Adrian Beltre is home in Los Angeles, recuperatng from shoulder surgery, Chris Woodward is at thid base and the Seattle Mariners have all but cancelled the Wladimir Balentien-is-the-regular-left fielder experiement.

Ken Griffey Jr. is out there tonight, with Mike Sweeney the designated hitter.

With Endy Chavez on the disabled list, the Mariners brought in left-handed hitting Ryan Langerhans as a defensive replacement. Balentien's future with the franchise is now behind him.

By next week, the Mariners might be using a new-look infielder of 1B Russell Branyan, 2B Yuniesky Betancourt, 3B Jose Lopez and SS Ronny Cedeno.

Tonight, it's Brandon Morrow vs. Joba Chamberlain, and the Mariners are hoping their lineup and produce enough runs to give Morrow his third career win in ninth career start.

Chopping wood

Morrow's fastball on the hands has shattered two bats in the first inning, and one of those pitches became an out.

Johnny Damon pushed a ground ball double past first, holding a small piece of his bat as he began to run. And Mark Teixeira broke his bat in tapping back to the mound.

Oh, and Alex Rodriguez? Strike out, looking. A nice first inning for Morrow.

No score.

Oops and oops again

Beltre's fill-in for the night, Woodward charged a slow roller toward third and bobbled it, allowing Hideki Matsui to reach base.

Worse, Woodward then threw past Russell Branyan at first - allowing the Yankees to score their first run.

They got a second run on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice fly, although the runner was on third only because of Woodward.

If the Mariners are going to win this one, they'll have to come from behind. Both runs are unearned.

After two: Yankees 2, Mariners 0

Some unexpected help

Who's the last Mariner you'd figure would hit a home run here? No. 9 hitter Cedeno - .133 average as he stood in - hit his third of the season to lead off the third inning.

Ichiro singled, extending his latest hitting streak to 12 consecutive games, then stole second base as Branyan struck out. Lopez walked.

Griffey flied out. Sweeney grounded out.

In the third: Yankees 2, Mariners 1

Yikes! A bad inning

In his three previous starts, Morrow always ran into at least one inning where he stumbled out of control.

Welcome to the fourth: a bloop single and two walks had Chris Jakubauskas warming up in the bullpen and Yankees fans leaning forward in their seats.

Nick Swishr popped up. Cabrera rolled out to first base, with Robinson Cano scoring. Jeter struck out.

Not much damage, but a lot of pitches thrown - all under stress.

After four: Yankees 3, Mariners 1

Ichiro on the run

Ichiro beat out an infield roller, stole second base, stole third base, and scored on Branyan's single.

That's the kind of Mariner scoring that leaves opposing teams shaking their heads - and the kind Seattle must score to stay in games.

For the third time tonight, Griffey came up with at least one runner on base. As Junior worked the count, Branyan stole second base. Griffey patiently walked. Sweeney flied out.

Franklin Gutierrez broke his bat on an RBI single to tie the game, the ball falling into shallow right-center field.

Woodward flied out. Morrow headed back to the mound.

In the fifth: Yankees 3, Mariners 3

Goodnight, Mr. Morrow

Another long inning, and this time Morrow couldn't finish it, loading the bases with two outs and Hideki Matsui due up. After facing six men in the fourth inning, Morrow worked to five men in the fifth.

That was enough for Don Wakamatsu, who brought in Chris Jakubauskas.

Matsui grounded out.

After five: Yankees 3, Mariners 3

More small ball

Kenji Johjima's second hit, a single, opened the sixth inning and Cedeno promptly bunted him to second base.

That sent Chamberlain to the clubhouse and Phil Coke in from the bullpen, with Ichiro and Branyan given the chance to hurt New York.

Ichiro flied out. Branyan struck out.

In the sixth: Mariners 3, Yankees 3

Going, going, gone

A-Rod, the man Mariners fans most love to boo, hit a mammoth two-run home run in the seventh, the 565th of his performance-enhanced career.

How big do those two unearned runs in the second inning look now?

After seven: Yankees 5, Mariners 3

Who are these guys?

Playing in the House Next to the House That Ruth Built, the Yankees can't quite figure these Mariners.
Down two, singles by Gutierrez, Woodward and Johjima cut that deficit in half, and Cedeno bunted - again.

The Yankees walked Ichiro intentionally to get to Branyan with the bases loaded and one out.

Mariano Rivera was warming, the Yanks were pondering win No. 44, and Branyan's fly ball got Woodward home for the tie.

In the eighth: Mariners 5, Yankees 5

Watching it get away

With Sean White pitching, Matsui doubled, Swisher bunted for a hit and Cabrera doubled home the go ahead run - all in the span of five pitches.
Derek Jeter singled home two more, and if the Mariners are to come back again, it will be against the man with 500 saves, Rivera.

After eight: Yankees 8, Mariners 5

And in the end

The rallies ended against Rivera, who made quick work of Seattle in the ninth inning to seal the win.

For all the effortd, all the comebacks, the Mariners never got the hit that put them ahead.

That, as much as the Yankees, beat them.

The final: Yankees 8, Mariners 5

The Seattle Mariners have come up with an intriguing possibility to rework their patchwork infield next weeek - make a second baseman of Yuniesky Betancourt.

With that one move, they could free Jose Lopez to play third in the absence of Adrian Beltre and keep Ronny Cedeno at shortstop.

Betancourt is due off the disabled list (hamstring) next week, and manager Don Wakamatsu and his staff have discussed the possibility of moving him from shortstop.

"There's a defensive energy with Cedeno at shortstop, and he's made the plays," Wakamatsu said.

Lopez is fine with playing third base and, despite an alarming slump at the plate, Cedeno is playing well at shortstop.

That leaves one man - Betancourt - to accept the decision.

If the Mariners go with that infield allignmnet, Chris Woodward would be the reserv infielder off the bench, and Josh Wilson or Mike Carp would be sent to the minors once Betancourt returns.

It's raining in New York, so no batting practice on the field for the Mariners - but lots of tidbits fromt the clubhouse.

The game is now scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. (EST).

Outfielder Ryan Langerhans, as expected, is here and in uniform, taking the roster space of Adrian Beltre.

Beltre underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his left shoulder, and the team was told there was no damage to the rotator cuff - just plenty of inflammation caused by the spur.

Erik Bedard could start in Boston on Saturday, but he's not certain he's ready and the team may have to talk him into it.

Catcher Jamie Burke cleared waivers and, for the third time this season, was assigned to Tacoma. He'll report Wednesday.

Rookie reliever Shawn Kelley will join Tacoma tomorrow, as well, and if he pitches on schedule could rejoin the Mariners bullpen this weekend in Boston.

Yuniesky Betancourt's return may be moved up, too. On the disabled list with a strained hamstring, he's now out of pain and could rejoin the team next week at home.

Look we all know about the greatness of Felix Hernandez. And we've seen him make the leap to another level this season. But of course, this being the Northwest and the fact that the four-letter network seems to think the world revolves around the American League East, Felix can get kind of lost in the hype. Think about how much we had to listen to the transition of Joba Chamberlain from reliever to a starter.

But the King is starting to turn some heads. ESPN's Buster Olney wrote the top of his blog post today on Felix.

Here's the part I thought was interesting ..

But so long as Hernandez remains healthy, he will continue to climb toward what figures to be a monster contract. He is still just 23 years old, and he is on track to become a free agent after the 2011 season. CC Sabathia got a six-year, $161 million contract when he was 28 years old. Johan Santana got his record deal when he was 28 years old.

Just imagine what the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox or Cubs might be willing to pay Hernandez, as a healthy, elite pitcher at age 25. The economy will have no impact on a 25-year-old who can throw two types of fastballs, his curve and changeup for strikes at any point in the ball-strike count, with conviction and dominance.

We all know they need to sign Felix to an extension before he becomes a free agent.

But ask yourself, if you were in his place, would you sign an extension or would you wait and test the market?

Adrian Beltre has a home in Los Angeles, and since he's not going to New York with the Mariners - and won't have shoulder surgery until Tuesday - he decided to play one more game.

The opportunity today: steal a series from the first-place Dodgers and flee to the east coast.

It's Garrett Olson vs. Hiroki Kuroda, and the Mariners get one more day of Gold Glove defense at third base.

What they need as much is production from left-handed hitters like Ichiro, Russell Branyan and Ken Griffey Jr.

The hot stay hot

Among the Mariners hottest hitters in this series, Jose Lopez and Franklin Gutierrez have put Seattle on top early.

Lopez singled - his sixth hit of this series - stole second base and scored on a one-out single by Gutierrez.

The steal by Lopez is a reminder that the Mariners will try most anything to manufacture runs. This time, it worked.

In the second: Mariners 1, Dodgers 0

Catchers and stats

As promised, a few numbers requested by moo and others.

Kenji Johjima's catching ERA is 5.04, but that's from a small sampling since he's been on the disabled list twice already this season and doesn't have many innings caught.

As for the Mariners record by catcher: Rob Johnson (20-14), Johjima (10-15), Jamie Burke (6-5) and Guillermo Quiroz (2-2).

Make of it what you will.

Adrian will be missed

Over his last 31 games, Beltre is batting .331, and his one-out RBI single in the third scored Ichiro.

It was a typical Mariners rally. Infield single (Ichiro), opposite field single (Branyan) and ground ball just out of an infielders reach (Beltre).

Kuroda hurt himself with a wild throw trying to pick off Branyan, and with runners at second and third with two out, Lopez came through again - a two-run double over the head of center fielder Matt Kemp.

In the third: Mariners 4, Dodgers 0

Goodbye, shutout

Olson left a 1-1 pitch up and Matt Kemp hit it out, a solo home run that puts Los Angeles on the scoreboard.

Following that homer, the Dodgers got a pair of singles sandwiched around Kuroda's sacrifice, to put runners at first and third base with one out.

Andre Ethier flied out to get another run in, and the Dodgers have closed the gap.

After five: Mariners 4, Dodgers 2

Oh, that Seattle bullpen

Asked to finish off four innings with relievers, Don Wakamatsu reached out first to Miguel Batista has eaten half of those.

A scoreless sixth and seventh has the Mariners in position to use Sean White and David Aardsma in the eighth and ninth innings, except the team wants to give White (tender elbow) another few days off.

In the eighth, it's Mark Lowe.

Nice work by Batista.

In the eighth: Mariners 4, Dodgers 2

And in the ninth

Lowe worked a quick eighth inning, and then it was Aardsma time again for Seattle.

The right-hander has allowed the opposition runs in just one of his last 26 appearances and is becoming as close to automatic as the Mariners have.

Seventeen save opportunities, 16 saves.
As for Seattle, it's taken a series from the 48-28 Dodgers in L.A. - heady stuff. The Mariners are now 39-36

The final: Mariners 4, Dodgers 2

As they try to make up for the loss of Endy Chavez, the Seattle Mariners acquired outfielder Ryan Langerhans from the Washington Nationals in exchange for AAA utilityman Mike Morse.

It's likely Langerhans, 29, will join the Mariners in New York before Tuesday's game there to give manager Don Wakamatsu more options off his bench.

"That's possible, but this is a Triple-A trade," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "At this point, Langerhans will report to Tacoma. He can play all three outfield positions, as well as first base. He adds to the depth in our system."

Langerhans is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound left-handed hitting outfielder who was batting .278 with 9 home runs and 40 RBI in 64 games.

The deal signals two things: The Mariners know they need an outfielder not named Wladimir Balentien an they don't think anyone in their minor league system is quite ready yet.

Langhans has spent part of seven season with the Braves, Athletics and Nationals, playing 474 big-league games and batting .233 with 24 home runs and 105 RBI.

Langerhans was originally a third-round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in the June, 1998 draft.

Morse was hitting .312 10 home runs and 52 RBI in 66 games with the Rainiers this season. In parts of the past four seasons with Seattle Morse batted .300 3 home runs and 37 RBI in 107 games.

He first came to Seattle in the Freddy Garcia trade with the White Sox, and while he hit well, this spring fell into disfavor with the new manager and coaching staff.

If you've ever wondered how Felix Hernandez would do in the National League, where he'd face a pitcher evey few innings, read on - it's Felix vs. the Dodgers tonight.

Yes, it's Adrian Beltre's last game for 6-8 weeks, but the Mariners badly need a dose of good news. The kind a win would bring.

The team looked lackluster in defeat last night, and then got the word from Beltre today that he was going to have surgery on his left shoulder.

That will thin out an already quiet offense, so what Seattle needs is a start that handcuffs the opposition.

Hernandez has pitched like an ace most of the season. The Mariners need that to continue tonight.

A lead for Felix

Franklin Gutierrez doubled Jose Lopez home from first base in the second inning, then Ichiro led off the third with a single and scored on Russell Branyan's triple.

It was Ichiro's second hit of the night, and his seventh consecutive multi-hit game - tying his career high.

Ken Griffey Jr. followed up with his ninth home run of the season, and Hernandez is up by four.

That was Junior's 55th career interleague home run, leaving him one behind Jim Thome for the most in baseball history.

In the third inning: Mariners 4, Dodgers 0

Look out, Ichi!

Felix worked around a two-out hit-and-run single that put runners on first and third base, getting a line drive directly at Ichiro in right field.

Unfortunately, Ichiro lost it in the lights, and - on his knees trying to block it - took that line drive off his inner thigh.

Yes, folks, that was close to disaster.

As it was, it cost the Mariners one run.

After three: Mariners 4, Dodgers 1

That's Mister Hernandez

Into the seventh, Felix is dealing.

Six innings, six strike outs, three hits allowed - and the Dodgers wouldn't have a run if not for that ball lost in the lights.

Let's say the Dodgers are impressed.

In the seventh: Mariners 4, Dodgers 1

And in the end

After Felix had thrown 117 pitches in eight innings, matching his season high, Aardsma finished the game, surviving a double

and a walk in the ninth.

That pushes the Mariners record to 38-36. A year ago, the were 26-48.

Final: Mariners 5, Dodgers 1

Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre is in the lineup tonight against the Dodgers, but he won't play again until after undergoing surgery to remove bone chips from his left shoulder.

Just when hasn't been decided, but within the next week Beltre will have surgery that will likely keep him out of the Seattle Mariners lineup 4-8 weeks.

"We've been bracing for this for awhile," general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "It creates a dilemma, but it creates an opportunity, too."

Asked if itt were one play that pushed the decision on him, Beltre shook his head.

"It's everything I do, the way it feels every day," he said.

Beltre said trying to play through the pain hasn't been working.

"It would be different if I was helping the team, but I'm not," Beltre said.

Medical tests show a large spur in Beltre's lefrt - non-throwing shoulder - and nothing short of surgery will repair it.

What will the Mariners do without him?

Russell Branyan has played third base in the past, and moving him would let the team slide Mike Carp into the lineup at first base. That said, it's unlikely that will happen.

Branyan is playing well enough at first to handle his own - moving him to third, where he's less effective, wouldn't help Seattle's infield defense.

More likely, Jose Lopez will move from second base to third, and Ronny Cedeno and Chris Woodward can play second base.

Beltre, 30, is in the last year of his contract, and the surgery means he's virtually untradeable before or at the July 31 deadline. In 71 games this season, Beltre is batting .260 with five home runs and 30 RBI.

"I've never been 100 per cent since surgery last year to fix this," Beltre said. "They said there was a small chance the spur would grow back. My luck, I was one of those whose spur came back - and it's bigger than last year. It hurts more."

If Beltre has the surgery in the next week he likely would be able to return in August or early September.

"It's tough to lose Endy Chavez, then Adrian," Zduriencik said. "I wish I had 25 Adrian Beltres. He's a tough guy, he wants to be part of what we're doing here. After tonight, we'll talk to the doctor and schedule the surgery."

Southern California has always been home to those who not only see themselves as different but truly are.

Coming out of small restaurant this afternoon, I watched as a couple in their sixties - decked out in riding coats and caps - drove by in a '30s era convertible.

They hit the 'ah-ooga' horn as they went by and the driver tipped his cap.

And that wasn't even the unusual part.

Sitting in the lap of the woman passenger was a smallish white dog - wearing goggles.

This is what happens to people who don't get a change of seasons. Without, say, months of rain, Southern Californians have just too much fun.

Fortunately, we in the Northwest don't have to combat the urges.

Catcher Kenji Johjima is back, but the Mariners lineup won't have Ken Griffey Jr. or Mike Sweeney in it tonight.

It's Jason Vargas vs. Clayton Kershaw, and runs may not be free flowing. The Dodgers, like the Mariners, are a bit power impaired with Manny Ramirez out - no one has more homers in their lineup than outfielder Andre Ethier (11).

What they do have is consistent production: five players with 40-or-more RBI. The Mariners have one.

Adrian Beltre talked with doctors before the game about the bone chips in his left shoulder, and repeated what he's been told - only a surgery will correct the pain he's in.

"It's up to me," he said, "and it's up to how long I can put up with the pain."

Maybe Vargas, a pretty good college hitter, can help himself tonight.

We're off.

Old flames

Just before the first pitch, the Dodgers introduced a 100-year-old woman, who stepped to the microphone and said: "Let's play Dodgers baseball!"

In the press box, veteran writer Jim Street took a closer look and cried out: "I dated her!"

That's a threat

Vargas left a pitch chest-high and Casey Blake banged it off the wall in right field for a double, then James Loney dropped a soft line drive single into center to put runners at first and third base with no one out.

Russell Martin flied out, too shallow for Blake to score - and Vargas had the chance to get out of the inning with a double play.

Instead, Ethier added to his team-leading home run total with a three-run shot to right center field.

Ouch.

In the second: Dodgers 3, Mariners 0

Starting small

Ichiro picked up Seattle's first hit leading off the fourth inning and, right behind him, Russell Branyan dropped a broken-bat single into right field.

One out later, Jose Lopez singled up the middle for his 43rd RBI, and the Mariners were on the board.

Franklin Gutierrez worked Kershaw for a 3-2 walk, loading the bases for Johjima, who grounded into a double play.

In the fourth: Dodgers 3, Mariners 1

Long ball again

Vargas centered another pitch to Blake, and tis time the third baseman hit it even further - making it his 11th home run.

Hard to catch up when the team you're chasing adds a run right after you do.

After four: Dodgers 4, Mariners 1

Coming unglued

Matt Kemp lined a hit into left field that the Mariners misplayed twice. Wladimir Balentien dove and missed the ball, and when Gutierrez threw to shortstop Ronny Cedeno, Cedeno was slow to turn toward the infield - so Kemp ran his way into a triple.

Pitcher Kershaw singled him home.

The Dodgers are a first-place team playing well. Tonight, the Mariners are playing like a team not quite ready for prime time.

After five: Dodgers 5, Mariners 1

A small rally - again

Ichiro's infield single and two-out stolen base set up Lopez, who delivered a single for RBI No. 44.

Same combo worked in the fourth inning, now the sixth. The Mariners need a bit more.

In the sixth: Dodgers 5, Mariners 2

That might do it

Three innings left, but this feels about as gone as Ethier's second home run, a two-run bolt against Corcoran that put Los Angeles up by five.

If it's any consolation, Ethier hads five multi-homer games this season.

After six: Dodgers 7, Mariners 2

That does it

Andre Ethier had three home runs, six RBI.

The Mariners had six hits, two RBI.

Does not compute. Is it too late to rent that Corvette?

The final: Dodgers 8, Mariners 2

No wonder Randy Newman loves this place - no matter what happens in the rest of the world, L.A. remains an island unto itself.

Recession?

At the rental car counter, where the News Tribune in its wisdom had reserved a Saturn vehicle, the clerk tried to pitch mne a yellow Corvette convertile.

"We can put you in that for $75 a day more," he said.

"No, you can't," I said.

No doubt it would have improved my image had anyone I know actually seen me driving that bright yellow beast. But in the current economy, who is paying just over $125 a day to do so?

In Los Angeles, apparently, plenty of folk - the rental car company had a row of more than 25 of them at the reaady.
Oh, there was one other thing - the 'vette had no trunk space.

Bummer.

The Mariners finish the homestand 6-1 and and win the series with the Padres. And apparently it was all hugs and kisses afterward. Well, at least we know Carlos Silva is useful for something. The Mariners are now 4-2 against the Pads, 2-1 against the Giants, 3-0 against Arizona, 0-3 against Colorado in interleague play.

A few thoughts ...

1. It was a good homestand and the Mariners played pretty decent baseball.
2. The Mariners will not face a starting pitcher as bad as Wade LeBlanc over the upcoming road trip.

LeBlanc was not good. He is not good and he should be catching a Horizon flight to Portland this evening.

Here's what his manager, Bud Black, had to say about him.

“Starting pitching is such a critical part of a Major League team. So every night, you want to give your team the best chance to get a victory and that starts with the starting pitcher.”

“The responsibility that starting rotation members have is (for me) the biggest on the team. Over the long haul of the season, if you have a solid rotation, you give yourself a chance every night. When you don’t get it, you have games like today.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Which brings me back to earlier point, it's all well and good that the Mariners beat the Padres and had a solid homestand, but they did so against two teams with losing records. Now they will face three of the best teams in baseball. And that's what much of the postgame conversation dwelled on.

“Everybody talks about where we are going,” Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. “But the thing I like about this club is we take every game and we try to play the best we can. We’ll see how we stack up on this road trip.”

Nine games, 10 days, three against the Dodgers, three against the Yankees, three against the Red Sox.

“Nine big games,” said DH Mike Sweeney, who was 4-for-4 on Thursday. “We’re going to be playing three of the best teams in baseball, hopefully we play good ball. And it puts us in position around the all-star break to be buyers not sellers.”

