UPDATE 3:42 -- Ok, sorry for the long break, I got caught up writing my Chad Cordero story for the paper, plus there was really nothing good to post. Gaby Hernandez gave up four runs on four hits. Mark Lowe came in and didn't look really sharp again. He pitched one scoreless inning, but had two costly walks and allowed a run in his second inning of work.

David Aardsma looked sharp in his one inning, while Tyler Walker worked out of a slight jam in his two innings.

UPDATE 2:23 --- the gritty, the gutty Oswaldo Navarro drives in the first run for the Ms with a liner that hit pitcher Luis Vizcaino and bounced away. Prentice Redman scored on the play. He singled earlier and then advanced on a throwing error by Vizcaino.

UPDATE 1:53 -- Not much going on for the M's offensively against Sean Marshall. But down in Tucson, Seattle took a 3-0 lead on RBI singles from Bryan LaHair and Matt Tuiasosopo and a sac fly from Mike Morse. But that disappeared as Jason Vargas gave up two runs in the next inning, so it's 3-2, M's.

And Sam Fuld just went deep to right off of Hernandez, so now it's 3-0 Cubs.

UPDATE 1:31 -- an eventful bottom of the first for Gaby Hernandez. He gave up a one out walk to Sam Fuld, got Derrek Lee to pop out and then walked Aramiz Ramirez on a long at-bat. Hernandez then worked Mike Fontentot and seemed to throw a perfect strike three pitch on a fastball on the inside corner that froze Fontenot. Home plate umpire Jim Reynolds called it a ball. Hernandez wasn't pleased giving a shake of his head and taking a long walk around the mound. On the 3-2 pitch, Fontentot rippled a single up the middle to score a run.

Hernandez glared at the ump as he went to back-up home.

Later in the inning, Hernandez tossed a wild pitch to score a run before striking out Reed Johnson to end the inning. Cubs 2, Mariners 0 after one.

We're coming to you live from HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona from the Cubs-Mariners game. I could have went to Tucson, but manager Don Wakamatsu is here, and I go where my fellow Asian-American compatriot goes.

The reason Wakamatsu came here is to evaluate a few relievers. Mark Lowe, David Aardsma, Tyler Walker and Shawn Kelley are set to throw along with Luis Munoz and Denny Stark.

Gaby Hernandez gets the start today.

The Cubs are rolling out a decent lineup today with Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez back from the WBC to join Derrek Lee. (Lineups below....)

Here's the lineups
Seattle Mariners (6-5-1)
6 Chris Woodward 2B
7 Yuniesky Betancourt SS
30 Russell Branyan 1B
25 Wladimir Balentien CF
9 Jeff Clement C
50 Prentice Redman LF
24 Tyson Gillies RF
41 Oswaldo Navarro 3B
36 Gaby Hernandez P
-----------------------------
Chicago Cubs (7-8)
2 Alfonso Soriano LF
8 Sam Fuld CF
9 Derrek Lee 1B
17 Aramis Ramirez 3B
16 Mike Fontenot 2B
4 Reed Johnson RF
3 Koyie Hill C
35 Andres Blanco SS
46 Sean Marshall P

From the Mariners ... with an update ...

SEATTLE, Wash -- Single game tickets for all 81 Mariners home games in 2009 will go on pubic sale tomorrow (Saturday, March 14) at 10 a.m.

Fans can purchase tickets without a service charge at the Safeco Field Box and at all Mariners Team Stores. Tickets are available via the internet at www.mariners.com; by phone at 206-622-HITS, 253-627-TIXS in Tacoma, 503-224-4400 in Oregon, 604-280-4444 in British Columbia; and at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers.

Based on sales as of noon Friday, it is expected that the limited number of tickets remaining for Opening Day, Tuesday, April 14 against the Los Angeles Angels, will be sold within a few minutes of the 10 a.m. on sale tomorrow.

Mariners 16-Game Plans, Half-Season and Full Season Ticket Plans remain available through April, and these plans guarantee tickets for Opening Day while that supply of tickets lasts. More information on ticket plans is available at www.mariners.com and by calling 206-346-4001.

The opening nine-game homestand continues with two more games against the Angels (April 15-16), a three-game weekend series against the Detroit Tigers (April 17-19) and three games against the defending American League Champion Tampa Devil Rays (April 21-23).

First of all, we spotted this bat leaning up against the fence. Someone is using it for batting practice. Someone remarked, "there's still probably a lot of homers left in it still." It wasn't me that said that, though I was thinking it. But hey Cairo hit a homer this spring for the Phillies. Actually, he's hit two. Power surge.

Anyway, here's a few notes from the morning meeting with manager Don Wakamatsu ...

* Here's a few comments on Chad Cordero

He feels he’s at 75, 80 percent so we’ll just keep progressing that. He’ll probably throw a bullpen on Sunday because we’re kind of hectic. He’ll play catch today and throw a bullpen on Sunday.

