-3 record, 3.18 ERA (16 ER/45.1IP) and 10 saves in 28 games this season at Tacoma.

The Mariners lost Soriano when he was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero on Tuesday. The day before, reliever Julio Mateo broke a bone in his left hand in a weight lifting accident.