Ah yes, they have the nine games and then come back for four with the Rangers right before the all-star break. The Mariners could be in the middle of the AL West or in the middle of selling off the loose pieces.

What's the ideal outcome for the road trip. At a minimum 4-5. That would be acceptable, but below that, could be trouble since the Angels face Arizona on the road, Texas on the road and Baltimore at home over that span and the Rangers have the Padres at home, the Angels at home and Tampa Bay at home in the same time frame.

It's not only the games, but the teams. New York and Boston and their patient approaches are brutal on pitching staffs. And the Mariners' staff isn't exactly at full strength.

“It will be a test,” Washburn said. “If we pitch well, we’ll have a chance every game.”

Perhaps, but they need to hit and they will have to so against pitchers better than LeBlanc, Josh Geer, Greg Burke and such.

“I don’t care who we are playing,” Sweeney said. “If we go out and play like we did today, I’ll take our chances against anyone."

It's the final meeting between the two bitter rivals. The tension is palpable. It's like Average Joes vs. Globo-Gym ... yes, I watched Dodgeball yesterday --- Oh, I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you thought that I think that I thought that I was once.

Anyway lets get down to business. Today's starter Wade LeBlanc is, well, according to my Padres compadres -- "not good, not good at all."

LeBlanc pitched in five games last season (21 1/3 innings) and gave up 29 hits, 19 runs and seven homers.

This year he's thrown 3 innings and given up three earned runs on three hits. Sounds good for the offensively challenged Mariners.

First inning
Washburn with a 1-2-3 inning including a strikeout of Scott Hairston, who slams his helmet to the ground. I don't know that Hairston is good enough to be tossing his helmet.

And following what I said earlier, Ichiro hits a solo homer to right off of LeBlanc on a 1-1 pitch. It was an 85 mph fastball on the inner half of the plate. That's going to get hit out often. The M's continue to rough him up as Beltre singles up the middle and Mike Sweeney rips a double off the wall in right-center. LeBlanc did get Lopez to pop up to get two outs, but fell behind Gutierrez and then Bud Black called for an intentional walk and that move does not work well as Rob Johnson - my fellow Montanan - unloads the bases with a double to the gap. The pitch? Well, mlb.com has it as an 83 mph change-up. But if his fastball is 86-87 is 83 really a change-up?

LeBlanc then walked Ronny Cedeno, he of the .128 batting average. Cedeno has like four walks in this series. If I were the pitching coach, I'd fine a pitcher $1000 for walking Cedeno.

Wade LeBlanc gets out of the inning, but he'll be headed back to Triple A Portland very soon. He can have a beer at the Kingston or Marathon Taverna and then hit Henry's up after 10 p.m. for happy hour.

Second inning
Washburn gets in mild trouble after a bloop single to Adrian Gonzalez and a two-out walk to Kyle Blanks - who is the size of a sasquatch. But he gets out with a strikeout of Edgar Gonzalez.

LeBlanc is Le Gone after giving up a single to Ichiro and walking Russell Branyan. Don't worry Wade, Portland is beautiful this time of year. I was just down there last weekend.

Third inning
Well that wasn't dull. Washburn gets in a bit of a jam with runners on second and third with one out. But he gets a called third strike on Scott Hairston. It was a questionable call. The ball did seem a little out and up. Hairston took exception and said something to home plate umpire Marvin Hudson, who tossed him quickly. Bud Black came out and got tossed pretty quickly as well. Maybe neither wanted to sit through this game.

Tony Gwynn Lite, er Tony Gwynn Jr. is in the game now for the Pads.

Well, Josh Banks won't get the $1,000 fine since he struck out Cedeno.

Fourth inning
Ichiro is now 3-for-3 today with a single to right. I remember thinking that starting the season on the disabled list might make it a little more difficult for him to get 200 in a season. I was very wrong. He now has 103 hits this season. Mike Sweeney is also 3-for-3 on the day.

Moo: I guess Sweeney is playing to keep him fresh. Griffey's knee is sore and they wanted to get Sweeney some ABs. My guess is that Carp could be sent back to Tacoma in a week or so.

Quickly, a moment of silence for the passing of two formidable figures of my youth. Earlier today Farah Fawcett passed away from a long bout with cancer. Now it is being reported that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson has also died after going into cardiac arrest.

John McGrath mentioned the old baseball joke in the 1980s of "What do (insert player's name) and Michael Jackson have in common? They both wear a glove on their hand for no apparent reason.

Anyway, I know it's not baseball, but the passing of Jackson is big news. I think "Thriller" came out when I was in third grade. Even in Montana, we heard of Michael Jackson.

As for the game, the Mariners have gotten hits off of Banks, but no runs. Thank you Wade LeBlanc.

Fifth inning
Oh that tricky Don Wakamatsu, who calls a one-out suicide squeeze with Gutierrez on third and Cedeno at the plate. I was thinking about the possibility. Apparently the Padres and whoever has taken over the managing duties didn't see it as such.

And then Wlad Balentien absolutely hammers a homer into the left field upper deck, that's big boy power. Hopefully he can do it more than once a month. But that's what tantalizes you with Balentien, when you see him do something like that. Of course, he did strikeout off LeBlanc in the first inning.

Sixth inning
The Padres had hit some hard shots off of Washburn that were caught, unfortunately Chase Headley's shot to center was caught by someone in the CF beer garden. The sober fellow tossed the ball back into play. He's done after six with Chris Jakubauskas in for him. Washburn allowed two runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Seventh inning
Well, Chris Jakubauskas has had better outings. He came in allowed a solo shot to the lesser of the Gonzalez brothers, a ground rule double to Henry Blanco and a walk to Everth Cabrera. Wak had seen enough at that and pulled Jakubuaskas for Mark Lowe, who eventually cleaned up the mess without allowing a run, including getting Kevin Kouzmanoff with the bases loaded.

Eighth inning
Mark Lowe with a solid inning of work.

The Mariners tack on a few more runs with Mike Sweeney collecting his fourth hit of the day. Ichiro and Sweeney each have four hits today.

Ninth inning
the human game delay Miguel Batista is in and as long as he doesn't have any base runners it should go by quickly. And it does for once. Thanks to an unreal play by Ronny CEdeno at short.

UPDATE 12:07 -- the move was officially made as Lopez was activated from the bereavement list and Betancourt was sent to the DL. He's eligible to come off on July 10th.

Ok, no more using the blackberry now. As I posted earlier, Yuniesky Betancourt is headed to the 15-day disabled list.

They haven't made the actual roster move yet, but manager Don Wakamatsu just said that he we'll likely be placed on there and be out the entire 15 days and possibly more.

"All indications are we will disable him before today's game," Wakamatsu said.

Betancourt is scheduled to have an MRI sometime later today. The hamstring strain is down by the base of the knee. Wakamatsu said it's a completely different injury than the one that slowed Betancourt in spring training.

Ronny Cedeno will make the start at shortstop today. I know some of you will be clamoring for Chris Woodward to make the start. But there's a problem, Woodward is battling a pulled groin.

He's available only on an emergency basis. Most, likely the recently acquired Josh Wilson would be used if needed. If Woodward had been healthy Wakamatsu hinted he most likely would have started today and a few more games. The hope is that two days of rest could have Woodward ready for games in Los Angeles and beyond.

* Erik Bedard will not start in New York as hoped. He's throwing a side session today and a side session on Saturday and then possibly a simulated game in New York. Wakamatsu said they are penciling Bedard in for the July 4th start in Boston. Not to jinx the situation, but the last start Bedard made last season before being lost of the season was on Fourth of July.

* Kenji Johjima will be activated tomorrow and start tomorrow night's game in Los Angeles. Joh caught all nine innings last night and went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts. But I talked to him briefly and he said he felt good.

* Jose Lopez is in the line-up today and will bat fifth. Wakamatsu said that when Lopez arrived in Seattle after yesterday's nine hour flight, he looked pretty physically and emotionally worn down.

Lineups
Mariners
Ichiro RF
Branyan 1B
Beltre 3B
Sweeney DH
Lopez 2B
Gutierrez CF
Johnson C
Cedeno SS
Balentien LF
-----------
Washburn LHP

Padres
Cabrera SS
Eckstein 2B
Hairston CF
A. Gonzalez DH
Kouzmanoff 3B
Headley LF
Blanks 1B
E. Gonzalez RF
Blanco C
----------
LeBlanc LHP

The Mariners will have two representatives on the World team in the Futures game over All-Star weekend in OF Tyson Gillies and 3B Alex Liddi.

Gillies, a native of Canada, is batting .325 (79x243) with 54 runs, 8 doubles, 9 triples, 4 home runs, 21 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 62 games. He has reached base safely (H-BB-HBP) in 59 of 62 games. Among California League leaders, Gillies ranks 6th in batting average, 3rd in on-base percentage (.444) and T2nd in runs scored.

Liddi (pictured), a native of Italy, is batting .341 (92x270) with 54 runs, 21 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs and 60 RBI in 67 games. Among California League leaders, Liddi ranks 3rd in batting, 3rd in home runs, T1st in RBI, 1st in hits, T3rd in doubles, 4th in slugging percentage (.619), 2nd in extra base hits (40), T2nd in runs scored.

=> Read more!

On a longer pitch count - 95 pitches - tonight, the Mariners aren't certain how far that will take him or them.

His first start lasted three innings and 64 pitches, his second last four innings and 74 pitches.

The Mariners need innings, they need to see Morrow pitch like he and they believe he can, and he hasn't yet as a starter in 2009.

Offensively, No. 3 hitter Adrian Beltre can't lift his arm over his head without a stabbing pain, and the only really hot Mariner hitter is Ichiro, who's 9-for-18 on the home stand.

Runs could be sparse, unless Ken Griffey Jr. adds to the two home runs he's hit in his last three games.

We're off.

That works

Morrow used eight pitches to retire the Padres in the first, so he's on pace to work 12 innings.

Ichiro opened the Seattle first with his 32nd infield single of the year, went to second on Russell Branyan's ground ball and watched as Beltre worked for a walk.

That brought up Junior, who's been playing in front of his wife and three kids this home stand. On a full count, Griffey laid off a bad pitch and walked to load the bases on Geer's 22nd pitch.

Franklin Gutierre hit a ball toward shortstop that hit Beltre - who was immediately called out. Ichiro was forcd to return to third base. Gutierrez was safe a first with a hit.

Balentien grounded out.

No score.

Now there's a score

Adrian Gonzalez singled and Kevin Kouzmanoff - who sounds like a cosmonaut - hit one over the left field fence.

The home run came on a perfectly centered fastball, thigh high and directly over the plate.

In the second: Padres 2, Mariners 0

Threats, threats, threats

The Mariners are frightening the Padres, but not scoring against them.

After leaving the bass loaded in the first inning, the Mariners got singls from Yuniesky Betancourt, Ronny Cedeno and Ichiro, only to have Yuni thrown out at the plare on a close play.

Another wasted rally? Not quite.

Russell Branyan hammered his 18th home run of the season over the fence in center field - a two-out, three-run shot that gave Seattle a lead.

After two: Mariners 3, Padres 2

That's five innings!

Morrow has avoided a San Diego big inning, but he's had two innings tonight that have clearly worn him down.

In a 25-pitch fifth inning, Morrow gave up a two-out RBI single to tie the game, but got out of the inning when Eliezer Alfonzo was caught in a run down.

Morrow had three marvelous innings - the first, third and fourth - when he needed only 27 pitches to get nine outs.

In the second inning, however he labored through 31 pitches.

Starting pitchers don't go deep into games with innings like that one - it simply takes too much out of them no matter what the eventual count winds up being.

It's one of the lessons Morrow is having to relearn in this transition. Work too hard early and you're not around to work late. After 87 pitches, he was done.

In the fifth: Mariners 3, Padres 3

That's relief pitching

Chris Jakubauskas pitched two perfect innings after Morrow left, then gave way to Sean White in the eighth inning.

Just another of those close games Seatle has played all season, this has the feel of a last at-bat victory - one way or the other.

To the bottom of the eighth: Mariners 3, Padres 3

Late inning long ball
Gutierrez led off the inning with his seventh home run of the year - a shot into the Seattle bullpen.

Of their last 25 runs scored, 17 have come in the seventh inning or later.

It may be a win with a price: Betancourt had to be helped off the field after grounding into a fielders choice, having appeared to pull something running down the first base line.

It ws he kind of reaction you get from hamstring injuries. We'll see.

After eight: Mariners 4, Padres 3

That's a final.

David Aardsma got the save, White the win.

Final score: Mariners 4, Padres 3

They're at least one bat short heading into the buzz saw of Los Angeles, New York and Boston, but they were a bat short in spring training - and the Seattle Mariners are a .500 team now.

Yes, it's pitching. But it's more than that.

Don Wakamatsu and his staff haven't complained about what they don't have, they've tried to improve what is here.

If you can't manufacture home runs, work on the skill of bunting, the kind of thing overlooked here for years.

Today, for instance, Ichiro was out early with a few pitchers, with Ronny Cedeno and Franklin Gutierrez, working on different kinds of bunts. About 10 minutes into the drill, Yuniesky Betrancourt raced out from th dugout - late, yes, but there.

It's a reminder that beyond what they can do this season, the Mariners are not just looking ahead, they're teaching skills that may one day help a better Mariners team win big games in small ways.

It's also helped them stay within sight of the American League West leaders.

BOX SCORE

Well, not much for the way of post game quotes, since our new deadlines only allowed me to get to the Wakamatsu interview and nothing else.

He was relatively positive after the game. Obviously, getting down 9-2 wasn't ideal, but showing a little fight made him happy.

“Just to battle back,” Wakamatsu said. “This team does not give up. To be able to at least have a chance to come back and tie it was awfully exciting.”

As for Gaudin, who tied a career high with the 11 strikeouts, Wakamatsu credited his breaking ball.

“For me, it was his breaking ball,” Wakamatsu said. “He had an extremely good breaking ball and kept hitters off balance.”

The Mariners had a chance to get to Gaudin in the second when they loaded the bases with no outs and got just one run - a bases loaded walk from Cedeno. Johnson struck out, Betancourt struck out and Ichiro almost doubled down the line but it was called foul and then he grounded out.

“Chad set the tone, especially getting out of the 2nd inning with only one run," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The big out for me was Suzuki. I've seen him so much and I think any time you can get Suzuki out it's a big out...you saw it late in the game, he got a base hit, Branyan homered; he got a base hit, here comes the tying run. I've seen Suzuki and he's so good, so that was a big out for me"

"Chad really settled in with his fastball, had good command and a good slider...7 solid innings."

The best example of Gaudin's slider was the swings where Betancourt and Cedeno were reaching at a pitch outside with their butt going the opposite way.

Branyan had the golden sombrero of four K's, while Cedeno, Betancourt, Johnson and Balentien all struck out twice. Of course, Cedeno could have had four strikeouts if they wouldn't have somehow walked him twice. He looks absolutely lost at the plate.

Wakamatsu wasn't completely disappointed with Olson or Corcoran. He didn't like the pitch to Gonzalez or the fact that Olson allowed Everth Cabrera to steal back to back bases on him.

“It’s the little things we talk about being successful,” Wakamatsu said. “I thought he had great stuff today, but the little things like the high pitch to Gonzalez and controlling the running game hurt him.”

As for Corcoran, Wakamatsu said some of the pitches on the two walks were borderline.

Here's the pitch f/x for both at-bats:
Kyle Blanks walk

Henry Blanco walk

PADRES NOTES:
• The Padres scored a season high tying 9 runs (last: 5/25 at Arizona in a 9-7, 10-inning win)…also recorded 13 hits, their most since hitting 13 on May 25 at Arizona, 7th time this season with 13 or more hits in a game.
• San Diego has now won 2 straight and 3 of the last 5 Interleague games after losing 13 in a row.
• Starting pitcher Chad Gaudin struck out 11 batters, tying his career high (Last: 9/30/07 v. LAA w/ OAK) and also tied a season-high with 7.0 frames (last: 5/8 v. HOU).
• Adrian Gonzalez’s 2-run home run in the 4th inning tied him with Albert Pujols (STL) for most home runs in the Majors with 24…Gonzalez leads the Majors with 16 road home runs and has hit safely in 25 of 33 road games (.294/35x119)
• Everth Cabrera went 2x3 with a walk and 2 runs scored, recording the first 2 stolen bases of his MLB career.
• Kevin Kouzmanoff went 2x5 and has now hit safely in 12 of his past 14 games (.321/18x56). Kouzmanoff is a career .313 Interleague hitter (41x131) in 36 games.
• David Eckstein extended his hitting streak to 6 games, going 3x5 with 2 RBI for the night…has hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games (.348/24x69).
• Chase Headley went 2x4 with a run scored. 11 of Headley’s 13 multi-hit games this season have come on the road.
• The Padres improved their record against the Mariners this season to 2-2, scoring more runs than their previous 3 match ups against Seattle combined.
• In his first game back from the DL, Scott Hairston went 2x5 for the night with an RBI.

MARINERS NOTES:
• Despite the loss, the Mariners remain 2 ½ games behind the AL West lead (Rangers, Angels tied for 1st).
• Ken Griffey Jr. hit the 5000th home run in team history- a solo shot in 6th inning…Griffey’s 406th with Mariners.
• Ken Griffey Jr. went 2x4 with a home run and has hit safely in 9 consecutive games against Padres...during the streak he is batting .375 (15x40) with 11 runs, 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 8 RBI...between 2000 and 2002, he had a 12-game hit streak against San Diego…also set season high with 3 runs…has hits in 11 of last 14 home games (.381/16x42).
• Ichiro Suzuki went 2x5 with a run scored and extended his home hitting streak against the Padres to 10 games dating back to May 19, 2006...during the streak, he is batting .425 (17x40) with 10 runs, and 11 stolen bases. Ichiro’s .359 batting average leads the American League.
• Miguel Batista tossed 2.0 shutout innings, his 10th appearance this season of at least 2.0 frames...when recording at least 6 outs in a game, he is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA (3 ER, 22.0 IP) this season.
• Franklin Gutierrez went 2x4, extending his hitting streak to 5 games…during the streak he is batting .333 (7x21). Gutierrez’s longest hitting streak this season is 8 games, and his career high is 10.
• Wladimir Balentien went 2x4 and has now hit safely in 18 of his 30 starts this season (.252/25x103).
• Kenji Johjima, on rehab assignment in AAA Tacoma caught 7.0 innings and went 2x4 at the plate.

Ah, the "natural rivals" that are the Mariners and Padres. When I think of bitter enemies, Cats and Dogs, democrats and republicans, Huskies and Cougs, Bobcats and Grizzlies (you might not get that one) or cobras and mongooses (or is it mongeese?).

First inning
I'm getting weird deja vu with this whole Chad Gaudin-Garrett Olson pitching match-up since I just saw it about five days ago. Of course, the weather was a little different.

Olson makes quick work of the Pads in the first inning, and Gaudin does the same.

Second inning
Olson looking sharp again. Funny story about Olson. He's kind of photography nut, kind of like the other writer on this blog, anyway the day after he was out in the outfield of Petco Park taking photos of the spot where Chase Headley crushed a deep homer off of him.

Gaudin has a little trouble loading the bases on a single from Griffey, a walk to Gutierrez, a bloop single to Balentien. He then strikes out Rob Johnson and Yuni Betancourt (who looked awful in the AB), but then inexplicably walks Ronny Cedeno and his .123 batting average to force in a run.

Third inning
Not much going on.

Fourth inning
Remember the last time the Mariners played the Padres and manager Don Wakamatsu talked about not letting Adrian Gonzalez beat them after he went 4-for-4 with a homer. Well, Gonzalez is now 1-for-2 with a two-run homer to left off of Olson. That pitch was up and right down the middle. Most big league hitters will hit that pitch well every time. Gonzalez will hit that pitch out.

UPDATE from TACOMA: Ryan Rowland-Smith has been ejected from his start in the fourth inning. Apparently, Rowland-Smith was unhappy when Las Vegas hitter Angel Sanchez asked for and was granted timeout just as Rowland-Smith was ready to throw. Rowland-Smith was not happy and hit Sanchez with the next pitch. The pitch hit Sanchez in the helmet and he was taken out of the game. Rowland-Smith was ejected. His line: 3 2/3, 5 hits, two runs, two walks, three strikeouts and possibly a suspension.

Fifth inning
Henry Blanco with a double and he later scores on a single from Everth Cabrera. Cabrera then steals second and third on consecutive pitches - which you know irks Wakamatsu - and he scores on David Eckstein's single to right.

The Mariners have two not so great ABs from Yuni and Cedeno and a fly-out from Ichiro.

They now have just three hits off Chad Gaudin.... I repeat three hits off of Chad Gaudin.

Sixth inning
Some of you may have been scared off by that five run inning where everything that could go wrong did. Garret Olson finally got chased after giving out a one-out single and then a double. He went 5 1/3 innings allowing six runs and eight hits while striking out two. Roy Corcoran came in and got squeezed a little by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez, walking back to back hitters, including one for a run. Then there was infield single that scored a run, a soft sac fly to center and Eckstein's single that barely made it off the infield dirt and another single from Scott Hairston that barely got out of the infield. It's now 9-1.

In the bottom inning, Junior hit his 406th homer as a Mariner and the 5,000 homer in franchise history. That's four hits off Gaudin.

Seventh inning
Russell Branyan has three strikeouts, CEdeno two, Johnson two, Betancourt two, Balentien two. Apparently, Chad Gaudin is channeling his inner Jake Peavy. I miss the Anchorman references.