Again, we’re going to try to move him along slowly and see where he’s at. We’d like to be able to see … I can’t even predict whether we’re going to have him in a game or not. He might turn the corner fast, which was kind of exciting that he’s already thrown five days a week and up to 50 percent. It’s just going to be gauging that.

* The closing situation is still no closer to finding a leader or even a pair of front runners yet.

"For me it’s really about where we started. No one’s really stood out. Guys are still trying to weed their way through it mentally and physically. You’re going to see some guys put some pressure on themselves and then take it off."

Wakamatsu used Jeff Clement relaxing and finally hitting as an example.

It's similar to the Jeff Clement situation where I think he’s starting to settle back in to where he feels that he’s more comfortable. I think you’re going to see the same thing with the pitching. The last three days we talked a lot, over the last 24 hours, at constantly looking to change out gameplan a little bit or are we where we need to be at this point. First pitch strikes, are we aggressive and all those things? So we’re just going to keep hammering and move forward."

* On Brandon Morrow making it back in time ...

We’re back to square one. Again, it depends on how we go forward. It’s going to be tough.

We talked with Brandon Morrow for a little bit and he said he felt great. He took several tests on the elbow with surgeon Dr. Edward Khalfyan and passed them easily. He played catch today and could be ready to throw a bullpen by Monday. Morrow seemed very upbeat about the whole situation.

Seattle Mariners (6-5-1)
6 Chris Woodward 2B
7 Yuniesky Betancourt SS
30 Russell Branyan 1B
25 Wladimir Balentien CF
9 Jeff Clement C
50 Prentice Redman LF
24 Tyson Gillies RF
41 Oswaldo Navarro 3B
36 Gaby Hernandez P

Chicago Cubs (7-8)
2 Alfonso Soriano LF
8 Sam Fuld CF
9 Derrek Lee 1B
17 Aramis Ramirez 3B
16 Mike Fontenot 2B
4 Reed Johnson RF
3 Koyie Hill C
35 Andres Blanco SS
46 Sean Marshall P

Here's the lineups for the game in Tucson...
Seattle Mariners (6-4-1)
21 Franklin Gutierrez CF
3 Ronny Cedeno SS
39 Bryan LaHair 1B
27 Matt Tuiasosopo 3B
12 Mike Morse RF
61 Mike Wilson LF
15 Jamie Burke C
1 Reegie Corona 2B
38 Jason Vargas LHP

Arizona Diamondbacks (4-8)
14 Ryan Roberts 2B
6 Stephen Drew SS
34 Conor Jackson LF
10 Justin Upton RF
27 Mark Reynolds 3B
31 Tony Clark 1B
38 Luke Carlin C
12 Chris Roberson CF
58 Juan Gutierrez RHP

The newest invitee to Mariners camp is already in the building, actually he left on Thursday afternoon and drove from Anaheim to Peoria, arriving about 9:30 last night.

"It wasn't too bad," he said. "It was a nice night for a drive."

Here's the rest of the transcript.

It was a quick easy drive from CA, about five and hour drive. As soon as I got the news I hopped in the car and came down here. I’m excited. It’s the first place I’ve been since I was drafted. It’s a pretty new thing and I’m excited about it.

On other teams interested …
There were a couple other teams interested and another team even had a higher offer, but I wanted to go to place where I was a comfortable. I knew a couple guys on the team. I knew Wetteland from the Nationals before, so that’s why I chose here. Plus I wanted the chance to be on the West Coast, and with Seattle I get a chance to do that.

I’m excited about it and I can’t wait to get started

On how he’s feeling and what he’s able to do …
I’m feeling pretty good. I’m actually feeling really good. I haven’t had any setback so far. I’ve been throwing bullpens since about the first week in February. Everything’s been good so far. Hopefully, I can get healthy pretty quick, but not force it at the same time. And be up there by mid-May or early June or maybe even earlier than that. It just depends on how I react once I start doing all the activities here.

Were there scouts at all of his bullpens
For the most part. I was throwing bullpens every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and scouts were coming out most Wednesdays and Fridays. The Mariners scout was there pretty much every time and every Friday. Apparently he liked what he saw even though I was only throwing 80 to 81 miles per hour at the time. I’m excited at the chance to show them more.

I was throwing at a rehab place down in Anaheim. I was doing that three times a week. I was actually working out with Eddie Guardado. So I talked with him a little bit and I got to pick his brain a little bit.

Eddie’s a little crazy. He’s cool. He didn’t do anything crazy to me. He’s just always talking about breakfast burritos and things like that.

