Sanchez Wins Midwest League Player of the Week
Clinton first baseman Kris Sanchez has been named the Midwest League's Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending May 9. Sanchez, who signed with the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent in 2007 out of the University of Hawai’i, was called up to the LumberKings from extended Spring Training last Tuesday. He hit .563 (9x16) during the week, including 3 home runs and 6 RBI. He has hit in all five games since joining the Lumberkings.

Yesterday’s Results, Standings, Winner/Loser/Save
at Tacoma 6, Colorado Springs 2 16-15, 3rd, -3.0 W-G. Hernandez (2-2)
West Tenn 4, at Tennessee 3 (13 innings) 11-17, 3rd, -4.5 W-A. Vavaro (1-0)/S-Vega (1)
High Desert (Off Day) 21-10, 1st, +4.0 - - -
Clinton (Off Day 18-11, 2nd, -0.5 - - -

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (Pacific Coast League)
Here's my game story from Monday's game where Prentice Redman hit two homers, also Jeff Clement's surgically repaired left knee is acting up a little.
BOX SCORE
Colorado Springs 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 error
Tacoma 6 runs, 10 hits, 2 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Gaby Hernandez (W, 2-2) 5.1,4,2,2,1,5,HR
RH Jared Wells 1.2,1,0,0,0,2
RH Eric Hull 2.0,3,0,0,0,2
With the Bats:
RF Prentice Redman 3x4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
SS Chris Woodward 3x3, 2 R
C Jamie Burke 2x4, 2B, 3 RBI
Rainiers Notes: The Rainiers continued their hot streak, winning their 3rd straight game and 5th over the last 6 days, with a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. RF Prentice Redman went 3- for-4 with a pair of solo home runs to lead Tacoma at the plate. He gave the Rainiers a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo homer to right field and led off the 3rd with a solo shot to left field for his 2nd multi-homer game of the season. Starting pitcher Gaby Hernandez (2-2) earned the win allowing 4 hits and 2 runs in 5.1 innings. Over his last 2 starts, Hernandez is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA (4 ER, 10.1 IP). Right-handers Jared Wells (1.2 IP) and Eric Hull (2.0 IP) closed out the win with scoreless relief efforts. SS Chris Woodward tied his season-high with 3 hits, extending his hitting streak to 3 games (.583/7x12). C Jamie Burke went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI, and is batting.462 (6x13) with 6 RBI in 4 games with the Rainiers.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Doug Fister (0-0, 3.65) at New Orleans

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
BOX SCORE
West Tenn 4 runs, 12 hits, 1 error
Tennessee 3 runs, 12 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Steven Hensley 6.0,8,3,3,1,4
RH Steve Bray 2.0,1,0,0,0,1
LH Nick Hill 0.2,1,0,0,0,0
RH Anthony Varvaro (W, 1-0) 3.1,0,0,0,3,2
RH Marwin Vega (S, 1) 1.0,2,0,0,0,1
With the Bats:
LF Mel Stocker 2x4, 3B, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB
C Adam Moore 2x6, 2B, 2 RBI
Jaxx Notes: The Diamond Jaxx snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Tennessee Smokies in 13 innings. 3B Matt Mangini singled in the game-winner with 2 outs in the top of the 13th inning. RHP Anthony Varvaro (1-0) earned the win, throwing 3.1 innings of hitless and scoreless relief. The Diamond Jaxx bullpen combined for 7.0 shutout innings. LF Mel Stocker went 2-for-4 with a triple and home run and CF Ezequiel Carrera was 2-for-6 and has reached base in 26 of his last 27 games (.340, 34x100). Carrera currently ranks T8th in the Southern League batting race. Mangini has hit safely in 12 of his last 14, batting .352 (19x54) with 5 runs scored, 4 extra-base hits and 12 RBI. OF Greg Halman leads the Southern league in home runs (10) and RBI (28).
Today’s probable starter:
RH Kyle Parker (1-1, 5.40) at Tennessee

A High Desert Mavericks (California League)
Off Day
Mavericks Notes: The Mavericks took yesterday off and begin a three-game series against Rancho Cucamonga tonight. High Desert has not lost a series this season and leads the California League South Division by 4.0 games. SS Juan Diaz has recorded 4 consecutive multi-hit games and is riding a career-high 11-game hitting streak. OF Tyson Gillies currently has 13-game hit streak (.392/20x51). 3B Alex Liddi (.376/4th), Diaz (.373/5th) and OF Joe Dunigan(.371/T6th) are ranked in the top 10 in the California League in batting. Dunigan, the Mariners 5th round selection in 2007 out of the University of Oklahoma, leads the league in home runs (12), RBI (34) and slugging (.782). He leads all minor leaguers with 26 extra base hits. RH Phillippe Aumont is 0-1 with a 0.61 ERA (1 ER, 14.2 IP) in 14 relief appearances. The Mariners first-round draft pick in 2007 is 5-for-5 in save opportunities and is averaging 7.36 K/9.0 IP. The Mavs lead the league batting .312 overall with a league-best 48 home runs.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Juan Ramirez (2-1, 4.55) at Rancho Cucamonga

