UPDATED: Saunders crushed a 3-run homer to right in his second at-bat, first three-run homer for the Rainiers this season.

Since there is no Mariners game, I'm at the Rainiers' game tonight. And I'd thought I'd pass on the news that outfield prospect Michael Saunders has been activated. Saunders had offseason surgery on his left shoulder (his throwing shoulder) at the end of last season, and his start had been delayed as he rehabbed. I know I mentioned a few days, he'd be back in mid-May, but he's back sooner than expected.

But he's back and Rainiers manager Daren Brown said Saunders has no restrictions and has been cleared completely. He's in the lineup tonight, playing left field and batting second ahead of Jeff Clement in the line-up against the Fresno Grizzlies.

If you aren't doing anything feel free to tune into 850-AM or the Rainiers website to listen to TNT contributor and venerable voice of the Rainiers Mike Curto call the game.

The Mariners may have the day off, but there are roster moves being made. Right-handed reliever Roy Corcoran is being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained neck. The injury is retroactive to April 29th, meaning he's eligible to come off on May 14.

In his place, the Mariners will call up lefty Jason Vargas, who has been solid for Triple A Tacoma this season.

Corcoran, 28, has appeared in eight games this season, all in relief. He has posted a 1-0, 7.27 mark, allowing 13 hits, 9 walks and 7 earned runs in 8.2 innings pitched.

Vargas, 26, is 1-1, 2.49 in 4 starts at Tacoma. He has not allowed a run in his past two starts, tossing a combined 11.2 innings and giving up just 4 hits.

Vargas (right) has pitched in the Major Leagues with Florida (2005, 2006) and the New York Mets (2007). He has a career ML record of 6-8, 5.81 in 31 games, 20 starts. Vargas missed all of the 2008 season following surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip on March 17, 2008.

Just make to sure there is no confusion. I do not compile this information, that job falls to the Mariners' Kelly Munro, who does this every day, I'm just copying and pasting to pass along to you.

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Tacoma OFF DAY

Of Note: Mike Carp (right) is hitting .455 (10x22) with 6 runs scored, 3 extra-base hits and 5 RBI during his current 5- game hit streak. Prentice Redman has hit safely 16 of 19 games this season, batting .321 (25x78) with 18 runs scored, 4 doubles, 6 home runs and 10 RBI. Since starting the season batting .045 (1x22), Clement is batting .375(15x40) with 7 runs scored, 7 extra-base hits and 8 RBI in his last 9 games. Tacoma placed starting pitcher Chris Seddon on the 7-day disabled list with soreness in the back of his left shoulder. Seddon, who is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA, felt his shoulder act up in the 5th and final inning he pitched Monday night at Colorado Springs.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Jason Vargas (1-1, 2.49) vs. Fresno

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
Mississippi RAINED OUT
West Tennessee
Of Note: The Diamond Jaxx game on Wednesday with Mississippi was postponed due to rain. No date has been officially announced as a makeup date for the game. The Diamond Jaxx will hit the road on Thursday, beginning a 5 game series with the Birmingham Barons. Since April 21, Greg Halman is batting .300 (10x30) with 8 runs scored, 1 double, 6 home runs and 17 RBI. He currently leads the Southern League with 23 RBI this season and is 2nd with 8 home runs. Ezequiel Carrera currently ranks 2nd in the Southern League with a .358 (24x67) average, hitting safely in 13 of 18 games with an at-bat. He also ranks 2nd in the league with a .482 on-base percentage. After allowing 3 earned runs in his first outing of the season, Justin Souza has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.0 consecutive innings. During this stretch he has limited opponents to a .192 (10x52) batting average, while walking 2 and striking out 13.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Danny Christensen (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Birmingham