Watching situation with M’s bullpen
Not really. I paid attention for a little bit. But that wasn’t a huge factor for me. Comign of a shoulder surgery, I don’t really expect to be in the role I was used to. I have to go out there and prove that I’m healthy. Whether when I come out they want to pitch in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or 10th it doesn’t matter me. I just want to go out and show that I’m healthy again.

Reports on velocity
It was true. I think it was all because of the shoulder. It was weird cause I never felt any pain in there. So I guess it was just kind of hiding in there. Once I tore my lat muscle that kind of showed me exactly what was going on. When I tore the labrum in the last week, I was really weak with the ball. It was down just because of the shoulder. If it wasn’t hurt, I’d still be my normal 89, 90, so hopefully I can back up to that.

Was it maddening to not feel the pain ..
It sucked basically not knowing what was going on with the shoulder.I think one game I was throwing 78, 79 against the Mets. I still went 1,2,3 but I was like holy cow what’s going on in there. Once I found out what was going on in there, there was a big sigh of relief because that made me realize that I just didn’t lose it. It was because I was hurt.

Was it from wear and tear that the labrum finally tore …
The big reason it finally tore, when I tore my lat all the pressure went on the shoulder. They think that’s what caused it. They think I had a tear at the beginning of the season and they didn’t notice. I think with the tear in the labrum that’s what caused the lat to tear and that’s what caused the major shoulder surgery. It sucked. I think it was just a gradual thing that built up over the years. Pitchers arms are very fragile and so when its time for them to give out, it’s just going to happen.

ON the timetable for recovery …
They said it’s normally about nine to 10 months before I can start to throw full speed again. Right now I’m about the eight month mark. They said with me it could be sooner because of the way my arm is reacting. I haven’t had any setbacks. I haven’t had any pain since the surgery. They gave me painkillers and I didn’t even need to use them. I’ve been very lucky so far. Hopefully it goes the same way.

On his program with the Mariners …
I haven’t talked with the trainers yet. Once I find out from them I’ll probably have a better idea. I’m sure I’ll probably cut my bullpens back to two times a week instead of three. I’ll still throw every day and keep playing long toss.

Any chance of getting into a spring game …
Probably not during spring training, probably more in a sim game near the end of spring. Once I start building up the arm speed and the velocity build up a little more that’s probably when I’ll start sim games.

ON what went through his mind when he heard torn labrum …
I had heard horror stories about it. One of the guys I played with DC, Rayn Wagner had seven tacks put in it. He was telling me how he couldn’t sleep on his back and he splet in a recliner for two weeks straight. I really wasn’t looking forward to it. When I got it and they only had to put one tack in it, I was really relieved. It kind of took some pressure off me, to realize it wasn’t as bad as everybody thought. I was pretty excited that it wasn’t that big of a deal. A torn labrum is a big deal, but compared to some other guys, it wasn’t as bad as some people thought.

On any success stories he can call on.
I hav’et really thought about that. For me, it’s just knowing that I can get better with the way it’s been reacting, it’s been good so far. That’s just what I think of.

On what have last 24 hours been like …
I’ve been excited. The whole drive over here I couldn’t wait. I called John Wetteland right away and told him and he sounded pretty excited. That was the thing I wanted a chanceto come back and play for him and learn from him. It’s been really exciting, I’ve anxious to get over. I’ve been sitting and watching all these spring training games on TV and it’s kind of hard to just sit back on the couch and watch.

On how he stays patient and not rush back to soon …
Just knowing that I have to take one day at a time. If I go to hard, my career could be over. I could blow it out again and I could never pitch again. Really I just have to think about that and knowing that I want to pitch another 10 or 11 years. For me I just have to think about knowing I’m 26 and I want to pitch till I’m 35 or 36. That’s really what I think about because if I go too fast I could blow it out again. And I really don’t want to have to go through that process again. It’s not a fun process to go through.

For more than a more, the Seattle Mariners stalked reliever Chad Cordero.
They watched him throw in the bullpen.

They talked to his doctors and trainers and people like bullpen coach John Wetteland, who knew Cordero. They talked to their own doctors and trainers.

And then, they pounced.

“We did our due diligence,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “He’s not had a setback since his surgery, which was not terribly invasive. He’s throwing on a regular basis.”

No one knows with any certainty when Cordero will pitch, but he signed a minor league contract and will be in camp some time today. Given that the team doesn’t have a closer – lots of candidates, but no closer – landing Cordero makes sense.

If for whatever reason he can’t pitch, the team has lost nothing. And if he can pitch a month or two into the season, the Mariners suddenly have a 27-year-old closing candidate with experience at the job.

This wasn’t a deal made just for 2009. The Mariners are looking ahead, building a team with depth for this year and beyond.

“I’m excited to have him, except we don’t really have him yet,” manager Don Wakamatsu said.

What the Mariners know is there’s no medical reason Cordero can’t pitch again, and they’ll be as patient as they need to be – finding an All-Star closer is worth the wait.