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League)
Off Day
Lumberkings Notes: The LumberKings took a much-needed off day yesterday after playing into extra innings in 3 of their last 4 games. Clinton opens a four-game series vs. Beloit tonight at Alliant Energy Field. OF Denny Almonte has hit safely in 23 of 27 games this season (.295) and ranks 2nd in the Midwest League with 7 home runs. OF Maximo Mendez leads the league and T10th among all minor leaguers with 14 stolen bases. RH Brett Lorin, Thursday’s scheduled starter, is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA (4 ER, 36.0 IP) in 6 starts.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Kenn Kasparek (1-2, 4.87) vs. Beloit

Ichiro loves facing Texas, sporting a .334 career average against the Rangers, and Jason Vargas wouldn't mind a big night from his right fielder.

There may be tougher parks to make your debut with a team, but this one ranks up there with any - and Vargas has never thrown a pitch here.

Baptism by fire. And we're off.

So, you want to play THAT way

Vargas is holding his own, giving up a handful of long fly balls but keeping the Rangers in the ballpark so far.

The Marinres might have gotten him a run in the fourth, but after Ken Griffey Jr. singled, Adrian Beltre hit a shot toward left field - and rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus made a marvelous diving catch of it.

That took a bit of the air out of the inning, and the Mariners remain without a run. So does Texas, coming up in the bottom half of the fourth.

That's one

Vargas just gave up a long fly ball that didn't say in the park - a Chris Davis solo home run that put Texas ahead.

The lefty is changing speeds (73 mph to 88 mph)and locations well, has struck out two and walked two. He's also gotten deeper into the game already than Seattle would have expected from the man he's replacing, Carlos Silva.

If one run beats him, that's the fault of his hitters.

After five: Rangers 1, Mariners 0

Here comes Seattle

Miguel Batista just left the bases full of Rangers in his first inning of relief after Vargas pitched five marvelous innings - but the Mariners still hadn't pushed a runner as far as second base against Scott Feldman.

Then, one out into the seventh, Franklin Gutierrez singled and, with Gutierrez running, Kenji Johjima doubled to right field for the tie.

Yuniesky Betancourt, facing reliever Derek Holland, grounded out on the first pitch. Raise your hand if you're surprised.

Against the lefty, Wladimir Balentien pinch-hit for Endy Chavez and grounded out.

Vargas won't win but can't lose. That's something.

In the seventh: Mariners 1, Rangers 1

There go the Rangers

Mark Lowe on the mound, and Josh Hamilton followed Michael Young's third single with a home run to left field.

Oops.

Bad? Yes, but a ground ball to first with a man on third base bounced off Branyan's glove for a run-scoring error.

It took the Mariners seven innings to get one run. Now, they face having to score six runs in two innings just to tie.

After seven: Rangers 7, Mariners 1
It's over

Mariners had four, count them, four hits.

Final score: Rangers 7, Mariners 1

We haven't done some links in a while. Why? Well, I really have no good explanation for the absence. None, other than my doctor prescribed it to me and I didn't know what it was.

Let's get to it....

AUDIO -- Here's my weekly segment with Ian Furness, which I did on Friday and forgot to post on here.

From a great site to check -- sportsradiointerviews.com, here's the audio and written transcript of Roger Clemens' interview on Mike and Mike in the Morning.

Nothing very interesting other than Roger believing his father-in-law's heart troubles might be hereditary.

From today's News Tribune your newspaper for the South Sound, Larry has this story about the Mariners still searching for an identity as a team.

From Sunday's News Tribune -- here's my Sunday baseball column on Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers, along with my weekly power rankings. Also on Sundays we run Mike Curto's Minor League column, which this week talks about the recent power surge High Desert first baseman Joe Dunigan.

Let's catch up with some former Mariners ...
Raul Ibanez is playing very well for the Phillies and the national writers are starting to take notice. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports has this column on Raul, while Sports Illustrated.com followed with a piece on Raul. The USS Mariner wasn't impressed with this article and DMZ offers his thoughts on it.

With his stellar play at the plate and in the field, Adam Jones continues to earn recognition. The Baltimore Sun had this feature on him.

I know I've recommended it before, but you should read Joe Posnanski's blog when you get the chance. Here's one of his posts on Scott Boras' clients and steroid use with some reference to A-Rod and the Mariners scouting of him.

From the AL West ...
Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia isn't happy with his team's lack of discipline at the plate. Really Mike? Really? Why don't you try managing the Mariners for a 20 game stretch and find out about lack of plate discipline.

In this notebook, it mentions that pitchers John Lackey and Ervin Santana should be activated within the next seven days after solid and pain-free rehab outings.

Josh Hamilton is back in the line-up for the Texas Rangers. Making a difficult lineup to pitch against that much tougher. Have fun Jason Vargas.

Susan Slusser has more details on the upcoming Moneyball movie starring Brad Pitt.