A High Desert (California League)
High Desert 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 error
Inland Empire 3 runs, 7 hits, 2 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Alfredo Venegas 4.0,3,3,3,1,6,HR
RH Travis Mortimore (W, 1-1) 1.0,0,0,0,0,0
LH Edward Paredes 1.0,1,0,0,0,0
RH Steven Richard 1.0,0,0,0,1,0
RH Phillippe Aumont 1.0,2,0,0,1,1
RH Anthony Varvaro (S, 4) 1.0,1,0,0,0,3
With the Bats:
DH Joe Dunigan (right) 2x4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
2B Edilio Colina 2x4, 2 R
CF Tyson Gillies 1x4, R, HR, RBI
SS Juan Diaz 1x4, R, 2B
Of Note: For the 3rd time this year, Joe Dunigan left the yard twice, and the Mavericks bullpen was stellar as they defeated Inland Empire 6-3 on Wednesday night. With the win, the Mavs still have not lost consecutive games this year. Dunigan hit solo home runs in the 2nd and 6th, and he is now tied for the league lead in home runs with 7.
Dunigan has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games, batting .415 (17x41) with 10 runs scored, 9 extra-base hits and 9 RBI. Juan Diaz has hit safely in 15 of 17 games this season with 5 multi-hit games, batting .368 (25x68) with 14 runs scored, 7 extra-base hits and 7 RBI. Edilio Colina currently has a 10-game hit streak (.333/15x45), while also hitting safely in 17 of 18 games this season (.293/24x82). Kuo Hui Lo is batting .441 (15x34) with 9 runs scored, 1 double, 4 triples, 4 home runs and 14 RBI during his current 8-game hitting streak. Alex Liddi went 0x4 in the game, ending his hit streak at 8 games. During the streak he hit .500 (17x34) with 8 runs scored, 4 doubles, 4 home runs and 8 RBI. He has also hit safely in 15 of 19 games this season, batting .395 (30x76) with 10 multi-hit games.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Jake Wild (2-0, 0.93 ERA) at Inland Empire

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest Lg.)
Burlington 0 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors
Clinton 1 run, 7 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Aaron Pribanic (L, 2-1) 5.2,5,5,4,2,5,2WP
RH Cheyne Hann 1.1,0,0,0,0,2
RH Greg Moviel 1.1,1,1,1,0,2
RH Ryan Moorer 0.2,1,0,0,0,0
With the Bats:
SS Terry Serrano 2x3, 2 R, 3B, BB
2B Ogui Diaz 2x4, RBI
CF Maximo Mendez 2x4, RBI
C Juan Fuentes 1x1, RBI
Of Note: It was only a matter of time, but the first member of the "big three" of the LumberKings rotation finally lost as Aaron Pribanic allowed 5 runs (4 ER) over 5.2 innings in a 6-3 loss to Fort Wayne on Wednesday night. Terry
Serrano recorded his 2nd consecutive 2-hit game and has hit safely in 5 of his last 10 at-bats with 3 runs scored, 3 extra base hits and 3 RBI. Cheyne Hann has not allowed a run in his last 4.1 innings in relief. He has held opponents to a .200 average, while walking 1 and striking out 6 in 8.2 IP.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Adam Harben (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Fort Wayne

First of all, we're going to have Carlos Silva as a guest blogger as he and Larry have made up after their little dust up in Chicago. Ok, that's a lie. That's not going to happen. Carlos would probably only make it through four paragraphs before we'd have to go to a blog reliever.

Ok, I'm kidding.

No, the changes are relatively minor, are still in progress, but will be relatively useful. Since I started working on this blog, I asked, then begged and then demanded for a blog roll. In the past, there was some veil of secrecy and level of CIA code clearance that I did not possess to make these changes on my own. But our new computer guy Doug Connaroe gave me clearance (he may one day regret that). And so after some tinkering I've started a blog roll on the right side of the browser.

What is a blog roll you say? Well, it's kind of a cross between a California Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll, minus the flying fish roe. No, basically it's just a list of links to use at your disposal. I know I post links often on here, but some of these will help negate some of that, especially some of the ones that I constantly use. So if you look there are links to all of our TNT coverage, links to the Mariners active and 40-man roster and current stats, links to the five major minor league teams sites and a link to each teams current stats. There's also links to the Mariners baseball blogosphere as well.

This list isn't finished and isn't concrete. I'm adding some baseball reference stuff, some good national baseball blogs and other things I check daily as a baseball writer and a baseball fan. So keep checking it, because it will keep changing.

With that in mind, if you think there is a site that I should have up there. Then let me know, I can put it up.

You may wondering why I am writing so much about what seems like a minor change. Well, I have a tendency to do that. If you remember I wrote like 1000 words on a roster move that wasn't going to happen. Anyway, this blog roll may not seem like the biggest change. But what it is a matter of convenience for you the reader. What we want is for readers to know that this blog is a place for news, analysis, ramblings, but also a one-stop place where you can get other information about the M's, their minor league teams or baseball in general. What we're hoping is that once you get to the blog, and perhaps you may be wondering what Jeff Clement is hitting for the Rainiers, or if Greg Halman is on the 40-man roster, you don't have to go scouring through the net, it's right there on the right for you to go to.

As always, we welcome your input, so feel free.