It's times like this in games like these that I often peruse the Internet for wisdom. Today, I'm calling on early 80s philosopher Clifford C. Clavin. who once said ...

- It's a little known fact that the tan became popular in what is known as the Bronze Age.

Eighth inning
Ahh the magic of Cliffy. The Mariners get four runs off reliever Greg Burke as Branyan hits a two-run bomb and then Wlad Balentien delivers an RBI single and Mike Carp gets a pinch-hit sac fly. Mariners trail 9-6.

And as not to mess with karma or luck, I offer this Cliff nugget to keep the rally going.

Everyone in the Swiss Army owns a Swiss Army Knife. That's why no one messes with Switzerland.

Ninth inning
THe Mariners get a run, but the magic runs out. I'd feel a little better about the loss after the late rally. Only marginally though.

It was a crowded media session with manager Don Wakamatsu today. I guess that happens when you are above .500.

So let's get to the "nuggets" of news as he likes to refer to them as.

* Erik Bedard played catch for seven minutes today, he'll play catch again tomorrow and then throw a bullpen on Thursday.

"If everything works out, we'll probably see him pitch in New York," Wakamatsu said.

* Shawn Kelley pictured above threw a simulated game with Josh Wilson and Mike Carp hitting off of him. Kelley threw 33 pitches and looked good.

"It felt great. It was amazing," he said. "Just to be out on the game mound throwing to hitters and to be able to get some feedback from the hitters as far as them swinging at pitches and stuff. It felt great."

Kelley said he felt "100 percent normal and even got the adrenaline rush of facing hitters, even it was a simulated situation.

"Today was a big step," he said. "With the hitters in there, you step it a another level. You throw a little harder, you test it out a little more. Today was a huge day for me and it couldn’t have went better."

Kelley will throw a bullpen session on Thursday and then fly to Peoria. He'll throw on Saturday and throw on Monday and then join Triple A Tacoma on Tuesday in Reno and pitch two or three times. He could then be activated on the eight-game homestand starting on July 6th

* Jose Lopez flies back in on Wednesday afternoon/evening but probably won't be activated until Thursday.

* Kenji Johjima will be in the line-up for the Rainiers catching Ryan Rowland-Smith. He'll catch seven innings and get three or four at-bats. He'll DH on Wednesday and catch close to nine innings on Thursday. He'll then join the Mariners in LA for the series against the Dodgers and most likely get activated on Saturday.

Also ...

Based on the Buster Olney blog today, which talked about heavy bullpen usage - the Mariners being one of those teams.

"The use early in the season, shows up late," Wakamatsu said. "There's been times we've been fairly careful with guys like Aardsma. If it's 3 or 4 out of 5 days, we make sure he doesn't throw. I know there that philosophy-wise there are other managers that will go longer than that. But Rick (Adair) and I talk about it every day."

Wakamatsu pointed to Kelley's return to helping out.

"But you see some fatigue in these guys a little bit and when you get to that point, you'd like to be able to back them off a little bit," Wakamatsu said.

Yes, that's the difference between the Mariners record after 69 games this season and last - although the changes go much further than the numbers.

A year ago, Seattle was waiting for Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro to heat up, for Carlos Silva to win another game, for J.J. Putz to get healthy and for someone - anyone! - to show a little joy in the clubhouse.

Now, the Mariners are waiting for Ken Griffey Jr. and Adrian Beltre to heat up, for Jarrod Washburn to win another game, for Erik Bedard to get healthy. And the clubhouse? Not an issue. Not with Junior and Sweeney in house and new manager Don Wakamatsu and his staff on board.

What we're seeing in 2009 is better baseball, even with the obvious holes still waiting to be filled.

A team that has played 31 one-run games in its first 69, the Mariners are very much a work still in progress.

No one knows it better than GM Jack Zduriencik, whose 'state of the Mariners' interview will run in Tuesday's paper.

One of the qualities you have to appreciate in Zduriencik is he's a fan as well as a baseball lifer.

A teaser from tomorrow's story:

“We aren’t aggressively pursuing anything, but I listen,” he said. “Other teams call or I call them – it’s what GMs do. I want to stay in this race as long as possible, and I want to keep the big picture in mind. You have to think not only about right now but down the line, what’s best for this club?

“Offensively, what you’d love to have is one more big bat in the middle of the order. If we had that, we might make it a lot more interesting in the American League West."

He knows there's a lot to be done with this franchise. And he's seen how far it's already come.

No, this isn't a team - as presently constituted - that is likely to be contending in September.

Credit it, however, with playing a style of baseball that makes watching it all summer something to look forward to.

This may seem kind of redundant since he's already been with the Rainiers the last few weeks, but with his rehab time slowly dwindling down LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith has been recalled from his rehab assignment, activated from the 15-day DL and optioned to the Rainiers.

He will start tonight at Cheney Stadium against Las Vegas.

It will be interesting to see how Rowland-Smith looks tonight. I talked to a few people with the Rainiers that thought he was looking much stronger in his last two rehab starts.

"We don’t know which direction we’re headed as far as the pitching with Morrow. That’s a day-to-day thing," Wakamatsu said. "We still see Rowland-Smith as a big part of our future and he's more than likely going to be up here later in the year. But it’s just matter of continuing to let him develop, getting confidence in his pitches and building his pitch-count up.”

When asked if Rowland-Smith was disappointed, Wakamatsu said he was a little.

“I’m sure he is. I talked to him at the golf tournament a little bit and Rick (Adair)talked to him at length about the situation and asked him to just be patient," Wakamatsu said. "With Morrow pitching up here, we are going down that road and he just needs to be patient.”

Wakamatsu said that with only 11 pitchers on the staff, the Mariners could have called up Rowland-Smith to help the bullpen today, but they chose not to.

"One of the biggest things was not set him back - to have him come up here and sit and in a couple of weeks if we need a starter at that time," Wakamatsu said. "We'd rather have him stay down there and continue to pitch and see how that goes."

Wakamatsu was asked about RRS' velocity which had been in 84-85 in his first couple of starts.

"He’s back up 89-91 in his velocity, which is a couple of miles an hour faster than his first couple of outings so he’s headed in the right direction," Wakamatsu said. "He just needs to pitch. He hasn’t pitched a whole lot this year.”

Rowland-Smith was originally placed on the 15-day disabled list April 15, retroactive to April 11, with triceps tendonitis.

Rowland-Smith was placed on a rehabilitation assignment prior to his start in Tacoma on May 23. He has made five rehab starts with the Rainiers, posting a 1-3, 6.92 mark. While he has allowed 20 earned runs in the five starts, 12 runs came in one game (June 5 vs. Reno). He was recalled from the rehabilitation assignment on Sunday, June 21. Today he was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Tacoma. He is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Rainiers in tonight's game in Tacoma.

Rowland-Smith made one start with Seattle this season on April 10 at Oakland. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs while walking four.

Russell Branyan is out for a game with a bruised, stiff forearm, the result of being hit by a Clay Zavada fastball - so rookie Mike Carp is making his second start at first base.

It's another new lineup, Don Wakamatsu's 61st of the season, and it's without Jose Lopez (bereavement leave), Ken Griffey Jr (tender knee), Adrian Beltre (stiff shoulder) and Branyan.

So where will the offense come from?

The Mariners need it from Ichiro, Carp, Mike Sweeney and - yes - left fielder Wladimir Balentin.

With Felix Hernandez starting, it might not take much offense to win, but he's going to need at least one run and more likely three or four.

It's Felix vs. Doug Davis, with Seattle trying to get over .500 for the first time since May 7.

And we're off.

It's never easy

Felix worked out of trouble in the first, leaving a runner at third base, and jumped right back into the fire in the second innings.

Consecutive singles from Gerardo Parra, Miguel Montero and Tony Clark loaded the bases with no one out.

Impossible situation? Not quite.

Hernandez got a ground ball to third base, where Chris Woodward stepped on the base for a force out, then threw home for a tag play.

Felix struck out Augie Ojeda, and the inning was over.

Yes, Arizona is stunned.

It's Never Easy II

Felix has shut Arizona out into the fourth, but the Mariners have only one hit against Davis - Ichiro's two-out triple in the third.
Then in the fourth, Davis walked two Mariners and, with two outs, Yuniesky Betancourt singled home a run.

That's right, a run!

After four: Mariners 1, Diamondbacks 0

Maximum effort

With his 101st pitch of the day, Felix struck out his eighth batter, leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez, to end the Arizona seventh.

How much deeper he goes in the game will be a topic of discussion between Hernandez, pitching coach Rick Adair and Don Wakamatsu.

Holding a 1-0 lead, the Mariners are without closer David Aardsma today. After working in four of the last five games, he simply cannot go another.
Felix could use another run or two, but it's unlikely he's going to get a complete game today. Not impossible, but unlikely.

He threw 117 pitches in his last start.

That hurt

Hernandez got one out in the eighth inning, walked Justin Upton and, with his 112th pitch, gave up a two-run home run to Mark Reynolds.

It wasn't cheap - it sailed over the center field wall - but it finished Felix's day, and may have beaten his team.

Garrett Olson, who is scheduled to start on Tuesday, is now pitching in relief.

In the eighth: Diamondbacks 2, Mariners 1

Arizona helps out

With the Seattle offense struggling mightily, the Diamondbacks did the heavy lifting for them in the eighth inning.

Carp got to second base when Lopez threw away his leadoff ground ball, and Sweeney promptly singled Carp to third bvase.

With a crowd of 37,251 suddenly awakened, Franklin Gutierrez hit a fielders choice ground ball that got Carp home to tie the game.
Betancourt singled Gutierrez to third and Junior pinch-hit for Jamie Burke. Griffey flied to the track in left.

After eight: Mariners 2, Diamondbacks 2

And then, the ninth

Reliever Clay Zavada did the impossible and walked Ronny Cedeno - hitting .114 and in an 0-for-16 funk - to open the ninth inning.

That brought up Ichiro, who laid a 12-pitch at-bat on Zavada before beating out a slow roller to shortstop, pushing Cedeno to second base.

Woodward tried to bunt the runners over and failed, fouling off a third strike. Carp grounded out, putting runners at second and third with two outs. Sweeney was walked intentionally.

Chad Qualls came in to pitch, Gutierrez grounded to third - but first baseman Tony Clark dropped the throw and a run scored.

Final score: Mariners 3, Diamondbacks 2

Endy Chavez is gone for the year, Ken Griffey Jr. has a tender knee and Jose Lopez remains in Venezuela on bereavement leave.

That means Wladimir Balentien, Mike Sweeney and Chris Woodward are in the lineup and Jason Vargas is the starting pitcher.

Go ahead - pretend you saw the makeup of this team in spring training.

Fresh off their 18th come-from-behind victory, the Mariners will likely again be scratching for runs - although Arizona starter Billy Buckner's ERA (7.36) certainly looks inviting.

A win tonight and Seattle will be a .500 team.

And we're off.

Creating a run

Excuse Mr. Vargas for being a bit dazed by the first inning.

After giving up two singles, he got the second out of the inning on a foul popup behind the plate. When catcher Rob Johnson made the play, however, Jason Upton took off from first base - and Johnson threw wildly to second base.

The throw allowed Felipe Lopez to score from third base.

Vargas quickly got the third out, but trails by a run scored on a foul out to catcher. Go figure.

In the first: Diamondbacks 1, Mariners 0

Another Mariners comeback

Ah, those scrappy little Mariners!

Yuniesky Betancourt - gasp- drew a walk, and Ichiro singled him to third base. When center fielder Gerardo Parra let the all get by him, Yuni kept running and scored, with Ichiro winding up at second base.

Ichiro got to third on a ground ball, but was left there when Adrian Beltre struck out and Mike Sweeney lined out.

After three: Mariners 1, Diamondbacks 1

Wladdy likes left field

Before the game, GM Jack Zduriencik gave Balentien a little pep talk, telling him he should seize the opportunity of starting again.

So far, so good. Balentien, who singled in the second inning, homered in the fourth - his second of the season.

Vargas has the lead and has thrown only 57 pitches thus far.

After four: Mariners 2, Diamondbacks 1

Two won't win this one

With no margin for error, Vargas made one to open the seventh inning.

On a first pitch fastball, outfielder Justin Upton hit his 13th home run of the season to tie the game.

Like Jarrod Washburn a night earlier, Vargas has pitched a marvelous game and may wind up having no decision as a reward. He's allowed one earned run, and it's tied.

In the seventh inning: Mariners 2, Diamondbacks 2

Little ball

Betancourt opened the seventh with an infield single into the hole at shortstop, and took third base when Ichiro banged the ball off Buckner's glove and into short right field.

Clay Zavata came in for Buckner, but on a 3-2 pitch hit Russell Branyan, loading the bases with no out.

Batting for Beltre - he left the game after limping into the dugout - Ronny Cedeno bunted, but Arizona got the force at home.

Sweeney hit a fly ball to the warning track in left, and Ichiro came home with the go-ahead run. Gutierrez singled up the middle, scoring Branyan.

Two run lead with two innings to go? Figue Sean White for one, David Aardsma for one.

After seven: Mariners 4, Diamondbacks 2

That helps!

Seattle seems to have blown this game open, with Betancourt's two-run double and a double play that allowed a third run to score.

Looks like White will get the chance to finish this one, and Aardsma will be saved for another day.

After eight: Mariners 7, Diamondacks 2

It's never simple

Well, they won it but not quite as easily as they might have.

With White pitching, Arizona scored on a walk, error by Ronny Cedeno on a double play grounder and an RBI single.

Enter Aardsma, who struck out two, got a pop fly and now has not allowed a run in 23 of his last 24 games.

That works.

Beltre, by the way, left the game with a stiff left shoulder. He's day-to-day.
Aren't we all?

Final score: Mariners 7, Diamondbacks 3

Opportunity came knocking for Wladimir Balentien on Saturday, when the Mariners placed outfielder Endy Chavez on the DL and said Balentien was their left fielder.

For now.

With Chavez out for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Balentien's 'shot' at full time play could be as short as four or five games.

After batting .202 in 243 at-bats last season - and not adjusting to the fact that he was striking out 79 times, most often on breaking pitches, the Mariners won't give Balentien the rest of the season.

If he wants to play beyond the next week, he'll have to earn the time. Batting .223 with one home run and six RBI in 112 at-bats?

That won't cut it.

Balentien needs to produce, and quickly, or his tenure as the regular left field will be a brief one.

Options? There are players in Tacoma - and Seattle - quite willing to take on left field. They include Mike Carp, Ronny Cedeno and a handful of young Class AAA outfielders.

No matter what you hear anywhere else, Balentien has not shown the Mariners coaching staff he can be the answer in left field - at the plate or in the grass.

If he doesn't seize this opportunity now, he may not get another.

Josh Wilson, the middle infielder claimed on waivers the other day, is not on th field for extra batting practice - but Ronny Cedeno, Mike Carp, Chris Woodward and Wladimir Balentien are.

What's it mean? It's possible that, for now, the Mariners will simply sub Wilson into the 25-man roster spot of Endy Chavez, who's right knee is a mess and who is certainly headed for the disabled list.

In left field, the Mariners can play Balentien, Ken Griffey Jr., Cedeno and possibly Carp.

No lineup posted yet - unusual for Don Wakamatsu - so the team may still be mulling a decision.

One thing is certain: the victory on Friday has this team in a buoyant mood, even for early BP.

A team hanging around the .500 mark and playing baseball worth watching, any dramatic come-from-behind wins are golden. This isn't an offense that comes back from three-run deficits often, and few teams do it in the eighth inning or later.

Had the Mariners lost that game and Chavez on the same night, it's hard to imagine them laughing and yelling at one another from the outfield this afternoon.

Credit Jay Yencich and the USS Mariner for having this first, but former first-round pick Phillippe Aumont has been promoted Double A West Tenn, according to this press release. It was later confirmed the Mariners in today's minor league report.

Aumont had 12 saves for Class A high desert, and 35 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings pitched.

Here's a few other notes.

* The Mariners Northwest League affiliate, the Everett AquaSox open the 2009 season tonight at Vancouver (RHP Taylor Lewis is scheduled to start on the mound).
* High Desert OF James McOwen extended his hitting streak to 30 consecutive games last night, longest in the minors this season, and 5 away from tying the California League record.

Tacoma Box Score
West Tenn Box score
High Desert Box Score
Clinton Box score

Mariners Organizational Leaders
BATTING TOP 10 (minimum 2.7 PA/team game)
BATTER CLUB AVG G AB R H HR RBI
Liddi, Alex HD .337 65 261 51 88 16 58
Dunigan, Joseph HD .336 55 217 41 73 16 56
Diaz, Juan HD .330 58 227 38 75 2 22
Gillies, Tyson HD .329 60 237 53 78 4 21
Shelton, Chris TAC .328 58 235 41 77 8 51
McOwen, James HD .322 55 214 32 69 2 35
Morse, Mike TAC .319 59 232 34 74 8 47
Nunez, Luis CLI .313 56 198 27 62 0 17
Scott, Travis HD .313 50 176 32 55 11 33
Redman, Prentice TAC .305 55 220 45 67 11 29

HOME RUNS
Dunigan, Joseph HD 16
Liddi, Alex HD 16
Halman, Greg WTN 13
Peguero, Carlos HD 13
LaHair, Bryan TAC 12

RBI
Liddi, Alex HD 58
Dunigan, Joseph HD 56
Shelton, Chris TAC 51
Morse, Mike TAC 47
4 others tied at 39.

STOLEN BASES
Mendez, Maximo CLI 19
Stocker, Mel WTN 19
Gillies, Tyson HD 16
Serrano, Terry CLI 15
2 others tied at 12.

PITCHING TOP 10 (minimum 0.8 IP/team game)
PITCHER CLUB W-L ERA IP H BB SO
Pribanic, Aaron CLI 6-3 2.36 61.0 42 18 41
Lorin, Brett CLI 4-4 2.45 80.2 52 20 82
Kasparek, Kenn CLI 4-4 2.71 66.1 60 14 71
LaFromboise, Bobby CLI 4-2 3.02 59.2 55 11 54
Souza, Justin WTN 4-6 3.40 55.2 51 13 48
Fister, Doug TAC 4-0 4.01 58.1 69 4 49
Adcock, Nathan HD 4-3 4.10 74.2 76 29 48
Hensley, Steven HD 6-2 4.11 70.0 77 22 49
Hume, Donald HD 7-3 4.42 73.1 81 31 54
2 others tied at 4.54.

WINS
Hume, Donald HD 7
Hensley, Steven HD 6
Pribanic, Aaron CLI 6
4 others tied at 5.

SAVES
Messenger, Randy TAC 13
Aumont, Phillippe WTN 12
Flores, Ruben CLI 12
Varvaro, Anthony WTN 6
Thomas, Justin TAC 4

STRIKEOUTS
Lorin, Brett CLI 82
Kasparek, Kenn CLI 71
4 others tied at 54.

Ken Griffey Jr. is sitting, Mike Sweeney is the DH, Rob Johnson and Russell Branyan are back and in the lineup.

It's Jarrod Washburn vs. Jon Garland, and the chance for the Mariners (32-34) to play a team that scores almost as few runs as they do, the Diamondbacks (29-38).

Washburn's durability may be an issue, since he was waylaid by back problems and unable to throw much of the last week.

The goal has to be scoring enough runs to give David Aardsma the chance to save another game. Aardsma leads all American League relievers with a 1.72 earned run average - and hasn't allowed a run in 20 of his last 21 appearances.
Can the Mariners a) get a lead and b) take it to the ninth?

Let's see.

The ump is blind!

Washburn walked one man, gave up a single to Felix Lopez and then came off the mound to field Stephen Drew's bunt.

Washburn threw to first, but hit Drew in the back - replays clearly showed the runner was on the wrong side of the base line when hit.

Though Washburn and manager Don Wakamatsu argued interference, plate ump Andy Fletcher hadn't seen it the same way. Error, Washburn. Run scored, Arizona.

The Diamondbacks got a second run on a ground ball to shortstop, but Washburn got out of the inning with a bases-loaded double play.

Still, two runs. Could be insurmountable ...

In the third: Diamondbacks 2, Mariners 0

That was a mistake

Two out solo home run from Miguel Montero - the No. 8 hitter in Arizona's lineup - came on a fastball right down the middle.
Of the D'backs three runs, two have been scored by the eighth or ninth hitters in the lineup.

Ouch.

In the fourth: Diamondbacks 3, Mariners 0

This is an offense?

Arizona has three hits and three runs.
Seattle has five hits, three stolen bases - by Ichiro, Adrian Beltre and Endy Chavez - and no runs.

The difference so far is walks and errors, and the D'Backs have benefitted from three of the former and one of the latter.

The Mariners get hits, they simply don't get them in the same inning - or with men in scoring position.

Chavez, incidentally, is being carted off the field after colliding with Betancourt in pursuit of a pop fly. It's his lower right leg, and it doesn't look good - think hyperextension or break.

Wladimir Balentien is now in left field.

If Chavez is seriously hurt, it takes another piece off Jack Zduriencik's trading block.

As we were saying

The Mariners got one-out singles from Franklin Gutierrez and Balentien.

Rally time?

Garland got a comebacker from Chris Woodward and turned it into an inning-ending double play. That's how the Mariners offense has been running lately.

After six: Diamondbacks 3, Mariners 0

The awakening

Reliever Scott Schoenweiss, in relief, was greeted by Russell Branyan's 16th home run of the season - a blast deep into the right field stands.

