We're a little behind, but thankfully there isn't much going on.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier is that manager Jim Riggleman said that they will be monitoring Jarrod Washburn's pitch count closely since he went over 115 pitches in his last two starts.

Also Riggleman said that everyone in the bullpen would be available if needed.

GAME THOUGHTS START HERE:

9:21 --- DING! DING! DING! Good blog readers, that's the official time that Dave8557 chimed in about the piece of Washburn information I posted up at the top. Right now, I pretty much make sure to post similar quotes that I get like that just do raise his ire.

8:26 -- Washburn got out of a base-loaded jam earlier with a key strikeout, but the next inning Adam Lind ripped a fastball over the centerfield fence for a two-run shot.

7:55 -- Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! Raul just fouls a ball of the inside of his shin. But then he gets up and singles home Cairo a few pitches later. M's up 2-0.

7:50 -- We haven't done this in a while, but everybody --- "PUT ME IN COACH, I'M READY TO PLAY, TODAY!!!!'
That's right, Miguel Cairo comes up with a big double off the wall no less to drive in the first run of the game.

7:10 -- Here's the transcript to my chat from earlier today....

Well, I'm back up at Safeco Field after a two-day break away, although I still watched every inning of the two games on TV, yes, I have a problem.

I think I'll hold off some links, I'm still assembling them so we'll do that in a separate post, or perhaps just update this one.

From Riggleman's pregame meeting with media:

* Lopez is out of the line-up tonight, but it's not a punishment for a bad game last night. Riggleman said they'd already decided that Lopez was going to sit out tonight before last night's game.

"It's not about sitting Lopez down, it's about getting Cairo a game," Riggleman said.

Riggleman wants to keep Cairo playing just enough so that he's not completely rusty coming off the bench. He said he wants to the same for Jamie Burke at some point.

* As of now Sunday's starter will be Ryan Rowland-Smith. The big Aussie threw three good innings last night, and he admitted that he might have hit the wall mentally some. Riggleman didn't guarantee the start, but said that unless something changes he will start on Sunday.

* Miguel Batista appears ready to start pitching again after a sore back shut him down. Riggleman said that Batista will most likely make his first few appearances out of the bullpen.

Some people tried to talk to Miguel about this, but he shrugged them off saying he's not supposed to talk the media, which is untrue according to the MAriners. He's a little miffed about where he was misquoted in a story by all outlets. He really wasn't happy when the media produced the audio recording of it, and it was word-for-word correct.

* Felix Hernandez and JJ Putz both had successful workouts today. Unlike the last time he threw, Felix's sore ankle didn't bother him when he planted on it and he threw for much longer this time. Riggleman didn't rule out a start for Felix before the all-star break. Putz played catch again and did some long tossing.

Here's today's lineups...
Blue Jays
David Eckstein SS
Marco Scutaro 2B
Alex Rios RF
Vernon Wells CF
Matt Stairs DH
Scott Rolen 3B
Rod Barajas C
Lyle OVerbay 1B
Adam Lind LF
--------------
Dustin McGowan P

Mariners
Ichiro RF
Cairo 2B
Ibanez LF
Beltre 3B
Reed CF
Sexson 1B
Clement DH
Johjima C
Betancourt SS
---------------
Washburn P

After taking a week off from the chat, we'll be doing it again today at 1 p.m. Feel free to ask me any questions about the Mariners and anything else that becomes to mind. I will answer the best I can and try to be somewhat entertaining.

You can even submit your question early....

Just click here