Well, I made it here finally. I just want to give a big thanks to the people of the airline that rhymes with Who Us Care? Actually, you probably save me at least 200 or 300 on the black jack table.

Also, they caused me to miss the McLaren pregame meeting, which the lovely Shannon Drayer told me "Mac didn't say anything." And apparently he didn't. But he did hint that possibly there could be roster moves tonight, but most of us don't think the final roster won't be decided till the Sunday workout.

He did say also that he doesn't see any reason why Brandon Morrow will start the season the DL. I think he makes the team.

And going by that theme, I'd lay a double down on a hundred dollar bet that the Mariners carry a 12-man rotation. Given what Morrow did last night I think you have to be a little conservative and can't run the risk of carrying just a six-man bullpen.

Here's my predictions for the bench and bullpen....

UPDATED 9:08 p.m. I just got back from the clubhouse and I was kind of glanced over at Brandon Morrow and he looked pretty upset about something I'm thinking he's going to be sent down to work on his control. He has options left and I don't know that the Mariners are comfortable with sending him out there.
So my bullpen would be: Putz, Green, O'Flaherty, Lowe, Dickey, Rowland-Smith and now Cha Seung Baek... and the Mariners could hang on to him a little longer. Or they could go with a 6-man bullpen and still let Baek go.

Also Kenji Johjima hit a three-run homer and Brad Wilkerson hit a pinch hit home run to right in the eighth inning.

Bench: Burke, Bloomquist, Cairo and Morse. At no point this spring has Mac ever intimated that Cairo might not make the squad.

Bullpen: Putz, O'Flaherty, Green, Morrow, Dickey, Lowe and Rowland-Smith

Let's get to the game.....

That's the Las Vegas mayor getting ready to throw out his first pitch. Some politicians travel with armed security, this guy travels two shows girls and the world's largest martini, (hint one of the girls is holding it) not that any of you are notcing it.

UPDATE 7:26: Jose Lopez just hit a solo home run, also the game is being televised on WGN if you have that station. Adrian Beltre just went deep to opposite field for a two-run homer... and Mike Morse doubled. The wind is blowing out so there could be some runs scored tonight. Right now, Lou Piniella wants to take a sip of the Mayor's martini...

UPDATE 7:48 P.M. -- A moment of silence and a raise of a beer in sadness, the gritty Chris Snelling was outrighted by the Phillies today. He's one of the good guys in baseball and injuries have totally derailed his career and .... Unbelievable double play by Betancourt and Lopez. Betancourt went up the middle made a nice stab on a ball up the middle, flipped it with his glove to Lopez who then threw out Mark DeRosa.

UPDATE 8 p.m. Jose Lopez ripped a single right and then Raul Ibanez followed with a homer to right that went in between the legs of the giant inflatable cow atop the right field wall. Lou is looking for a refill on that giant martini

UPDATE 8:24 Alfonso Soriano hit a 450-foot ball foul down the left field line, and then on next pitch hit one over the inflatable cow in right field.

UPDATE 8:44 Mike Morse hit monster home run deep to left field in the sixth inning. I don't know how he can't make this team, but then again these are the Mariners....

Here's tonight's lineups... the Mariners are the visitors
Seattle
51 Ichiro Suzuki CF
4 Jose Lopez 2B
28 Raul Ibanez LF
44 Richie Sexson 1B
29 Adrian Beltre 3B
12 Mike Morse RF
2 Kenji Johjima C
3 Yuniesky Betancourt SS
52 Carlos Silva P

Chicago
2 Ryan Theriot SS
12 Alfonso Soriano LF
25 Derrek Lee 1B
16 Aramis Ramirez 3B
1 Kosuke Fukudome RF
7 Mark DeRosa 2B
18 Geovany Soto C
20 Felix Pie CF
30 Ted Lilly P