Naturally, Washburn was out of the game.

Beltre singled, his second hit of the night, but Sweeney struck out swinging at a pitch he couldn't reach.

Belte got to second base on a wild pitch, then third on a Gutierrez fly ball.
Wakamatsu then went to his bench, subbing Griffey for Balentien - and that crowd was on its feet, cheering.

Imagine the noise when Griffey went deep, hitting his seventh of the season and No. 618 in his career.

It was so loud Junior came out for a quick curtain call, tipping his cap.

Woodward followed up with a single and stolen base and Johnson - yes, Johnson - tripled him home for the lead.

Yes, Virginia, Aardsma will work the ninth and he will have a lead.

Amazing.

After eight: Mariners 4, Diamondacks 3

And in the end

Aardsma struck out the side, allowing only a single, to notch his 13th save.

The Mariners are a game away from .500 and seriously pumped.

Chavez appears to have torn ligaments in his right knee, a costly loss for the team and the first time in his career Chavez has had a leg injury.

Final score: Mariners 4, Diamondbacks 3

The Mariners made three roster moves

* Catcher Rob Johnson reinstated from the bereavement list.
* Catcher Guillermo Quiroz designated for assignment.
* Infielder Josh Wilson claimed off waiver from San Diego.

Obviously the first two moves were expected, but the claiming of Wilson seems interesting. Perhaps the Mariners are tiring of Ronny Cedeno and his anemic bat. Also with the call-up of Chris Woodward, there is a need for a shortstop at Triple A Tacoma.

Johnson will be in uniform and available for tonight's 7:10 (PT) game vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks. Wilson is expected to join the team tomorrow.

Johnson, 26, has missed the last five games due to a family emergency in Houston. He has started a team-high 28 games behind the plate and leads the Majors with a 2.71 catcher's ERA. He is batting .202 (20x99) with 8 doubles, 1 triple and 9 RBI.

Quiroz, 27, appeared in four games after being called up on May 26. He is batting .286 (4x14) with 2 RBI. Quiroz began the season at AAA Tacoma, hitting .250 (11x44) with 1 double, 1 home run and 5 RBI in 12 games with the Rainiers. He was transferred to AA West Tennessee on May 13, and hit .267 (8x30) with 1 double and 1 homer. The Mariners now have 10 days to trade, release or outright Quiroz' contract to the minors.

Wilson, 28, has split the 2009 season between the Arizona and San Diego organizations. He began the year at AAA Reno prior to being called up by the Diamondbacks on April 26. With Arizona, he hit .231 (6-for-26) in 11 games with 1 double and 2 RBI. The D-Backs designated him for assignment on May 13, and San Diego claimed him off waivers on May 15. He hit .105 (4-for-38) with 2 doubles with the Padres. In a combined 27 Major League games this season, he is hitting .156 (10-for-64) with 3 doubles, 3 RBI, 6 walks and 12 strikeouts.

Wilson's Major League career includes Florida (2005), Washington (2007), Tampa Bay (2007), Arizona (2009) and San Diego (2009). He is a career .219 hitter (78-for-356) with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs and 27 RBI in 143 Major League games.

... just people who are stupid enough to be afraid to ask.

I'm sitting here getting ready to leave San Diego and thought I'd post quickly before I have to get on the plane back to the Northwest.

A few things ...

* I'll be doing my weekly segment with Ian Furness on KJR sometime after 2 p.m.

* Here's a preview of tonight's game from our site.

* University of Hawaii third baseman Vince Catricala, who was drafted in the 10th round, signed with the Mariners.

But back to the reason for this post ... Sharkhawk mentioned something that they do on the Seahawks blog, well, at least Mike Sando did and Eric Williams is doing. Basically, they have a "Answers to your questions" post. Where they answer questions that have been asked in comments and And I've been meaning to do that, but my ADD only allows me to stay on task for a certain amount of time.

I know I've gotten some questions in the comments sections of some posts and in my email and I'm going to go back and pull some of those, but to make sure, if you have a question, post it in the comments below or email me at ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability. We'll try and make this a weekly deal.

They can be funny, they can be tough, they can have more than one part, they don't even necessarily have to be about baseball or the Mariners in exact terms, but don't just ask why so-and-so sucks, especially if that so-and-so is me. Put a little thought into them and I promise to put some thought into the answer.

And since I've been milking this the last four days, I'm going to bid adios to this fine ciudad, and say ....

You stay classy, San Diego.

BOX SCORE

Well, the Mariners don't get the sweep and perhaps my game story from yesterday's game jinxed them.

Or perhaps it was the pitchers' mistake of not pitching around Adrian Gonzalez, who went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.

“The biggest thing with this game, obviously, was letting Gonzalez beat us twice in one game,” Wakamatsu said. “You go in there with the game plan knowing this guy can do the most damage and he ends up hitting a home run and double off us, when we’re basically trying to pitch around him.”

If you look at the Padres line-up, there is no other hitters you'd consider dangerous, or even moderately decent. I'll give Kevin Kouzmanoff a small benefit of the doubt, cause he has hit in the past, he's relatively young and because I drank cocktails with him.

But Brian Giles? No
Edgar Gonzalez? not quite
Chase Headly? Not yet.

So Gonzalez gets a cookie on a 2-1 pitch from Jakubauskas in the sixth to tie the game.

“It boils down to I left a pitch over the middle,” Jakubauskas said. “He gets paid a lot to hit those pitches and he did. It was the wrong time to challenge him.”

Slightly.

Even then I think we all thought that Franklin Gutierrez was going to find a way to make that catch. You can't help it. We've become spoiled to having him out there and thinking he can track down anything. Even his own manager can't help it.

“Anything in the air, even the ball to the gap, if it has air underneath of it, you feel like he’s going to catch it,” Wakamatsu said.

Gutierrez made a great leaping effort, but the glove hit off the tip of his glove.

“I did everything I could,” he said. “I jumped and it went off my glove. I thought I could catch it and save a run.”

It would have saved the lead he gave the Mariners after hitting a pair of solo home runs in the game. That was three for the season. Petco is tough place to hit the ball out of and two of them were to the deepest parts of Petco.

“I consider myself a line-drive hitter, but sometimes you put a very good swing on the ball and the ball will carry out,” Gutierrez said.

Starter Brandon Morrow wasn't bad, but wasn't great. His first inning was shaky and he couldn't spot his fastball, saying he was "trying to place the ball in the strikezone" instead of just letting his arm go. Morrow is pretty introspective and admitted that part of the reason that it happened has been his past command issues this season.

“The walks were down, but the major issue is pitch economy, 20 pitches in an inning doesn’t cut it,” Morrow said. “The end results are okay. But runs matter and you want to give more innings than that.”

After the first inning, Morrow seemed to settle in and pitch better because he relaxed and just pitched and not placed.

"The life on my fastball is better, my breaking stuff is better and the location is better because you aren't thinking about it, you just let your mechanics take over," he said.

Morrow seemed upbeat that he was making progress.

"I hope so," he said. "I felt a lot better the last three innings. Once I find that rhythm my mechanics take over and I feel alright."

Wakamatsu seemed satisfied if not pleased, except for the first inning.

"Eventually I thought he settled in," Wakamatsu said. "It's not about the stuff. It's about getting ahead of hitters and get deeper in the game. Four inning is not what we're looking for, but it's still easier for him."

Wakamatsu mentioned he'd like to see Morrow use his change-up more.

According to Morrow's pitch F/x breakdown, he only threw three change-ups in 74 pitches.

As for Wak managing the bullpen, perhaps you could have pitched Sean White in the 10th, but he's thrown a lot, and everybody else went in and made it through their inning of work, there's no reason to think Miguel Batista couldn't do the same. Well, except for the fact that he's Miguel Batista.

The last day in San Diego and the last day of this ...

Come on, I can't help myself. The Mariners have won two in a row doing this. And you don't mess with a streak ... even if the Padres should be exempt from counting in streaks.

First inning
Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen. Cannonball.

Hey, Mike Carp with his first base hit of his big league career with a little single into right. He later scores on Griffey's double to right-center. Wakamatsu said Griffey's been swinging the bat well. Then again this is Josh Geer pitching too.

Brandon Morrow has a pattern that wasn't good that inning. Throw ball one and then give up a hit on his second pitch. Morrow gives up an RBI double to David Eckstein, who is only a half inch taller than Shannon Drayer and then an RBI single to Adrian Gonzalez. He looked a lot better striking out Kouzmanoff and Carp make's a nice play to get the final out of the inning... the pitch count 24 with 13 strikes.

Second Inning
You're so wise. You're like a miniature Buddha, covered with hair.
Yuni with a nice lead-off double but not much else.

The bottom of the inning was a little more entertaining. Yuni with a nice stop on a hard hit ball and then he spins and fires to get the lightning-fast Henry Blanco by six steps. And here's what's frustrating about Morrow, he walks the pitcher, Josh Geer and then comes back and just blows the doors off of Tony Gwynn Jr. He's at 43 pitches after two.

Third inning
Sweet Lincoln's mullet.

Those were getaway day type of ABs there, the Mariners half of the inning took about two minutes.

Eckstein with another single and he moves up on Adrian Gonzalez "single." It gets quotes cause most left fielders probably have had that, including Raul Ibanez last year. Tough news about Raul today as he was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained groin.

Morrow gets out of the inning though with back-to-back strikeouts. Pitch count: 64 pitches, 39 strikes

Fourth inning
Oh Audrey - I look like hell! I got bags under my eyes. What's that? Well if you were a man, I'd punch you. Punch you right in the mouth. That's bush. Bush league. YOU HEAR ME? AUDREY! LOOK AT ME! I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Alright?

Franklin Gutierrez continues to surprise me with his power. This time he goes to the right-center gap and puts one on the fake beach out where the 400 foot sign is for his fifth homer of the season.

Morrow has a 1-2-3 inning and is at only 74 pitches, will he be back for the fifth? No. Wlad Balentien will pinch hit for him. Pitch count for Morrow: 74 pitches, 46 for strikes.

Fifth inning
For just one night let’s not be Co-workers. Let's be Co-people.

The Mariners get a couple runners on, but not much going after that. Chris Jakubauskas comes on in relief and looks strong in one inning

Sixth inning
By the beard of Zeus!

Franklin Gutierrez hits his second home run in the game! This time he pulls a ball down the left field line to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead. It's his sixth of the season, third in three games and his first multi-homer game of his career.

The game is tied on Adrian Gonzalez's homer to center. Gutierrez almost made the highlight reel again as his leaping attempt for the catch came up just off as the ball bounced off his glove.

Seventh inning
I'm in a glass case of emotion.
Not much going on this inning. A couple 1-2-3 innings, but it's still tied at 3-3 and Larry Stone, who's sitting next to me is sweating out the possibility of extra innings and making his 6:45 flight.

Eighth inning
Ohh, it's the deep burn. Oh, it's so deep. Oh, I can barely lift my right arm 'cause I did so many. I don't know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand.
The Mariners get a "single" from Junior because Tony Gwynn Jr. was playing him at the wall. But they don't get anything else.

The Padres get a little rally thanks to two walks from Roy Corcoran. Mark Lowe comes on and strikes out Kevin Kouzmanoff, unintentionally intentionally walks Chase Headley and gets Henry Blanco to fly out to Griffey to end the inning.

Ninth inning
Brick, where did you get a hand grenade?
And we go to bonus panels. Of course we do. I'm glad I'm not flying out at 6:45 p.m.

Tenth inning
Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.
Chavez with a lead-off single, Carp with a walk but Beltre strikes out and Griffey pops up to short.

Well, we pretty much knew that was going to happen with Miggy B coming into the game. A double from Adrian Gonzalez and a single from Kouzmanoff and it's over.

I've been a little lax on the minor league reports, but we'll try to get them back up with a little more consistently.

A few things ...
1. We talked with GM Jack Zduriencik yesterday and he said they've signed about five to six players, and he was going to have a set of signees released in the coming days. None of the top picks have signed.

Some of those picks won't necessarily be going to Class A Clinton

50th round pick Evan Sharpley out of Notre Dame has been allowed to play football for the Irish this fall and cut short his minor league seaosn.

One of those players, high school catcher Steven Baron, who was thought to have a predraft deal done, is now asking for around $1.3 million or he will go to Duke.

2. Ryan Rowland-Smith's latest outing in Tacoma didn't go so great -- 6 IP, 9 hits, 5 runs, a walk, 4 strikeouts. He's now lost three straight starts. But in this story from Ian Ruder, Rainiers manager Daren Brown said RRS' stuff was better.

3. Clinton's Denny Almonte was named to the Midwest League All-star team.

4. The Everett Herald has already started doing a lot of Aquasox coverage. You can go to it here. We'll add it to the blog roll. But one interesting story is the fact that some of the players may be delayed cause of the new passport rules.

5. High Desert won the first half of the California League season and Jamie McOwen has a 29-game hitting streak.

Yesterday’s Results Standings Winner/Loser/Save
at Portland 5, Tacoma 3 --- 34-32, 3rd, -3.5 --- L-Rowland-Smith (1-3)
Montgomery 5, at West Tenn. 3 --- 25-41, 5th, -13.0 ---- L-Bray (1-4)
Rancho Cucamonga 3, at High Desert 4 --- 42-24, 1st, +5.0 --- W-Mortimore (2-1)/SV-Aumont (12)
at Beloit 1, Clinton 4 --- 38-28, T2nd, -1.0 ---- W-Kasparek (4-4)/SV-Flores (12)

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (Pacific Coast League)
Pitching Lines:
LH Ryan Rowland-Smith 6.1,9,5,5,1,4,HR
RH Jesus Delgado 0.2,1,0,0,0,1
LH Justin Thomas 1.0,1,0,0,0,1
With the Bats:
3B Chris Shelton 3x3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB
1B Brad Nelson 1x4, RBI, K
Rainiers Notes: Brad Nelson put the Rainiers ahead early with an RBI single in the 1st inning but Portland put together single runs in the 1st, 4th and 5th innings before putting up a two-spot in the 6th inning. Chris Shelton went 3x3 with a home run in the 6th inning and extended his hitting streak to 5 games and has hit safely in 28 of his last 31 games. Ryan Rowland-Smith got his 3rd straight loss. 2B Mike Morse had his 6 game hitting streak snapped by going 0x3 with 3 strikeouts. During the streak he hit .360 (9x25) with 2 doubles, 6 runs, a home run and 5 RBI. RH Randy Messenger has allowed only 3 earned runs in his last 21.0 innings of work and his 2.17 ERA leads the Rainiers. Adam Moore went 1x4 and has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games and on the season he is hitting .299.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Chris Seddon (4-4, 4.76) vs. Reno

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
Pitching Lines:
RH Steve Bray (L, 1-4) 5.0,5,3,2,1,7
RH Steve Shell 1.0,1,1,1,1,2
RH Josh Fields 1.0,0,0,0,0,1
RH Anthony Varvaro 1.0,1,0,0,0,1
RH Patrick Ryan 1.0,2,1,1,1,2,HR
With the Bats:
DH Thomas Hubbard 1x4, HR, R, RBI
2B David Espinosa 2x4, 2 R, K
LF Gavin Dickey 2x4, 2 RBI, 2 K
D-Jaxx Notes: West Tenn. dropped their third straight and their 4th in the last 5 games after dropping the opening game of a 5-game series against Montgomery. LF Gavin Dickey, appearing in only his 13th game with the Jaxx, drove in 2B David Espinosa in both the 3rd and 5th innings but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 3-1 deficit. DH
Thomas Hubbard homered in the 9th inning, his 4th in his last 7 games and they got two more runners on base in the frame, but Espinosa struck out swinging to end the game. Thomas Hubbard has hit safely in 10 of the last 12 games. Starter Steve Bray allowed only 2 earned runs but failed to win for the 4th consecutive start despite allowing only 5 earned runs in 23.0 innings. RH Josh Fields tossed 1.0 scoreless inning while striking out 1 and has allowed only 1 run in his last 7 appearances (8.0 IP). Also has not walked a batter in his last 7.0 innings after walking 11 in his first 11 appearances.
Today’s probable starters:
RH Kyle Parker (3-3, 3.84) vs. Montgomery

A High Desert Mavericks (California League)
Pitching Lines:
RH Steve Hensley 6.1,5,1,1,2,3
LH Travis Mortimore (W, 2-1) 0.2,1,1,1,0,0
RH Juan Zapata 1.0,0,0,0,0,1
RH Phillippe Aumont (S, 12) 1.0,2,1,1,0,1,HR
With the Bats:
3B Alex Liddi 3x4, HR, 2 R, RBI
CF Tyson Gillies 1x3, R, 2 BB, K
Mavericks Notes: High Desert clinched the first half title and assured themselves of a spot in the playoffs. Mavericks claimed their first-half title since 1993. James McOwen went 1x4 and extended his hitting streak to a career high 28 games, the longest in the minors this year. During the streak, he is hitting .355 with 13 runs, and 16 RBI. The Mavericks broke a 1-1 tie in the 7th inning when Edilio Colina drove in Tyson Gillies with an RBI single and they capped the scoring with 2-out RBI singles from Alex Liddi and Kuo Hui Lo. Liddi got the Mavericks even with a solo-home run in the 6th, his 16th of season, recorded his 3rd multi-hit effort in last 4 games. Gillies has reached base safely (H+BB+HBP) in 56 of 59 games, recording 6 multi-hit games in last 8. Dunigan has recorded 26 RBI over last 25 games including RBI in 9 of last 13 games.
Today’s probable starter:
TBA at Inland Empire

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League)
Pitching Lines:
RH Kenn Kasparek (W, 4-4) 5.1,4,1,1,1,4
RH Stephen Penney 1.0,2,0,0,0,1
LH Greg Moviel 0.0,0,0,0,1,0
RH Cheyne Hann 1.2,0,0,0,0,3
RH Ruben Flores (SV, 12) 1.0,0,0,0,1,1
With the Bats:
DH Kris Sanchez 2x3, 2B, RBI, SF
3B Mario Martinez 2x3, R, BB
CF Jacob Shaffer 1x2, 2B, RBI
Lumberkings Notes: Clinton bounced back after having their 6 game winning streak snapped yesterday by taking the lead early and not looking back and they are now tied for the Wild Card lead Terry Serrano and Luis Nuñez both drew walks in the first and came home on back-to-back sacrifice flies from Scott Savastano and Kris
Sanchez. Nate Tenbrink put the game away with a sac fly of his own in the 8th inning. Starter Kenn Kasparek won his 3rd straight decision and has not allowed more than 2 runs in his last 6 games. Reliever Cheyne Hann entered the game in the 7th inning with the bases loaded, but got out of the inning with a lineout and a pop up. Scott Savastano, during June, he is batting .362 (21x58) with 12 runs, a double, home run, 6 RBI and 8 walks.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Aaron Pribanic (6-2, 2.25) at Cedar Rapids

Mariners (32-33)
Ichiro RF
Carp 1B
Beltre 3B
Griffey Jr. LF
Gutierrez CR
Betancourt SS
Cedeno 2B
Burke C
Morrow RHP

Padres (28-36)
Gwynn CF
Eckstein 2B
Giles RF
Gonzalez 1B
Kouzmanoff 3B
Headley LF
Blanco C
Rodriguez SS
Geer RHP

UPDATE 11:32 AM - We just met with Wakamatsu and here's a few details.

* Jose Lopez flew back to Venezuela today to be with his sister, who is "gravely ill" and "took a turn for the worse." Wakamatsu doesn't expect Lopez back for at least five days.

* To make room for Chris Woodward on the 40-man roster, Carlos Silva has been placed on the 60-day disabled list, which means there's a good chance we might not see him pitch again this season. Another coup for Bill Bavasi.

* Rob Johnson arrived in San Diego and there was thought to starting him, but Wakamatsu decided that Johnson wasn't going to be ready to play. So Jamie Burke will get the start at catcher. And Johnson will be activated on Friday. My guess is that Guillermo Quiroz will be sent out.

* Erik Bedard met with Dr. Lewis Yocum at 11:30 a.m. and will have an MRI at 1:30. We won't have an official update till tomorrow.

* Kenji Johjima experienced a little pain in his big toe and he will see the doctor on Friday for a check up. He'll catch Saturday in Tacoma - five innings, two at-bats and then the Mariners will decide what's next. But Wakamatsu still wants to see Johjima catch nine innings before he activates him.

* Mike Carp is starting at first and batting second

UPDATE: Yes I spelled bereavement wrong in the headline.

I'm not certain of all the details, but I know Chris Woodward is here. He was scratched right before last night's game against Portland, and is here. Lopez will be placed on the bereavement list and has left San Diego.

Not certain about any of the other details.

Rob Johnson is expected to return to the team today. But my guess is depending on when he arrives at Petco, whether or not the Mariners make a roster move before or after the game. And then I'm not even certain, what the move will be as to whether Guillermo Quiroz or Jamie Burke will be sent out.

BOX SCORE

The definition of a rivalry is not Padres-Mariners no matter how much Bud Selig wants it to be. The so called "natural" rivals in interleague play don't hate each other. There's no bragging rights over the Fields No. 12 and 13 at the Peoria Spring training complex or the best tables at the Salty Seniorita or first in line at the In-Out burger.

But also in my definition of a rivalry each team has an equal chance of winning and of late that isn't the case.

The Mariners have owned the Padres (one of the worst big league teams I've ever seen).

With Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Padres, Seattle has now won eight straight against their rivals and 10 straight at Petco Park. It’s the longest winning streak by an opponent at Petco since it opened. In the last 20 games against the Padres the Mariners have won 16.

Yeah, it was far from dominating and Nick Hundley's poor decision and even worse pick-off throw to third that was low and left, and allowed Franklin Gutierrez to trot home with the winning run was a gift.

Garrett Olson didn't pitch bad, but he gave up two homers on 0-2 pitches, and after the press meeting when I asked Don Wakamatsu how frustrating watching 0-2 bombs are, he just stuck out his jaw, looked down and shook his head.

Still Wak was pretty happy with Olson's outing --- 6 IP, 3 runs, 2 hits and a walk.

"Other than that he was awfully good today," Wak said. "I thought his composure was good and like the way he attacked the hitters."

Wak said he would have preferred a few more change-ups from Olson, particularly to right-handers like Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headley, who hit the homers.

Mike Carp was pretty funny after the game.

He talked about his ultra hard swing on the 1-0 pitch.

"He threw slider away and I knew he didn't want to go 2-0 to me, so why not try to lose one there," Carp said.

But more impressive he was able to come back and lay off some pitches out of the zone and draw a walk. I don't imagine many guys work walks in the first MLB at-bats.

Lopez with his 10th homer this season...he has hit seven of those 10 homers in the last 17 games. Since May 29th, he’s hitting .333 (22-for-66) and raised his average from .216 to .248.

If you think I've run out of Anchorman references, well, you just don't have any idea the depth of my limitless knowledge of mundane comedies. The amount of Dumb and Dumber references I can make is obscene.

People call me the Bry man; I'm the stylish one of the group.
I can't run the rest of the quote unfortunately.

1st inning
Chad Gaudin is not a pretty man.

And his numbers --- 2-5, 6.16 ERA are not better to look at ... so of course he'll probably give the M's fits tonight. 1-2-3 in the first.

Garrett Olson also has a smooth first inning.

2nd inning
Panda Watch. The mood is tense; I have been on some serious, serious reports but nothing quite like this. I uh... Ching... King is inside right now. I tried to get an interview with him, but they said no, you can't do that he's a live bear, he will literally rip your face off.

Garrett Olson gives up a lead-off "jager" bomb to Kevin Kouzmanoff to start the inning. So the Padres won't be shut out for the third straight game.

Seattle gets runners first and second, but Jamie Burke grounds into a 4-6-3 DP to end the inning.

3rd inning
No, she gets a special cologne... It's called Sex Panther by Odeon. It's illegal in nine countries... Yep, it's made with bits of real panther, so you know it's good.
Gaudin gets through another 1-2-3 inning, Olson does as well.

4th inning
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
The Mariners have themselves a lead. Russell Branyan leads off with a single and then comes all the way around to score on Junior's double off the wall in left-center. Then Jose Lopez follows with a two-run homer. Larry Stone just informed me thanks his far superior Cal education to my Montana/DSU degrees that Lopey is on pace for 105 RBI. So he's got that going for him, which is nice ... wait wrong movie.

In the bottom of the inning, Griffey makes a nice little leaping/hopping catch in left. Not vintage Griffey defense, but it was a catch. Yet, the Padres tie the game as Chase Headley crushes an 0-2 90 mph fastball on the inner half into the third deck of the Western Metal Supply Co building. That's the second 0-2 homer Olson gave up today. We're tied 3-3.

5th inning
Well, that's just great. You hear that, Ed? Bears. Now you're putting the whole station in jeopardy!

The Mariners play add on as Gutierrez draws a walk, moves to second on Olson's sac bunt and to third on Ichiro's single. He later scores on Nick Hundley's ill-advised pick-off attempt to third. But the Mariners don't get another run as Ichiro is stranded at third when Branyan strikes out and Beltre grounds out.

Olson goes 1-2-3 through the bottom of the order.

7th inning
Take it easy, Champ. Why don't you sit this next one out, stop talking for a while.
Did you know Garrett Olson's longest career outing was 8 1/3 innings last season with the Orioles -- against the Mariners, of course. He makes it through six, but Mike Carp will make his big league debut to pinch hit for him. Fittingly Carp draws a walk. But is stranded.

In the bottom of the inning, Mark Lowe gets a couple of outs and gives up a walk and brings up Nick Hundley, who strikes out. But the more interesting aspect of the at-bat was that Hundley fouled a screamer up into the press box that drilled the back of CBS sportsline columnist Scott Miller's laptop. It hit so hard it shattered the screen of his lap top. The screen is unreadable. Every writer always worries it's going to happen them, and I believe it happened to Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald as well.

8th inning
Hey, you're making me look stupid. Get out of here, Panda Jerk.
Great catch on a line drive by Yuni, but a dumb off balance throw to first when he had no chance. The ball skipped by Branyan, but the limited foul territory never allowed Brian Giles to advance an extra base. That might have saved a run on David Eckstein's soft single, but Giles made it to third, so the Mariner and Sean White have runners on the corners with two outs and Adrian Gonzalez, he of the 22 homers up at the plate. White pitches carefully to Gonzalez and walks him - his second of the game.

So it's my one-night drinking buddy Kevin Kouzmanoff and the bases loaded ... He hits hard right to Adrian Beltre, who gloves and tags third. A rally averted and my lead saved.

So here is what we know, Erik Bedard is going to the disabled list. It's retroactive to June 8th and he's eligible to come off on June 23rd. LHP Jason Vargas will take Bedard's spot in the rotation on Saturday, and Felix Hernandez will start on Sunday.

According to Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, Bedard will go visit Dr. Lewis Yocum in the Los Angeles. If you remember, Yocum was the orthopedic surgeon who did the offseason procedure on Bedard.

"We’re close," Zduriencik said. "We’re right here. Yocum is very familiar with him and what’s went on in the past. I think there’s a comfort zone there so we’ll see what happens tomorrow."

So what exactly happened?

Well, Bedard felt some discomfort in the back part of his shoulder following his flat-ground throwing session. And yesterday we saw him pointing to spots on his shoulder as he talked to trainer Rick Griffin.

"He just said he was uncomfortable," Zduriencik said. "When he got done throwing he said he felt a little bit back there. But he said he was okay. We were going to do a bullpen today. But thinking through this thing a little bit more, we talked about it this afternoon when Don and I went to lunch, and we just said, he’s already missed time, we can back date this thing 10 days, a little bit similar to what we did with Ichiro and save some time."

So where is the level of concern?

"With Erik I’m hoping this is just precautionary," Zduriencik said. "He’s going to go up and see Dr. Yocum tomorrow who did some work on him this past winter. We backdated the DL which bought us some time, what we’re hoping for is he’s ready to go next week. That’s the plan for him. But we’ll know a little bit more after tomorrow. Nobody wants to take a chance with has as good as he’s been throwing."

Said manager Don Wakamatsu: There was nothing after his last start. He felt some achiness, some inflammation in there. The last thing we want to do is to have him go down that path of last year. So instead of having him throw that bullpen today, we said, let's get it checked out. We can back-date him and be ready for the Tuesday start (against the Padres in Safeco)

So did something change from yesterday?

Coming into today, he felt a little stiffness in there and didn't like what he felt," Wakamatsu said. "It's one of those things, you don't know how he feels. You can't get inside his body. I'd be the last guy to question that, because I went through a similar situation. All we care about is getting it right."

Wakamatsu was asked about Bedard's forthrightness about the discomfort after what happened last season with the confusion about his health.

"Because he went through that last year, and didn't want to go through that and miss that much time, he's done a great job as far as letting us know he feels something in there that's not quite 100 percent," Wakamatsu said. "We want to make sure we keep him healthy all year."

As for Mike Carp, this could be like the cliche - a cup of coffee. Really there is no set time that he could be here. Realistically if the Mariners need pitching in a pinch, Carp could be sent out on Friday or Saturday for Ryan Rowland-Smith or bullpen help.

But Carp, who hitting .299 with with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI and a stellar on-base percentage of .412 and a slugging percentage of .517 earned a chance to come up.

"The guy has played well down there and he’s done a nice job," Zduriencik said. "He’s a first baseman and were going to lose a first baseman for a day, so why not gtive him a reward. At the end of the day, the guy’s played good and he’s earned it. He was on the roster and it was an easy move."

Carp isn't in the line-up tonight, but will start on Thursday. And being from Long Beach, he's got family coming. He's got 28 passes for the game tonight. He was notified after last night's game in Portland and flew out this morning.

"I set four alarms and left one wake-up call," he said.

But because he didn't know for certain that he was going to be activated he couldn't really spread the good news. He actually arrived in San Diego and ate lunch and waited to find out.

"I was walking on clouds," Carp said. "I didn’t get much sleep, but I am wide awake now."

Carp took early batting practice and had the luxury of Ken Griffey Jr. commenting about him the whole time.

"There were a lot of jitters, especially with Griffey standing behind the cage saying things," Carp said. "After first couple swings, I calmed down and went to work.”

While Carp has played some outfield with the Rainiers, and he says he'd feel comfortable if he had to play left field, Wakamatsu doesn't necessarily share the same comfort level, saying that playing outfield is a "secondary" thought.

Carp may only play a handful of games though.

"We're looking at it short-term right now. But it's a great opportunity for him. Probably not a better place to come for your debut than San Diego.

Can even a few games at the MLB level help him and his progress?

"Absolutely, any time you can come here and be around this, be around guys he met in spring training, especially guys like Junior and Mike Sweeney it helps," Wakamatsu said.

That makes six players from the JJ Putz -- if you count Garrett Olson and Ronny Cedeno, who were rolled over for Aaron Heilman -- to be on the 25-man roster from the Mariners. We tried to get Zduriencik to take some credit for it. But he would have none.

"You always make trade in the idea that it helps both clubs," Zduriencik said. "They had a need at that time for some bullpen help. How do you know if guys are going to be healthy? They are in a tough situation now with what’s happened to Putz, but who’s to say what would happened if two of our guys got hurt. It’s abut equity. We took younger players and they got seasoned vets if you will."

UPDATE: Thanks to our sweet blog technology, the updated post of Erik Bedard going to the disabled list that I had written 20 minutes ago never made it up. Sometimes it's like being in a gunfight with a bow and arrow.

Anyway, Bedard has been sent to the disabled list. It will be retroactive to June 7th, he's eligible to come off June 23rd.

Is this a surprise? No. I actually thought it might happen last night after watching him throw yesterday and seeing trainer Rick Griffin check out his sore shoulder with Bedard pointing to certain spots after an eight minute throwing session.

Second, I saw Bedard walking out of Petco today, as I was walking in. I thought it was odd since he was supposed to be preparing for his bullpen session in about a half hour. But I didn't want to speculate.

So when you see Carp, you think that's the move, well now its official.

Bedard has not pitched since tossing 5.0 innings on June 7 vs. the Minnesota Twins. He missed a start in Colorado last weekend with the inflammation prior to being placed on the 15-day DL today. Since the DL placement is retroactive to June 8, Bedard will be eligible to return from the disabled list June 23.

Bedard is 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 11 starts this season. He has allowed 2 earned runs or less in 9 of his 11 starts, and has not allowed more than 3 earned runs in any start. His 2.47 ERA ranks fourth in the American League, and he is holding opposing hitters to a .221 average, fifth-best in the AL.

Carp, who turns 23 on June 30, has spent the season with AAA Tacoma. In 59 games with the Rainiers, he hit .299 (63-for-211) with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI. He boasts a .311 mark (46-for-148) vs. right-handed pitching with an on-base + slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.026. Carp has played mostly first base this season, but has appeared in five games in left field, as well as serving as a designated hitter.

Carp is not in the line-up tonight, but he will start on Thursday in place of Russell Branyan who is leaving for the his grandfathers funeral.

Here's tonight's lineup
Ichiro RF
Branyan 1B
Beltre 3B
Griffey Jr. LF
Lopez 2B
Betancourt SS
Burke C
Gutierrez CF
Garrett Olson LHP

We're sitting in the press box and the Mariners were taking early BP when a light headed guy stepped out of the dugout carrying a bat --- and I said, "That's Mike Carp."

So Mike Carp is here. Don't know what the roster move is yet, but we'll have more.

According to my source close to the Rainiers, Carp was told last night that there was no guarantee he would be activated today but they were going to fly him down just in case.

Initially you would think the move was to replace Branyan who's going to leave for his grandfather's funeral on Thursday. But Wakamatsu said Branyan would NOT be placed on the bereavement list.

We're trying to figure it out.

Manager Don Wakamatsu was named as a coach for the American League team in this year's All-Star game in St. Louis. It's a nice honor for a first-year manager and one that's very deserving if you consider the Mariners record this year compared to last, the improvement in overall on field play and the cohesiveness of the clubhouse.

Wakamatsu will join Ichiro Suzuki in St. Louis, while Ken Griffey Jr., Felix Hernandez and Russell Branyan could also make the team.

You can vote for the All-Star game HERE

American League manager Joe Maddon named Wakamatsu and Kansas City manager Trey Hillman as coaches. He will also bring his coaches from Tampa Bay -– Tom Foley (third base), Steve Henderson (hitting), former St. Louis Cardinals All-Star and 1982 World Series Champion George Hendrick (first base), Jim Hickey (pitching), Dave Martinez (bench) and Bobby Ramos (bullpen) – will comprise his staff. Toronto Blue Jays head trainer George Poulis and Oakland Athletics head athletic trainer Steve Sayles will round out the A.L. staff.

The National League team coaching staff has a slight bit more experience with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel naming Dodgers skipper Joe Torre and Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa as his coaches. The remainder of the Phillies staff - Mick Billmeyer (bullpen), Rich Dubee (pitching), Davey Lopes (first base), Pete Mackanin (bench), Sam Perlozzo (third base) and Milt Thompson (hitting) – will assist with batting practice and other field duties, while Cardinals head athletic trainer Barry Weinberg and Chicago Cubs director of athletic training Mark O’Neal will tend to the N.L. All-Stars.

* Also a congratulations to Rainiers pitching coach Dwight Bernard and trainer Tom Newberg, who were named to the Triple A All-Star game coaching staff. That game will be held in Portland and could feature a handful of Rainiers players including Jeff Clement, Mike Carp and Randy Messenger.

To vote for the Rainiers in the Triple A game, you can HERE.

Well, that was a pretty decent outing from Mr. Felix Hernandez. A complete-game, two-hit shutout that snapped a three-game losing streak. That's what No. 1 starters do for teams. Yeah, he's kind of a big deal.

Felix worked nine innings allowing two hits, he walked four and had six strikeouts.

So when we met with Felix after the game, what did he want to talk about? His hitting of course.

Is that about as well as you can pitch?

“It was ok, not bad,” he said flashing a wide grin. “But I was mad because I didn’t get a hit.”

When reminded that he did work a walk in the ninth inning that led to a run, he seemed proud.

“Yeah, I worked a walk,” he said. “That was an outstanding at-bat.”

But regarding the shut-out, Hernandez seemed otherwise unimpressed with himself.

“I felt pretty good today,” he said. “All the pitches were there. I had great command after the first inning.”

But others were impressed ...

“Felix was outstanding,” Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. “Obviously, you look for a guy of his talent to be a stop-gap guy when you go on a little losing streak and to be able to step up and pitch the way he did.”

His catcher was certainly impressed.

“It’s got to rate as one of the best performances I’ve caught,” Jamie Burke said. “Obviously all four pitches were working. He had command of everything. It was just a matter of which ones we wanted to use. There’s nothing I can say but it's fun to be back there catching when he has command of all his pitches."

But Burke had plenty to say about Felix's growing maturity.

"I saw him when he was in the minor and you could tell this kid was going to be good," Burke said. "He just needed to mature. Since I’ve been around him the last three years, it's amazing at what he believes can do and how much he trusts in stuff.

"It doesn’t seem like he’s 23 year old with his mentality out there and the way we go about our preparation before the game. He knows what he wants to do out there and he goes out and does it."

Wakamatsu thinks we're seeing some increased maturity following his loss to the Angels when they stole five bases off of him and Wakmatsu chided him in the media after the game game and had a private meeting the next day.

"I saw a difference when we talked to him after the Anaheim game," Wakamatsu said. "I think it just struck a nerve with him about going out and competing the right way. Ever since then, he comes ready to pitch, he's focused."

Call it a challenge if you will.

We talked about it since spring training, everyone talks about how good he can be," Wakamatsu said. We talked about our expectations and his expectations now. It has a lot to do with the little things -- controlling the running game, becoming more efficient, it's not just going out and competing. It's trying to be more intelligent. And from that point, I've seen a different pitcher. I've seen a guy that comes out and is ready to compete for his team. It's tough for a 23 year old, to ask him to mature over night."

Since the Angels game, which is five starts, Felix is 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA (3 ER, 37.2 IP) with 34 strikeouts.

There was no doubt Wakamatsu was going to let him pitch the ninth. Felix had only thrown a 100 pitches, but when he walked Kevin Kouzmanoff with two outs, Wakamatsu was going to take Hernandez out if he hadn't retired Brian Giles to end the game.

Hernandez of course had other ideas.

When asked about if he knew he needed to finish Giles or risk coming out, Hernandez snapped his head around.

“Huh? Huh? Hell no,” he said with a grin. “Not till I was ready.”

So there were no looks to the dugout in the ninth inning?

“For what?” he said. “Nobody was going to take me out. Nobody.”

Well, Ok, Felix.

The offense wasn't great. Gutierrez seemed pleased with his home run over the 401 foot sign. Well as pleased as the laid back Gutierrez can seem.

"I think that is as far as I have hit one," he said. "In this park, I heard that the ball doesn’t carry. I surprised myself. It was good to hit home run in that situation. It put the team up by one run."

He also made a fantastic catch in the seventh inning to rob Chase Headley of a run scoring double at least.

"It was outstanding," Hernandez said. "He’s the best in center field. He’s great. He’s got a lot of range."

Said Gutierrez: "“It was a tough play. I was playing him pretty shallow and he hit it good. I was trying to there as quick as I can and make the catch.”

Here's a few notes ...
Adrian Beltre has an eight-game hitting streak and is hitting .371 with seven doubles, three HR and 15 RBI over his last 23 games.

The Padres have now lost their last 12 straight interleague games and six straight against Seattle.

Here's a few other notes from Elias

* Padres opponents have tossed back-to-back complete games for the first time since 2002 (8/18-19) – Ohka and Colon for Montreal.

* It is the first time the Padres have been limited to two hits since 7/29/08 vs. Arizona…it’s the first complete-game two-hitter against SD since 6/17/07 (Zambrano) in a 1-0 Padres win at Chicago.

Some people call the Mariners line-up weak, but have you seen what the Padres are rolling out this game? That isn't exactly a murderers row. Felix should be making it eight innings at least.

And to keep with tradition ...

"I love ... carpet."
"I love ... desk."
"I love lamp."
"I love Batista's George Jefferson haircut."

Top of 1st
The Mariners go 1-2-3 to Kevin Correia -- pronounced Korea. No Team America jokes just yet.

Bottom of 1st
Felix walks the first hitter of the game, but gets out with a pick off.

Top of 2nd
That was a fast inning for Correia, but Kim Jong Il would have gotten through it faster.

Bottom of 2nd
Felix is a little wild. He gives up a single to Kevin Kouzmanoff, who I had a few cocktails with in Chattanooga when my alma mater made it to the national championship last fall. Felix also walks Henry Blanco, but gets out without giving up a run.

Top of 3rd.
Franklin Gut-ti-errrrez with a homer to left-center and it was hit pretty well. He has surprising power. FElix doesn't hit a homer this time up. He only does that against Johan Santana.

Bottom of 3rd
A little better inning for Felix.

Fourth inning ...
These teams don't do enough offensively to deserve separate stuff. But the Mariners did turn a pretty sweet 3-6-1 double play.

Fifth inning
LOUD NOISES!!!
The Mariners are making Kevin Correia look like an all-star. But Felix is looking like a real all-star carving up the last three hitters.

Sixth inning
I ate fiberglass insulation. It wasn't cotton candy like the guy said... my tummy itches.

I think I'm just going to keep putting up Brick Tamland quotes since nothing else is really going on in this game. I won't nominate Felix for the hustling to first award, but it's probably best to keep him off the bases.

Seventh inning
Hey, Ron. I'm riding a furry tractor.
Adrian Beltre continues to swing the bat well, clubbing a homer to left center.

Eighth inning
O, I'm sorry champ, I think I ate your chocolate squirrel.
Felix makes it through eight and I don't see anybody throwing in the Mariners bullpen. Actually at the moment they are posing for a group photo in the bullpen. So Felix should start the ninth. He's thrown exactly 100 pitches.

Mariners (30-33)
Ichiro RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. LF
Jose Lopez 2B
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Jamie Burke C
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Felix Hernandez RHP

San Diego (28-34)
Tony Gwynn Jr. CF
David Eckstein 2B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B
Brian Giles RF
Chase Headley LF
Henry Blanco C
Luis Rodriguez SS
Kevin Correia RHP

Erik Bedard just got done throwing a side session. Not sure what to make of it, other than he only probably around 25 tosses which seems a little light. He was then showing trainer Rick Griffin a spot on the back of his left shoulder. Griffin examined him and then he went back into the clubhouse. I don't know what it means. But it doesn't seem outstanding. We'll know more in a little bit.

UPDATE: OK, some I'm no doctor, because manager Don Wakamatsu said Bedard should be ready to make his start on Saturday.

"He threw eight minutes no problem," Wakamatsu said.

But Bedard will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and said that a bullpen session will be more telling as to whether or not Bedard and his shoulder are ready for to pitch in a game.

Also Kenji Johjima was taking early batting practice meaning he could be back soon.

Johjima said he's feeling no pain in the toe right now. He even did some light running. And he's not worried too much about it getting stepped on, at least by the right person anyway.

"I'm sure I'd be OK if Ichiro stepped on it, but if it was somebody like Carlos Silva that would be bad," Johjima joked.

He'll catch a bullpen session on Wednesday, run the bases and then probably to a rehab stint with the Rainiers when the Mariners return to the Northwest this weekend.

"If everything goes well, we'd look to activate him some time in the San Diego series," Wakamatsu said. "He has to be able to catch nine innings. I don't want a two catcher scenario where I have to pull him out after five innings because his toe is sore. He has to prove he can catch all nine with no problems."

Wakamatsu said Johjima would most likely catch a limited amount in one game, DH in one game and probably catch a full game.

Other notes ...

Shawn Kelley threw a 35 pitch bullpen session with no problems.

Russell Branyan is going to miss Thursday's game to attend his grandfather's funeral. He'd leave Thursday morning and miss that game and then return on Friday and play Friday night.

Rob Johnson attended the funeral of his mother-in-law today, but there is no exact date of his return yet.

A few links before I go down to the clubhouse.

Dustin Ackley went 5-for-6 in UNC's win today over Southern Miss, fellow Mariners draftee Kyle Seager was 2-for-4 with a homer in the win.

"I've been impressed," Wakamatsu said of Ackley. "I saw couple of the highlight hits and even before the draft I saw his tapes. What probably impressed me more than anything is he attacks. He gets into a hitting position and ready to hit and his ability to hit to all fields, but even more so with his interviews. He's a pretty mature, sharp kid."

Jayson Stark has a good story on Raul Ibanez with some statistics to show that Raul's success this season shouldn't be suspicious.

According to the good man pictured above, San Diego is German for a certain part of a whale's anatomy, of course he, then relented and offered up the history of this fair city on the beach, "I don't know what it means. I'll be honest, I don't think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago."

If you think that's the only Ron Burgundy reference you'll be getting from me in the next four days, well, I will give you my duplex in Tacoma - it has many fine, leather-bound books and smells of rich mahogany. Ok, I'll quit for the time being.

Let's get to some links and thoughts

WEST W-L PCT GB STRK L10
Texas 35-27 .565 - Lost 2 4-6
LA Angels 33-29 .532 2 Won 4 6-4
Seattle 30-33 .476 5.5 Lost 3 5-5
Oakland 27-35 .435 8 Lost 3 5-5

It's amazing just four days ago the Mariners were sitting at .500 and fans were once again debating if they have a legitimate chance to contend. And now those same fans say blow it up.

Hasn't this happened like four different times this season? I've said it on here and on the radio often, just about the time you think you have this team figured out, they do something totally unexpected -- good or bad.

At this point, I don't know what to make of this team. I don't know that any of the Mariners coaches or executives do either. They play hard. The pitching has been good, but beat up. The defense - save for the duo at second and short - has been vastly improved. The hitting has been weak and inconsistent, but good enough in stretches to win them more games than they should. So they sit in the purgatory of being between contender and pretender.

Realistically 20 some days from now, we should know more. Yes the Mariners have two of the next three series with the Padres - a team that with the exception of Adrian Gonzalez - might be weaker offensively. San Diego is also without its best pitcher. But remember, Brandon Morrow will start one of those games on a reduced pitch count. Jarrod Washburn and Erik Bedard are still ailing - though we'll find out more later today.

But besides San Diego, the Mariners will face the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that's playing vastly better with the improved health of Stephen Drew and the steady improvement of Justin Upton. But the big test will be nine straight games on the road against the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox.

Optimally, the Mariners need to win six of the nine games (including six home games) against the Padres and D'Backs to help withstand the brutal road swing that faces them after that. But if Seattle plays the type of baseball we saw in Colorado, they could be reeling before the tough road swing beings

But come July 5th when the Mariners wrap up the road trip in Boston, we'll have a pretty good idea if they can keep up the hope of contending or GM Jack Zduriencik can try and deal some players to add depth to the organization.

Let's get to some links and thoughts ...

Here's Larry's story on Ichiro's improved attitude and mindset with the presence of Griffey. I've seen Griffey wrestling Ichiro to the ground. I can tell you Larry's description of Ichiro's laugh is pretty accurate. It's not quite a squeal, but it's pretty high pitched.

Most of the commentary and thoughts have centered on Brandon Morrow and his transition to a starter. John McGrath has weighed in with his thoughts. Dave Cameron of the USS Mariner also voiced his opinions.

I have three thoughts ... some of you may have heard them before.
* This whole process started down the wrong track because Mike Hargrove and later Bill Bavasi were making decisions to try and keep their jobs. When Mark Lowe got hurt, Hargrove found a replacement for a then-injured Mark Lowe. Looking at Morrow's velocity, it's easy for Hargrove to want to use Morrow in that role. He knew he needed wins and having Morrow's power fastball in the eighth could help him.

But this is where Bavasi should have stepped in and said, "Sorry, Grover, but we drafted this kid as a starter and we're going to start grooming him for it now." You'll have to find another reliever. It's not impossible, just look at the Mariners this season with Kelley, White and Aardsma. In fact, Bavasi selected White in the Rule V draft -- but I'll concede White wasn't this polished. Still, there were arms out there, that could've provide adequate set-up relief, instead of stunting the growth of one of the most prized arms of the organization. Then again, that would require Bavasi finding a value player for minimal money - not exactly something he had a track record for doing.

* All the flip-flopping back and forth, never allowed Morrow to find an professional identity for himself. He's a smart kid, prone to be introspective to a fault. And he lacks the swagger or the short memory to be a reliever. But his setbacks from minor injuries and mechanical issues never allowed him to find any comfort in himself as a professional pitcher. And since he couldn't determine it himself, the Mariners should have done it for him and kept him as a starter even when he volunteered to be a reliever. Even if he starts the season at Tacoma as a starter, and later joins the team as a reliever, the amount of innings accrued from pitching as a starter, including the extensive use of his secondary pitches would have been helpful.

* I don't think any of this would have happened to Morrow if GM Jack Zduriencik would have drafted him and oversaw his development. Of course, that brings up the question as to whether Zduriencik would have selected Morrow ahead of Tim Lincecum, which is another debate for another day.

Here's my Sunday column on Mark Teixeira hustling play on Friday and the power rankings.

How about some former Mariners links ...
Cleveland RF Shin Soo Choo is having a solid season with the Indians, but says he can improve.

* Recently released LHP Horacio Ramirez has found a new home in Triple A Syracuse, pitching for the Nats organization.

* Right-handed reliever Jon Huber, who made a few appearances with the M's and plenty with the Rainiers, was pitching in the independent leagues before being signed by the Braves.

* And John Halama, yes that John Halama, is still pitching and also signed with the Braves out of the independent leagues.

* But Halama isn't the oddest player to still be pitching, that honor would belong to Hideki Irabu, who is pitching in Long Beach along with Jose Lima.

Let's go around the AL WEST
The Texas Rangers may be in first place, but that doesn't mean the organization isn't feeling the economic pinch. And they've laid off several people this week.

Closer Frank Francisco was placed on the DL this week.

Columnist Gil LeBreton still likes the Rangers' chances.

The Los Angeles Angels also know something about injuries. Ervin Santana is being scratched from his next start. That follows up the news of Scot Shields being lost for the year, and Kelvim Escobar's latest setback.

Oh yeah, and Torii Hunter hurt his ribs plowing into the wall.

The Oakland A's took a chance on Nomar Garciaparra, but he's battling injuries again.

Around baseball
Brandon Phillips ignored a take sign and swung at a 3-0 pitch and got fined. Phillips is scheduled to make $4.75 million this season so I'm sure he can afford it.

And finally, Ozzie Guillen talking about Wrigley Field as only Ozzie Guillen can.

Face it, the Mariners are scrambling for offense, and the three-four spots in the batting order have been the biggest issue.

Today, Ken Griffey Jr. is in left field again, but batting fifth, not fourth. And Jose Lopez, who hit a game-tying, eighth-inning home run Saturday, is now the cleanup hitter.

Jason Vargas vs. Jason Hammel are the startes, and Vargas is in the same position all Mariners starers face - give up more than three runs and you're not likely to win.

Ichiro leads it off.

Let's go.

Run, Mariners, run

Ichiro singled, Beltre singled him to third, then stole second base and Jose Lopez hit a fly ball deep enough to score Ichiro.

Beltre stole third base, but Griffey grounded out weakly.

After one: Mariners 1, Rockies 0

One won't do it

One run won't be enough today.

A double by Brad Hawpe, single by Ryan Spilborghs and Troy Tulowitzki's fly ball got a run in and evened the game.

Vargas got out of it, but will need more offense to win.

After two: Mariners 1, Rockies 1

Two runs won' be enough for Seattle

Clint Barmes doubled and Todd Helton singled him home. Garrett Atkins singled, and Vargas got a visit at the mound from pitching coach Rick Adair.

It worked. Vargas struck out the next two Rockies.

After three: Rockies 2, Mariners 1

Rain again

For the third day in a row, it's raining in Colorado. The first two days, it washed out batting practice.

With two out in the fifth, Russell Branyan hit a long fly all that center fielder Dexter Fowler ran down at the wall.

That's as close to an offense as Seattle has shown since the first inning.

In the fifth - and in the rain: Rockies 2, Mariners 1

Worse than rain - it's runs

Rockies are having their way in the fifth, powered by a three-run double to Chris Iannetta following an intentional walk to Tulowitzki.

Vargas hasn't had much help - a ground ball rolled past Lopez at second, then another was thrown away for an error.

If the Mariners aren't going to score, the least they could do is place defense.

Five runs in the inning? Even in Coors, that seems more than the Mariners are likely to make up.

Vargas is gone. Roy Corcoran is in.

In the fifth: Rockies 7, Mariners 1

Now, a rain delay

Tarp is going on the field, Mariners are in the dugout looking up - watching Mother Nature's light show.

Running into the Rockies on a roll has probably been a sign that the Mariners are better than a year ago - but a long way from being a really good team.

If you're GM Jack Zduriencik, who do you trade and what do you want in return? And can you get it done before the rain stops?

A restart is in the works

This game is scheduled to begin again at 2:50 p.m. PDT. Unfortunately for Seattle, the Mariners will still trail by six.

And they're back

Josh Fogg now pitching for Colorado, and after a 55-minute wait, Jose Lopez grounded out.

Junior worked the count full, then drew a walk, his 31st of the season. Only Branyan (33) has more.

Yuniesky Betancourt grounded out.

In the sixth: Rockies 7, Mariners 1

Call it a lost weekend

The weather was stunning and the Rockies remained the hottest team in the game in their three-game series with the Mariners.

Ichiro, the first batter of the game, scored a run on a Lopez fly ball, and after that first inning score Seattle managed three hits.

After the second inning, no Seattle player reached scoring position.
So it's 11 consecutive wins for the Rockies, three losses in a row for the Mariners.

Yes, Kenji Johjima is due back next week, and he will help the offense slightly, but this team clearly must decide what to do with Mike Sweeney and Griffey Jr.

Neither is a middle of the offense hitter this season, and both are blocking players like Jeff Clement, Chris Shelton and Mike Morse in Tacoma.

It's hard to imagine anyone coming up from the Rainiers and producing less than Sweeney, Junior, Ronny Cedeno, Wladimir Balentien or any catcher on the roster.

Final score: Rockies 7, Mariners 1

Brandon Morrow's three-inning start for the Seattle Mariners Saturday was good enough to convince the team to give him another - Thursday in San Diego.

The move was made for two reasons: To give Morrow another start with a longer pitch count, and to give Jarrod Washurn more time to deal with continuing back spasms.

If you're keeping track at home, here's the rotation starting with Tuesday's game against the Padres:

Felix Hernandez, Garrett Olson, Brandon Morrow, Jarrod Washburn or Erik Bedard and Jason Vargas.

In essence, it's a six-man rotation at the moment, and it doesn't include Ryan Rowland-Smith, who remains in the Tacoma rotation.

With Bedard (stiff shoulder) and Washburn (back) dealing with minor ailments, neither is certain to make his next start - but each man could.

Yes, it's confusing. And after they go through the rotation once more, it could change again.

The Rockies have won nine consecutive games, including the last one against the Mariners, so Seattle has a job to do if it hopes to win tonight.

Colorado has long been a team of streaks, and they seem to score in bunches at home, where the home run is always a factor.

The Rockies have two men - Brad Hawpe (45) and Todd Helton (43) with more than 40 RBI, while the Mariners top RBI man, Jose Lopez, has only 36.

Yes, runs are always a factor for Seattle, less so for Colorado.

Tonight, it's Brandon Morrow and a cast that could include Chris Jakubauskas and Roy Corcoran behind him.

Morrow vs. Jason Marquis. The tarp is off, the game is about to start.

We're off.

Oh, boy

Some nights, great plays by big league players just beat you.

With runners at first and third base and one out, Franklin Gutierrez hit a little chopper toward third, and Jose Lopez broke for home trying to score.

Marquis came off the mound, bare-handed the ball and threw to the only place he could have made a play - home.

The throw beat Lopez by plenty. The Mariners didn't score, and not because they'd screwed up. Marquis just made a marvelous play.

That pitch count - and foul play

After a 12-pitch first inning, Morrow got into a first-and-third, one out jam of his own.

With his fastball hitting 97 mph, and his pitch count for the game set at 60 or so, the Rockies ran it up in the second inning - but not with hits.

Between them, Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez fouled off eight pitches, and two walks - both on 3-2 pitches - loaded the bases with two outs.

Then, with his 25th pitch of the inning, Morrow walked Marquis to force in a run and bring pitching coach Rick Adair to the mound.

Morrow got out of the inning without further damage, but has now thrown 41 pitches - two-thirds of what the team will hold him to tonight.

After two: Rockies 1, Mariners 0

Goodnight, Mr. Morrow

New mechanics, old mechanics, whatever - Morrow broke past his pitch count and is done after three innings.

He allowed one run, that on a walk to the opposing pitcher, walked four, struck out four and allowed three hits.

Appears that Jakubauskas will pick up for Morrow in the fourth inning and go as far as he can.

In the fourth: Rockies 1, Mariners 0

Take that!

Ichiro legged out an infield single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch. Russell Branyan walked.

Adrian Beltre, who had a pair of two-out doubles earlier, singled up the middle to get Ichiro home and tie the game.

That brought up Junior for the third time with a runner in scoring position tonight.

Griffey struck out.

In the fifth: Mariners 1, Rockies 1

Thanks, Mr. Jakubauskas

Jakubauskas pitched three scoreless innings and will turn a winnable game over to Sean White in the seventh inning.

The Rockies continue to throw fine defensive plays at the Mariners, who have six hits - three from Beltre, two from Ichiro.

In the seventh, again with two out, Ichiro dropped a bunt for a base hit and Branyan worked Marquis for a walk.

That brought up Beltre, who grounded out.

In the seventh: Mariners 1, Rockies 1

That's a clutch hit

Rockies just got what Mariners haven't been able to produce tonight - a huge hit with two outs.

Pinch-hitter Seth Smith singled, took second on a bunt and third on a long fly ball to right field that Ichiro ran down.

With two outs, Helton singled into right field and broke the tie.

On a full count, Hawpe then doubled off the wall in center field for a second run, and the Mariners are down two. Among the ironies: Sean White entered the game with a 17-inning scoreless streak.

After seven: Rockies 3, Mariners 1

That's a clutch home run

Griffey led off the inning against reliever Manny Corpas by walking - and Jose Lopez hammered his ninth home run of the season to stun the Rockies and their fans.

Two-run lead? Gone.

In the eighth: Mariners 3, Rockies 3

That was bad - both times

In a game so well-played by both teams, the Rockies eighth-inning rally didn't fit.

Mark Lowe opened the inning by fielding a little roller and throwing - with no chance of getting Troy Tulowitzki - into right field. That put Tulo on second base.

The Rockies then dropped a bunt, right at Lowe, who fielded and threw wild to third base, where Beltre caught it but couldn't get a tag down.

Two plays, two horrible throws, both errors on Lowe

Chris Iannetta's deep fly pushed home the go-ahead run.
Lowe then walked back-to-back hitters to load the bases and gave up a second sacrifice fly.

After eight: Rockies 5, Mariners 3

And in the ninth

Pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney blooped a single into center field to bring the potential tying run to the plate.

Ichiro flied out. Branyan singled sharply into right field, sending pinch-runner Ronny Cedeno to third base and bringing up Beltre, who already had three hits.

Against Huston Street, Beltre chased two bad pitches and struck out. Endy Chavez struck out.

It's a final: Rockies 5, Mariners 3

Yes, it's Denver in June, which means batting practice was wiped out for the second day by the elements - and the game itself has been delayed.

Thunderstorm cell is wandering through and apparently taking it's time, so the tarp is on the infield and the rain is pelting the tarp.

Occasionally, the rain is mixed with hail, and the skies light up and then boom out thunder.

All in all, quite a show. They're hoping to start the game at 5:50 p.m. PDT).

In the meantime, I am watching the lightning and hiding under Larry Stone.

The Mariners made a roster move to get reliever Roy Corcoran into their bullpen, but it wasn't what they'd intended.

Catcher Rob Johnson was placed on bereavement leave because of a death in the family.

"Rob's mother-in-law was killed last night in a traffic accident near Houston," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "They didn't know until today. I don't know how long he'll be gone, we just wanted to get him on his way to with his wife and baby."

Corcoran, brought up from Tacoma, will be available to pitch tonight.

The move leaves Jamie Burke and Guillermo Quiroz as the two catchers on the roster.

A player can stay on the bereavement leave for between three and seven days.

Ken Griffey Jr. will suit up and trot into left field tonight as a Seattle Mariners for the first time in his major league career.

Naturally, he's having fun with the prospect.

"Hey, if the ball gets to me, someone in th dirt area (bleeped) up," he said. "It had to get by somebody before it got to me, and it had to be a bad pitch selection to let the hitter hit it to me."

No, he wasn't serious Griffey has, of course, spent most of his career in center field and, the last few years, in right field.

Earlier this season, he played in right when Ichiro was on the disabled list.

Now, in interleague games in National League parks, the only way to get Junior into the starting lineup is to put him in the outfield. The biggest question is how many times can the Mariners do it?

Griffey's body hasn't taken the abuse of outfield play in months. The short bursts of speed, the long runs for fly balls, the occasional dive - the Mariners aren't certain how Griffey will feel on Sunday morning.

"Playing left field here, I'm close to the home dugout. If I completely break down, it won't take them long to drag me off the field," Junior said.
He's tentatively scheduled for at least one left field start in San Diego, too.

"I've played outfield all my life," he said. "I think you're making too big a deal about this."

No Ken Griffey Jr., no Mike Sweeney - the Mariners first game of the season in a National League park has them looking a little weak, offensively.

Endy Chavez, for instance, his batting fifth in this lineup - and no one was more suprised than Chavez. Ronny Cedeno (.147) is in left field, and Rob Johnson (.188) is back at catcher.

Jarrod Washburn better be thinking shutout.

This is a chance to climb above .500, but it may be the wrong park for Seattle's anemic offense. If the Rockies start hitting balls out of Coors Field, the Mariners don't figure to be able to match them with power, although Russell Branyan might hit one to Aspen.

For the night, they still have three catchers on the roster - that will change Saturday, when Roy Corcoran is brought up from Tacoma.

Any chance for the Mariners tonight probably begins and ends with pitching.

It's Washburn vs. Ubaldo Jimenez.

And we're off.

Mr. Branyan goes deep

A night after hitting a ball 450 in Baltimore, Russell hit one 438 feet in Colorado - his 15th of the season.

No one was on, but Washburn has a lead before stepping on the mound.

In the first: Mariners 1, Rockies 0

Ichiro keeps ticking

Johnson beat out an infield single but Washburn's bunt attempt rolled directly to the mound and became a fielders choice.

Ichiro singled, and now has reached base in a career-high 41 consecutive games.

Working carefully, Jimenez walked Branyan to load the bases with one out for Adrian Beltre - as point-blank a scoring opportunity as Seattle could ask for.

Beltre delivered a two-run double off the wall in left field. Lopez grounded into a fielders choice, with Branyan caught between third and home.

That brought up Chavez with men on second and third base - and he was intentionally walked for the first time this season.

Cedeno grounded out.

In the third: Mariners 3, Rockies 0

Out of control

Washburn lost his command in the third, and it cost him.

Two walks set up Todd Helton's RBI single, and when Brad Hawpe topped a all in front of the plate, Washburn fielded it but through wide to first base for an error that let a second run score.

A couple of freebies for Colorado.

After three: Mariners 3, Rockies 2

One run at a time

Yuniesky Betancourt singled, and Jimenez hung a slider that Johnson turned into an RBI double.

In the fourth: Mariners 4, Rockies 2

The Rockies strike back

One swing matches a couple of Mariners hits, with Troy Tulowitzki hammering his eighth home run of the season over the fence is center field.

After four: Mariners 4, Rockies 3

So much for that lead

Washburn once again lost command, and put Colorado in position to beat him - and they may.

A walk and hit batter put runners on, and pitcher Jimenez squared to bunt, then hit away and singled home the tying run.

Worse, Dexter Fowler dropped a squeeze bun, and Ian Stewart just beat the tag with a hard slide at the plate.
Sneaky bahstahds, these NL guys!

With the bases loaded, Washburn got Helton
and Hawpe. It might have been too late.

After six: Rockies 5, Mariners 4

Goodnight, Mr. Washburn

Six innings, and it wasn't Colorado hitting that put Washburn behind as much as is inexcplicable control problems in the third and sixth innings.

Now it's up to Miguel Batista to hold the Rockies and hope the Mariners come back.

Tough night behind the plate

Johnson's first night back at catcher since Sunday went south in the seventh inning.

First he was charged with an error on a throw into center field on Tulowitzki's stolen base.

Then, with Tulowitzki at third, Johnson was given a passed ball on a Batista ball in the dirt.

That's an insurance run.

After seven: Rockies 6, Marines 4
And in the ninth ...

Yuni flied out to right field. Sweeney, batting for Johnson, flied out to center. Griffey Jr., batting for Batista, walked on the 124th pitch of the night for Jimenez.
That brought up Ichiro, whose ground ball forced Griffey at second base.

It's a final: Rockies 6, Mariners 4

Brandon Morrow's transition back to starting pitcher won't begin in Tacoma after all - an inflamed shoulder that sidelined Erik Bedard will push Morrow into the Mariners rotation.

"We're hoping to get about 60 pitches out of Brandon, however far that takes him," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Erik will just skip his start."

Morrow hasn't pitched more than the 2 1/3 innings in Baltimore, so he'll be held to a strict pitch count.

"I'm going to be as conservative with my pitches as I can, go as far as I can," Morrow said. "Whether it was here or in Tacoma, what I'll be doing is the same - it's just a little more exciting here."
Morrow had asked the team a month ago about returning to starting and fully expected to do so with the Rainiers.

Now?

"Who knows, we might have to stretch him out up here," Wakamatsu said.

In 16 relief appearanes this season, Morrow is 0-3 with a 6.38 earned run average, although for the past few weeks he's worked on new mechanics and seen improved results.

On Satuday, Morrow will get his feet wet again as a starting pitcher.

"When they called me in today to tell me, I thought they were going to make a move and send me out," Morrow said. "This is better."

A win tonight would give the team a 30-30 record through 60 games - compared to th 21-39 mark they had a year ago at this point.

What do they need to do tonight to win?

Well, they need a decent outing from spot starter Garrett Olson, but more than anything they need runs - and that means the Mariners need production from Ken Griffey Jr.

Junior has had a significant impact in the clubhouse and the dugout this season, but on the field, not so much.

Batting third, fourth or fifth all season, he's hitting .208 with six home runs and 16 RBI.

Obviously, he's not the only Mariner hitter struggling - all of them have to one degree or another. But when you're in the heart of the order, constantly coming up with the chance to get runs home, not doing so puts a lot on everyone else.

Olson vs. Koji Uehara, Mariners vs. Orioles.
We're off.

Tale of two hitters

In the Mariners first, Adrian Beltre singled with two outs to get Junior to the plate - but Griffey struck out.

In the Orioles first, with a man on and two outs, Luke Scott hit his 14th home run into the seats in left center.

After one: Orioles 2, Mariners 0

Baby, the rain must fall

At 7:58 p.m. a heavy rain began to fall here and one minute later the game was officially delayed as umpires and players fled the field.

This is no sprinkle - it's pouring. Stay tuned?

And the rain hath stopped

What, you call that a rain? Not on the eastern seaboard, where hurricanes roll and fish wind up 20 miles inland, living on housetops.

The game is scheduled to resume at 8:30 p.m. here - that's 5:30 p.m. back in God's country.

Mariners strike back

With a man on and no one out, the game resumed - and Ichiro drilled a pitch off the right field scoreboard for a double.

Russell Branyan singled home one run, Beltre singled home the tying run and up came Griffey with the chance to knock Uehara out of the game.
Instead, he grounded into a fielders choice, leaving men at first and third base with one out for Jose Lopez.

Lopez flied out to center field to pick up his 36th RBI, scoring Branyan with the go-ahead run.

In the third: Mariners 3, Orioles 1

Ichiro on the run

With center fielder Adam Jones playing shallow, Icihro hit one to the wall for a leadoff triple in the fifth inning, and Branyan's sacrifice fly got him home a moment later.

With the bases empty, Griffey blooped a soft line drive single over second base.

In the fifth: Mariners 4, Orioles 2

Now that's a home run!

Mr. Branyan just hit a Brian Bass pitch an estimated 450 into the stands beyond right-center field - the sixth longest homer ever hit in Camden Yards.

It only counted as one run, but it was worth several and was Branyan's 14th of the season. Orioles in the outfield just watched it go, not bothering to give chase.

Beltre's third hit was an infield single, Junior walked and with one out Yuniesky Betancourt doubled - then got hung up in a run down when Griffey was stopped at third.

Ah, Yuni.

In the seventh: Mariners 6, Orioles 2

Limiting the damage

Jakubauskas got into quick trouble, giving up a single and double before getting an out, and if it hadn't been for his own one-out wild pitch, Baltimore still wouldn't have scored.

As it is, they got one and left a man at third base.

After seven: Mariners 6, Orioles 3

On to the ninth

Jakubauskas gave the Mariners two innings, and Mark Lowe just worked a 1-2-3 eighth.

Three more outs, and the world looks more interesting for Seattle.

Why?

A win leaves them 30-30, and the Angels are losing big to Tampa Bay. Should that hold, the Angels would be 29-29, and the Mariners and Angels would be tied in second place in the American League West, no worse than 4 1/2 games behind Texas.

Aardsma time

When a team has a closer, it tends to treat him well - and give him every save opportunity within reason.

Ahead by three in the ninth, Aardsma trotted in for his 12th chance this season to earn a save. Eighteen pitches later, he had his 11th save.

It's a final: Mariners 6, Orioles 3

Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, who fouled a pitch off his left knee in Wednesday's game, was not in the lineup tonight.

"Franklin has played through tendinitis in that knee since spring training, and last night he fouled a ball off the spot that's been hurting him," manager Don Wakamatsu said.

Ironically, Gutierrez said he wears a shin guard to protect from foul balls around his shin, foot and ankle.

"My whole career, I never fouled a ball off my knee until last night," he said. "I think I'll be ready to play tomorrow night in Denver. It's not nearly as painful today as I thought it would be."

The Mariners put Endy Chavez in center, Wladimir Balentien in left field and acknowledged that over the six games played in National League parks, Ken Griffey Jr. would make at least a couple of starts in left field.

And before the team arrives in Denver to play the Rockies, it will have to make a decision on sending a catcher out and bringing a pitcher up.

"With the National League game and the changes you may make, we can't carry three catchers and be down a reliever," Wakamatsu said.

Rob Johnson, who hasn't played since Sunday, is about over the bruised foot and shoulder that sidelined him, so it's all but certain he'll regain his starting job - probably tonight.

That means one catcher - Guillermo Quiroz or Jamie Burke - will have to go.

Round Overall Player Position School
1 2 Dustin Ackley OF North Carolina
1 27 Nick Franklin SS Lake Brantley HS, Altamonte Springs, Fla.
1s 33 Steve Baron C Ferguson HS, Miami
2 51 Rich Poythress 1B Georgia
3 82 Kyle Seager 2B North Carolina
4 113 James Jones OF Long Island
5 143 Tyler Blandford RHP Oklahoma State
6 173 Shaver Hansen 3B Baylor
7 203 Brian Moran LHP North Carolina
8 233 Jimmy Gilheeney LHP North Carolina State
9 263 Trevor Coleman C Missouri
10 293 Vincent Catricala 3B Hawaii
11 323 Tim Morris 1B St. John's
12 353 Andrew Carraway RHP Virginia
13 383 Matt Cerione OF Georgia
14 413 Adam Nelubowich 3B Vauxhall Academy, Edmonton
15 443 Blake Keitzman LHP Western Oregon
16 473 Tillman Pugh OF Gateway (Ariz.) CC
17 503 Joseph Terry 2B Cerritos (Calif.) CC
18 533 Anthony Vasquez LHP Southern California
19 563 Eric Thomas RHP Bethune-Cookman
20 593 Jonathan Hesketh LHP New Mexico
21 623 Daniel Cooper RHP Southern California
22 653 Drew Hayes RHP Vanderbilt
23 683 David Rollins LHP San Jacinto (Texas) JC
24 713 Carlton Tanabe C Pearl City (Hawaii) HS
25 743 Brandon Josselyn RHP Yale
26 773 Chris Sorce RHP Troy
27 803 Austin Hudson RHP Central Florida
28 833 Regan Flaherty 1B Deering HS, Portland, Maine
29 863 Brandon Haveman OF Purdue
30 893 Brandon Bantz C Dallas Baptist
31 923 Clint Dempster LHP Mississippi Gulf Coast JC
32 953 Bennett Whitemore LHP Oregon
33 983 Hawkins Gebbers 2B Biola (Calif.)
34 1013 Scott Griggs RHP San Ramon Valley HS, Danville, Calif.
35 1043 Eric Valdez RHP Indiana State
36 1073 John Housey RHP Miami
37 1103 Chris Kessinger RHP Nebraska-Omaha
38 1133 Matthew Nohelty OF Minnesota
39 1163 Greg Waddell OF Florida International
40 1193 Jorden Merry RHP Washington
41 1223 Kyle Witten RHP Cal State Fullerton
42 1253 Steve Hagen 3B Eastern Oklahoma State JC
43 1283 Cameron Perkins LF South Fort (Ind.) HS
44 1313 Mark Angelo OF East Stroudsburg
45 1343 Kevin Malloux 2B Canisus
46 1373 Clay Cederquist 1B Fowler HS, Fresno
47 1403 David Holman RHP Hutchinson (Kan.) CC
48 1433 Sean Nolin LHP San Jacinto College North
49 1463 Dane Phillips C Central Heights HS, Nacogdoches, Texas
50 1493 Ryan Sharpley RHP Notre Dame

Yuniesky Betancourt showed up for extra batting practice Wednesday, sat down with manager Don Wakamatsu and wound up in the starting lineup for the first time in five days.

Now, can a 'motivated' Yuni help his team score?

Over the last seven games, Seattle hasn't allowed more than three runs - and still gone 4-3.

"The offense has to step up," Wakamatsu said. "You can't ask more of our pitchng than it's giving us."

To that end, the team held a meeting for hitters only before the game.

Now, can they - and will they - hit?

It's Felix Hernandez vs. Jeremy Guthrie. And we're off.

Trouble? What trouble?

Brian Roberts leadoff double and a five-pitch walk to Adam Jones put Hernandez in crisis mode almost before he was loose.

Felix settled in, got a fly ball and then a marvelous play at first from Russell Branyan, who smothered a ball for the second out.

Melvin Mora tapped out to first, and the threat was gone.

Look, mom - a run!

Jose Lopez took an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left field for his seventh home run.

Yes, that's a run. And a lead. The Mariners dugout appears stunned.

In the second: Mariners 1, Orioles 0

Ouch, ouch, ouch

Franklin Gutierrez fouled a pitch off is left knee during his third-inning at-bat, and it clearly was hurting him.

He grounded out, and when the Mariners took the field, he stayed behind.

Endy Chavez now in center field, Wladimir Balentien in left. Any other outfield injuries, we might see Junior out there.

Look, mom - another run!

Adrian Beltre safe on an error, and with one out Lopez singled into right field, sending Beltre to third base.

Yuni came up, grounded out to shortstop and pushed Beltre home.

Yikes!

In the fourth: Mariners 2, Orioles 0

Orioles and Mother Nature threaten

Matt Wieters leadoff double and a one-out RBI single from Brian Roberts tightened the game, and well out beyond the ball park, lightning flashed.

A sign from Mother Nature?

The crowd here is unbothered by such storm warnings - but no one in the press box has volunteered to go sit in the upper deck.

Felix, meanwhile, struck out Adam Jones and appeared to twist his left ankle. He told the team trainer, Rick Griffin, that he was fine - but Nick Markakis doubled on a bullet down the right field line, putting runners at second and third base.

Aubrey Huff flied out.

After five: Mariners 2, Orioles 1

Jose, can you see?

Beltre doubled, Junior got him to third base with a long fly ball and Mr. Lopez launched his second home run of the night.

That's eight home runs and a team leading 35 RBI for the second baseman.

And it's a three-run lead for Felix.

In the sixth: Mariners 4, Orioles 1

Good night, Felix

Hernandez isn't laboring, per se, but he's slowing down on the mound, taking more time between pitches.

He's allowed Baltimore seven hits and worked out of his share of trouble tonight - only one 1-2-3 inning in the bunch.

After seven innings and 104 pitches, it's likely the eighth inning will belong to Sean White, the ninth to David Aardsma.

After seven: Mariners 4, Orioles 1

And in the end ...

Brilliant managing!

As Wakamatsu said, when your pitchers pitch and your hitters hit, it can look awfully easy out there.

White worked a perfect eighth, Aardsma a perfect ninth and - voila! - Felix is now 6-3 and the Mariners are 29-30.

Final score: Mariners 4, Orioles 1

Now that most everyone has read or heard that Brandon Morrow is headed for the Tacoma Rainiers starting rotation, the Mariners made it official today.

Manager Don Wakamatsu said the team wanted to do what was best for the young right-hander, and Morrow talked about his future.

"I'm not 25 yet, and it can take years to get to the top in this game," Morrow said. "I took the time to think about what I want o be doing when I'm 30, and that's starting."

Morrow blamed no one but himself for the strange season he's had so far - beginning wih his decision late in spring to return to the bullpen.

"I wanted to be with the team, help them any way I could, and I wasn't ready to be in the rotation," Morrow said. "I spent a lot of time trying to convince the team and myself I could close.

"I was hasty. I wasn't ready."

Wakamatsu said Morrow has been working on mechanics that improve his command, and Morrow said he'll take those to the minor leagues with him.

Morrow doesn't expect to be back soon.

"Last year I went down to improve my arm strength and we sort of knew I'd be back up in September," he said. "Now, there's no time table. In spring training, I was thinking short term. Now, I'm thinking long term.

Asked if he had to convince the Mariners he could start regularly despite having Type I diabetes, Morrow shrugged.

"I just threw that out in spring training, when I was trying to come up with reasons to go to the bullpen," he said. "I've started in the past, and it's never been an issue. I've never left the mound because of anything related to diabetes."

Wakamatsu wouldn't set a date, but it seems likely Morrow will join the Rainiers some time in the next week.

No real surprise here as reliever Denny Stark cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Tacoma.

Stark, 34, was designated for assignment on Sunday, June 7. The Mariners had 10 days to trade, release or outright his contract to the minors. Stark accepted the outright today, and will join the Rainiers on Friday in Sacramento.Stark was 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA (8 ER, 11.0 IP) in 9 relief appearances. He made his season debut May 3, his first Major League appearance since July 19, 2004. Discounting one bad outing (May 5 at Texas) in which he allowed 6 earned runs in 1.0 inning, Denny posted a 1.80 ERA in his other 8 games with Seattle this season

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik made the rounds of the local sportstalk radio this morning.

Here's his interview from Mitch in the Morning.

He also went on last night's postgame show with Shannon Drayer, and I'm still trying to locate that audio. Here it is. He also did a morning news show on KIRO as well, you can find it here.

And just cause I forgot to post, I was also on with Brock and Salk on Monday. You can listen to it here.

4 (113) James Jones, OF Long Island University
5 (143) Tyler Blandford, RHP Oklahoma State
6 (173) Shaver Hansen, 3B Baylor
7 (203) Brian Moran, LHP North Carolina
8 (233) Jimmy Gilheeney, LHP North Carolina State
9 (263) Trevor Coleman, C Missouri
10 (293) Vincent Catricala, 3B Hawaii
11 (323) Tim Morris, 1B St. John's N.Y.
12 (353) Andrew Carraway, RHP Virginia
13 (383) Matt Cerione, CF Georgia
14 (413) Adam Nelubowich, 3b Vauxhall HS, Vauxhall, Alberta
15 (443) Blake Keitzman, lhp Western Oregon
16 (473) Tillman Pugh, OF Gateway (Ariz.) CC
17 (503) Joseph Terry, 2B Cerritos (Calif.) CC
18 (533) Anthony Vasquez, LHP USC
19 (563) Eric Thomas, RHP Bethune Cookman
20 (593) Jonathan Hesketh, LHP New Mexico
21 (623) Daniel Cooper, RHP USC
22 (653) Drew Hayes, RHP Vanderbilt
23 (683) David Rollins, LHP San Jacinto (Texas) JC
24 (713) Carlton Tanabe, C Pearl City (Hawaii) HS
25 (743) Brandon Josselyn, RHP Yale
26 (773) Chris Sorce, RHP Troy
27 (803) Austin Hudson, RHP Central Florida
28 (833) Regan Flaherty, 1B Deering HS, Maine
29 (863) Brandon Haveman, OF Purdue
30 (893) Brandon Bantz, C Dallas Baptist Texas

Not a bad day for the Mariners. They take five position players - three college, two high school. Remember you'll be able to watch top pick Dustin Ackley and third-round pick Kyle Seager, who both play for the University of North Carolina on Sunday when the Heels take on Arizona State in the first round of the College World Series.

Here's my story from today.

Here's John McGrath's column on the draft.

This MLB.com story also has video of Ackley and other picks, and the comments from Jack Zduriencik and Tom McNamara

Here are some small bios and additional information and links for each.

1B/OF DUSTIN ACKLEY
University of North Carolina
Chosen: First round (second overall)
Vitals: 6-1 / 184
Bats/throws: Left/Right
Born: Feb. 26, 1988 in Winston Salem, NC
Skinny: The best position player in the draft, Ackley can run, hit for average and has potential for additional power. In three seasons with the Tarheels, he never hit below .400 and his on-base percentage never went below .448. Elbow surgery forced him to play first base much of the year, but with his arm healthy he will move to his natural position – centerfield.

Heading into his third College World Series, Ackley is batting .412 (103x250) with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 22 home runs and 70 RBI in 63 games this season. Ackley received ACC Player of the Year and First-Team Louisville Slugger All-America honors, becoming the first three-time All-America selection in Tar Heel baseball history.

In three seasons at North Carolina, Ackley has emerged as one of the best players in ACC history. He holds school career records for average (.410), hits (338), runs (225) and total bases (535). Ackley is a career .410 (338x824) hitter with 58 doubles, 11 triples, 39 home runs and 195 RBI. He has posted multiple hits in 105 of 204 career games (51%).

Here's the MLB draft report on Ackley

UNC bio

Here's the story from the Charlotte News Observer

How about a little youtube video?

SS NICHOLAS FRANKLIN
Lake Brantley High School, Almonte Springs, Fla.
Chosen: First round (27th overall)
Vitals: 6-1/170
Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
Born: March 2, 1991
Skinny: Labeled a “baseball rat” by those who have watched him play, Franklin is versatile athlete and a tireless worker. His high school has produced major leaguers Felipe Lopez (Diamondbacks), Rickie Weeks (Brewers), Jason Varitek (Red Sox) and top Oakland shortstop prospect Jemile Weeks. In his senior year, Franklin hit .538 with 11 home runs.

He has committed to playing at Auburn after a solid senior season in which he hit .538 with 11 home runs and was selected the Orlando Sentinel's baseball Player of the Year. Franklin, 18, was a member of the 2007 U.S. Youth National team that played in Venezuela.

Here's the MLB draft report on Franklin

Here's the Sun Sentinel's story on his selection.

Here's the Sun Sentinel's story on Franklin being player of the year.

And another story from the Sun Sentinel

Another scouting report from the Florida High School baseball report

Here's some youtube video from a year ago.

C STEVEN BARON
Ferguson High School, Miami, Fla.
Chosen: Sandwich pick (33rd overall)
Vitals: 6-0/190
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Born: Jan. 1, 1990
Skinny: Reports were that the Mariners had a pre-draft deal with Baron to take him at No. 33, earlier than he was projected. Baron is one of the top defensive catcher in the high school ranks. He threw out 13 of 24 runners attempted base stealers. The hitting is still coming along, he hit .345 with eight doubles and two homers and 16 RBI in 30 games his senior season.

Here's the MLB.com's draft report on Baron

Here's some comments from Baron in the Miami Herald's prep blog. It's also where this photo is from.

Here's the draft story from the Miami Herald. Baron this paragraph seems interesting.

Baron went to Seattle a day after high school graduation to work out for the Mariners. He indicated Tuesday that he might honor his commitment and play for Duke next season if he and his family cannot settle on a contract with the Mariners. Baron said he would like to sign a contract worth around $1.3 million. Meanwhile, Duke upped its scholarship offer to cover 90 percent of Baron's tuition, according to Baron.

''I have until August 15 to negotiate, and we'll see what happens,'' he said.

Here's another scouting report on Baron from a scouting service.

1B RICH POYTHRESS
University of Georgia
Chosen: Second round (51st overall)
Vitals: 6-4/245
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Born: Aug. 11, 1988
Skinny: A power-hitting first baseman, Poythress hit .376 with 25 home runs and a school record 86 RBI this past season. It was the second straight season he topped 70 RBI for the Bulldogs. An obvious first-team All-SEC selection, Poythress was also named to the SEC’s all-defensive team.

He was named the 2009 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association District IV Player of the Year. He hit three home runs in the Tallahassee Regional to lead Georgia to a 24-8 win over Ohio State. Poythress was also named a Louisville Slugger All-American and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.

Here's the MLB.com draft report on Poythress

Here's his U of Georgia bio

Here's a story from the Augusta Chronicle

Here's an interview with Poythress from a prospect blog

Here's a story on Poythress from last year when he was going to the CWS.

Here's some video of him making a good defensive play.

2B/3B KYLE SEAGER
University of North Carolina
Chosen: Third round (88th overall)
Vitals: 6-1/187
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Born: Nov. 3, 1987
Skinny: He projects as a second baseman since he doesn’t quite have the power of a third baseman. Seager is second behind Ackley on the Tarheels in hitting with a .386 batting average. He had 24 doubles, four triples, five home runs, while driving in 59 runs with a .480 on-base percentage.

Seager was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award as a sophomore when he set a single-season UNC record with 30 doubles. As a junior he was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

Here's the MLB.com draft report on Seager

UNC bio

Here's a story from his hometown newspaper.

The back-and forth career of Seattle right-hander Brandon Morrow – he’s a starter, no a reliever, no a starter – is about to take another turn.

It will land him, probably by the end of this week, in the starting rotation of the Tacoma Rainiers.

Morrow, the 24-year-old first-round draft pick in 2005, approached the team last month and told them he’d changed his mind about being a reliever. He wanted to be a starting pitcher.

What the Mariners want is a way to use Morrow and his 97 mph velocity, in a capacity that works for him and the team. This spring, when Morrow fell behind because of a tender elbow, he volunteered in the final week of camp to close.

Now that David Aardsma has seized that role, Morrow has used the last month to work on mechanics, especially driving his front foot toward the plate, not first base. After an adjustment period, Morrow seems to have taken to the change.

"It gives me more balance, better location," Morrow said.

Since Morrow doesn’t have a specific role in the Seattle bullpen, the team appears willing to send him to Class AAA and give him time – plenty of it – to return to the role he had in college.

What’s he need to do in Tacoma? Stay healthy, build his arm strength and pitch effectively.

Right or wrong, the team is concerned with his diabetes and isn’t certain Morrow can stand up to the rigors of, say, 175 innings a season. Morrow doesn’t doubt he can start regularly and wants the chance to prove it.

Within the week, it seems, he’s going to get that chance.

Look for the team to bring up Roy Corcoran and assign Morrow to Tacoma, then feel free to watch Morrow start for the Rainiers over the next month and a half, at least.

Things got pretty hectic around here over the last 10 minutes with scouting director Tom McNamara and GM Jack Zduriencik speaking to the media and Dustin Ackley speaking over a conference call.

First lets get to McNamara, who I think enjoys briefings with the press about as much as getting a root canal with no novacaine.

He personally saw Ackley play centerfield on a couple different occasions.

"We’re pretty comfortable with his athleticism and things he can do and the things he’ll be able to do," McNamara said.

They are projecting him as a centefielder, but they said if he had to left field, the Mariners would be fine with it.

As for the Tommy John surgery, McNamara didn't seem concerned.

"Like any other player that comes back from surgery, we just scouted him as much as possible, midway through the season we were pretty excited labeling Dustin as our guy," McNamara said.

About a month ago, McNamara thought Ackley was the guy for the Mariners.

"I’d say about a month ago, I started feeling pretty good, there were a couple guys out there were in the mix, but he kind of stood out for us," McNamara said. "When bring your GM to a game, you’re pretty much making a statement."

As for shortstop Nicholas Franklin, he's a switch hitter, and McNamara noted he went to the same high school - Lake Brantley as Jason Varitek, Felipe Lopez and Rickie Weeks.

"There's a term in basketball called a gym rat, well Franklin is a baseball rat," McNamara said. "He's a confident player with a lot of ability and we're excited to have him."

Jack Zduriencik was next on the podium and said, "For Tom's first draft, I'm very proud of what he accomplished. We're fortunate to get a guy who we think has a sweet swing. You see a lot of these guys that can hit for a high average and run over the years. We think this guy has the potential to be a middle of the lineup hitter that can get on base and hit for average."

Zduriencik saw him play as a freshman and saw him this year at the Boston College series.

"All of our scouts are pretty comfortable with the fact that the transition is going to be pretty easy."

"This is a player that we think can move up pretty quick. All the things you want to see as a hitter, he possesses those natural abilities."

As for Franklin Zduriencik said: "We were really hoping we would get a chance to get a middle infielder. This is a guy they targeted and we're very happy he was there."

The conference call with Dustin Ackley was interesting since most of the callers were seated next to each other talking on the phone to him.

"To be the Mariners first overall exciting," he said.

When asked about playing in the same outfield that Junior and Ichiro played in.

"That's crazy to think that I'm following in their footsteps, but I'm excited to take on that role," he said.

As for his preference of outfield positions, he was open.

"I've played all of them, if I had to play one of them, I'd probably prefer centerfield," he said.

On the status of his arm
"My arm right now is the best its ever been. I feel like I could play out there every day right now if I had to," he said.

Seattle is on a nine-game road trip that should give them the opportunity to win a lot of games - starting tonight here in Baltimore.

The Orioles are struggling, Colorado begins the night seven games below .500 and the Padres are, well, the Padres.

The Mariners open the night with a 28-29 record and the chance to get to .500 with a win. They'd love to throw a 7-2 record at this trip, but that means not looking ahead against anyone.

Tonight, it's Jason Vargas vs. Brad Bergesen.

And we're off.

That was fast

A bullet down the left field line for a double by Brian Roberts, a four-pitch walk, then a stolen base.

Naturally, Adam Jones drove in the run with a fielders choice, and the Mariners trail by one.

It's the kind of baseball Seattle loves to play, but the Orioles have a slightly more aggressive base-stealing leadoff man in Roberts than the Mariners have in Ichiro.

Roberts has 11 steals in 15 attempts, Ichiro has nine in 13 attempts.

Melvin Mora hit a two-out, two-run home run and Seattle was in a three-run hole - or was it?

The umpiring crew huddled to determine whether left fielder Endy Chavez was interfered with at the wall - then went in to view the television replays.

The game-changing result?

Mora was ruled out, so the two runs didn't count. Ouch.

After one: Orioles 1, Mariners 0

Could you leave Ichiro home?

Ichiro began the night with a career average of .370 against the Orioles, the highest in franchise history.

That's Baltimore history!

And then it went up. Ichiro is 2-for-2 already tonight, so can his eighth three-hit night of the season be far behind?

He might even trade a hit for a run. In the first inning, Ichiro singled and was forced at second base. In the third, he singled and was stranded at first.

No interference there

Vargas left a one-out pitch belt high to Nolan Reimold, and the outfielder hit it into the Orioles bullpen.

Two runs feels like a lot tonight, because while Vargas has allowed only five hits, Bergeson has allowed only three - two to Ichiro.

Seattle has not threatened, having had only one man in scoring position all game. Yes, Vargas has kept it close. No, the Mariners haven't shown much at the plate.

After five: Orioles 2, Mariners 0

Goodnight, Mr. Vargas

Vargas gave up a pair of two-out singles and was lifted in favor of Brandon Morrow, he of the new mechanics.

Since losing his closders job in April, Morrow has worked in the bullpen on his stride. His left foot used to point toward first base when he landed. Now? Home plate.

That's allowed him to drive the ball, regain is velocity and ... well, give up RBI singles like the one that greeted him on his second pitch.

Morrow got the third out.

After six: Orioles 3, Mariners 0

Hello, Georgie!

Against a team with a staff ERA of 5.29, the Mariners got to the ninth in with ... um ... no runs.

And there, they ran into old friend George Sherrill, one of the guys included in the Erik Bedard trade last year.

A situational lefty in Seattle, Sherrill is a closer in Baltimore and made the All-Star team last year enroute to 31 saves.

Against the heart of the Mariners lineup - Russell Branyan, Adrian Beltre, Ken Griffey Jr - Sherrill gave up a run with two outs to spoil the shutout.

Still, he earned his 12th save of '09.

It's a final: Orioles 3, Mariners 1

Despite the rain and heavenly fireworks, the storm has blown through Baltimore, and the Mariners-Orioles game is now scheduled to start at 7:20 p.m. here.

That's 4:20 p.m. back in God's country, and the field looks to be in great shape. Not much rain, really, just a lot of light and noise.

Here's some links to some features and stories on Ackley in the last week.

A nice feature about Ackley and his humbleness

Here's another from the Winston-Salem Journal

And here's another from ESPN the Magazine.

Finally, here's a blog post from Peter Gammons that leads with Ackley.

The Seattle Mariners selected 1B/OF Dustin Ackley with the second pick of the 2009 MLB amateur draft. The Washington Nationals did as predicted and selected right-hander Stephen Strasburg with the first pick.

"Dustin has had an excellent career at North Carolina and in our mind was the best position player in this year's draft," Mariners scouting director Tom McNamara said. "We feel we are adding a great combination of talent and character to our organization with this selection."

Ackley, 21, has played first base after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in the summer of 2008. The athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has also played the outfield at UNC. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, Ackley has played in 204 consecutive games, and helped lead UNC to a 158-46 record (.775) and three trips to the College World Series.

Heading into his third College World Series, Ackley is batting .412 (103x250) with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 22 home runs and 70 RBI in 63 games this season. Ackley received ACC Player of the Year and First-Team Louisville Slugger All-America honors, becoming the first three-time All-America selection in Tar Heel baseball history.

Ackley has emerged as one of the best players in ACC history. He holds school career records for batting average (.410), hits (338), runs (225) and total bases (535). Ackley is a career .410 (338x824) hitter with 58 doubles, 11 triples, 39 home runs and 195 RBI. He has posted multiple hits in 105 of 204 career games (51%).

Ackley has also been a clutch hitter during postseason play. He enters the CWS with a current 19-game post-season hitting streak (.506/42x83) and overall is a .398 hitter (47x118) in 28 post-season games.

Honors
* Three-Time All-American
* Three-Time ACC Selection
* 2009 ACC Player of the Year
* 2009 Golden Spikes Finalist
* 2009 Collegiate Baseball All-American (1B)
* 2009 Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player
* 2007 & 2008 All-CollegeWorld Series

7:14 -- The Mariners made their final pick of the day, selecting Ackley's teammate Kyle Seager - a 2B/3B - from UNC. That is all for the Mariners today. More stuff after I file my story.

6:29 -- With the 51st pick, the Mariners take first baseman Rich Poythress out of the University of Georgia.

6:01 -- The Mariners with the 33rd pick catcher Steven Baron. We talked about this earlier and DAve Cameron from the USS Mariner had said the Mariners had a pre-draft deal with him. He's considered to be the best defensive high school catcher.

5:16 -- The Mariners take Nicholas Franklin, a high school shortstop from Florida.

I really thought they were going with RHP Tanner Scheppers here, but they went shortstop. Perhaps its fitting on a day when Yuni Betancourt is sitting for the fourth straight game.

He's 6-1, 170 and has committed to Auburn.

5:06 --- Ackley and teammate Alex White were on MLB TV. And Ackley said he was surprised to be selected at No. 2. He might be the only one.

We are going to have a conference call with Ackley in about 10 minutes, right about the time the Mariners will be picking 27th, but you know what, we adjust that's what you do.

As Orian pointed out in the comments, I said Aaron Gibson, when I meant Kyle Gibson, Just a mistake of too many names at once.

4:55 Well any hopes that RHP Kyle Gibson would slip to the Mariners at pick 27 because of the stress fracture in his forearm have been dashed as the Twins take Gibson at No. 22.

Here's the last few poicks.

16. Diamondbacks: Bobby Borchering, 3B
17. Diamondbacks: A.J. Pollock, CF
18. Marlins: Chad James, LHP
19. Cardinals: Shelby Miller, RHP
20. Blue Jays: Chad Jenkins, RHP (
21. Astros: Jiovanni Mier, SS
22. Twins: AAron Gibson, RHP

4:21 --- Well, I've now cooled down since my temper tantrum.

Here's the last few picks

12. Royals: Aaron Crow, RHP -- Crow was drafted by the Nationals last season but didn't sign. He's been pitching in independent ball. It's a bit of a surprise that he's dropped this far, but it's a steal for the Royals, who are trying to build a staff around Zack Greinke and former No. 1 pick Luke Hochevar.

13. Athletics: Grant Green, SS -- Remember when there was some talk about the Mariners taking Green at No. 2 way back when. But he didn't have much of a year this year and there were some doubts that he could even play short at the big league level.
14. Rangers: Matthew Purke, LHP
15. Indians: Alex White, RHP -- the second UNC player to go in the first round.

The D'Backs have back to back picks here.

4:03 -- I've absolutely had it with this blog software. I write about three paragraphs on some picks and also toss in a joke about Bud Selig being dense and his haircut and it disappeared into the Internet ether.

How are you supposed to live blog when you have to wait five minutes before being able to edit the post? How? How? What if something important happens in that five minutes? Ok, that's my rant. We are supposedly getting new blog software soon. So I will shut up and apologize to the TNT for my ramblings.

Here's the picks that have transpired since then.

6. Giants: Zach Wheeler, RHP (
7. Braves: Mike Minor, LHP
8. Reds: Mike Leake, RHP
9. Tigers: Jacob Turner, RHP
10. Nationals: Drew Storen, RHP
11. Rockies: Tyler Matzek, LHP

I wonder if Bill Bavasi had any input with the Reds pick at No. 9. I'm going to say no, because I like the pick. I've watched Leake pitch a few times this season on TV and love him. Manager Don Wakamatsu and I talked about him the other day and Wakamatsu loved how he attacked hitters.

3:31 -- Jack Zduriencik is on the MLB Network right now, and he mentioned that he believes it will be a "short period of time till he's a big leaguer" when asked about when Ackley could be playing for the Mariners.

The Padres took Donovan Tate at No. 3, while the Pirates take catcher Tony Sanchez at No.4.

3:20 p.m. --- The Mariners take Dustin Ackley with the second pick. It's official. It's the right pick. And something that was expected since we were just handed bios on him, 10 seconds after the pick.

From the press release: "Dustin has had an excellent career at North CArolina and in our mind was the best position player in this year's draft," Mariners scouting director Tom McNamara said. "We feel we are adding a great combination of talent and character to our organization with this selection."

3:15 Well, that was anticlimactic ... Strasburg was taken, it's weird hearing a pick and not hearing New York Jets fans booing.

So Stephen Strasburg is going to the Washington Nationals. Rumors were that he was going to demand $50 million. He does have Satan, er, Scott Boras as his agent. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out. But I'm sure the dozens and dozens of Nationals fans are excited.

3:03 p.m. -- Obviously Strasburg will be taken with the first pick. Taking a pitcher with the first pick can be a dicey proposition. Joe Posnanski takes a look at this premise with on his awesome sports blog.

The host of this draft show -- I forget his name - yeah, his voice is already driving me insane.

Also, ESPN's Keith Law is reporting that the Pirates with the fourth pick will select catcher Tony Sanchez of Boston College. Sanchez was projected as a late first round pick, but supposed the Pirates have a pre-draft deal done, and he'll probably much less money than the fourth slot.

2:47 p.m. -- Well, we are here at Safeco Field awaiting the Mariners picks. I'm kind of trying to decide how to do this. I think we'll do it like we do the game updates, only I will list the time and keep the newest updates at the top.

A few things ... Baseball America which is largely a subscription site. However, it has a draft blog which is fantastic and free. So that's a useful guide.

Their draft guru Jim Callis is set on the Mariners taking Dustin Ackley.

The infield at Camden Yards is covered and the sky is angry - lightning and thunder directly overhead took out Seattle's batting practice.

The game is still expected to be played, but a delay is possible.

And now, more on and from Yuniesky Betancourt.

What manager Don Wakamatsu said is that he's rewarding the hard work of Ronny Cedeno, who has 'busted his butt' even when not playing, Wakamatsu said.

What must Betancourt do to get back in the lineup?

"He has to show he's prepared to play," Wakamatsu said.

Betancourt, who has had meetings with his manager and coaches all season, insists he's doing nothing different now than ever.

"I've been doing the same routine for years," Betancourt said. "I can't control the lineup. I'm doing whatever I've done in the past."

That, of course, may well be the issue. Betancourt has never been a hard worker, and the past four days have not served him well.

Since being out of the lineup, his teammates say, Betancourt has not taken a single ground ball.

And Monday, when 12 position players showed up for early batting practice, Betancourt was not among them.

"I was asleep on the plane when they announced that," Betancourt said.

Clearly, this management group - from general manager Jack Zduriencik to Wakamatsu and his coaches - have had enough of half-assed workouts and a failure to adjust.

The simple truth is, Betancourt has minor league options left, and one plan is to send him down and tell him he won't be back until he shows his work ethic has changed.

"You can't play a guy who doesn't work hard on a team where everyone else busts their ass," one Mariner said. "I don't know why this never happened before, but no one in this clubhouse has any doubts about why it's happened now."

Well, no one but Yuni.

Mike Hargrove thought about it, as did John McLaren and Jim Riggleman but Don Wakamatsu has done it - and for the fourth consecutive game, Yuniesky Betancourt is on the bench.

A message? More than that, Betancourt is being shown the team can play solid baseball without him.

Listening never worked. Virtually every big-league manager he's had - and Wakamatsu is his fourth - has told him what the issues are.

A lack of focus during games at shortstop. A lack of work before games. The tendency to chase bad pitches, no matter what count they come in.
The message here isn't just for Betancourt - it's for the entire roster, the whole organization. And it's simple.

Do what we ask, the way we teach it, or someone else will get your playing time. Someone who listens.

It's been received, loud and clear, by everyone but Yuni.

Tonight's lineup:
Ichiro RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Jose Lopez 2B
Endy Chavez LF
Ronny Cedeno SS
Jamie Burke C
Franklin Gutierrez CF

EDIT: My mistake on the labeling. As JP1717 points out, these aren't all first-round picks the first picks of that year's draft. Some are in the supplemental and such, so remember these aren't all first round picks, but the first pick the Mariners made that year.

Just for a reference, here are the first picks of the Mariners in the past. Some are good, Junior and Alex Rodriguez and Adam Jones, some were not good at the time like Michael Garciaparra, and some never panned out like Ryan Anderson (pictued above) and Patrick Lennon.

Take a look for yourself.

Mariners top draft picks
Year Player
1977 Dave Henderson, OF
1978 Tito Nanni, OF
1979 *Al Chambers, OF
1980 Darnell Coles, SS
1981 *Mike Moore,
1982 Spike Owen, SS
1983 Darrell Akerfelds, RHP
1984 Bill Swift, RHP
1985 Mike Campbell, RHP
1986 Patrick Lennon, SS
1987 *Ken Griffey Jr., OF
1988 Tino Martinez, 1B
1989 Roger Salkeld, RHP
1990 Marc Newfield, 1B
1991 Shawn Estes, LHP
1992 Ron Villone, LHP
1993 *Alex Rodriguez, SS
1994 Jason Varitek, C
1995 Jose Cruz, Jr.,
1996 Gil Meche, RHP
1997 Ryan Anderson, LHP
1998 Matt Thornton, LHP
1999 Ryan Christianson, C
2000 Sam Hays, LHP
2001 Michael Garciaparra, SS
2002 John Mayberry, Jr., 1B
2003 Adam Jones, OF
2004 Matt Tuiasosopo, SS
2005 Jeff Clement, C
2006 Brandon Morrow, RHP
2007 Phillippe Aumont, RHP
2008 Josh Fields, RHP
* First overall pick in draft

Today is the MLB amateur draft. Obviously it isn't like the NBA draft and nowhere near the NFL draft, which is three months of speculation and debate before it actually happens.

But this draft is important. As Mariners scouting director Tom McNamara called it, "the most important draft in the history of the organization."

Why?

Well the Mariners have six of the first 116 picks -- First round: No. 2, No. 27. Compensatory round: No. 33. Second round: No. 51. Third round: No. 82. Fourth round: No. 113.

Here's a pick list

"We've got to get this right," McNamara said several times. "It's big. It's real big."

McNamara is a long time scout, who scouted and signed Prince Fielder for the Brewers, and he's worked with GM Jack Zduriencik in Milwaukee. In my story for today's paper, you will find out, Zduriencik gave McNamara his first scouting job.

Obviously much of the talk swirls around the No. 2 pick. It would take a minor catastrophe for the Nats not to take Stephen Strasburg with the first pick. Most people believe the M's will take 1B/OF Dustin Ackley with the second pick. I have no problem with this. I've seen him play a few times on TV. I like that he can run, he's athletic, versatile and he hits, and hits it hard. He seems to understand how to hit and have an approach to it better than about three players on the Mariners right now.

If the Mariners somehow didn't take Ackley, there is some thought about right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow, or a longshot being lefty Tyler Matzek.

My guess is its Ackley, even though rumors are his agent Scott Boras will be looking for an $8 million signing bonus.

As for the rest of the draft, I will be the first to admit I'm not exactly an expert. I read what I can and watch what I can. If you are looking for further details, places like Baseball America (some subscription stories) and Keith Law and Jason Churchill's draft blog at ESPN.com (insider subscription) are good. Churchill's site Prospect Insider and the USS Mariner and Lookout Landing also have some good analysis and opinions on it.

One thing the USS Mariner mentioned is the possibility that the Mariners have already negotiated with high school catcher Steven Baron and sign him early at No. 33 for a lower slot price. The possible logic is to have additional money for the no. 27 pick.

Anyway, while I admit to not knowing everything about the draft, I will tell you I will be up at Safeco tomorrow and providing updates, and everything I can to make sure you know what's going on.

BOX SCORE

I don't know what to make of the win. First of all, the game seemed to drag at time. The Mariners went 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the series -- and yet they won two of three against a pretty good team in the Twins.

Why?

Well, Seattle pitchers also held the combo of Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau to 3-for-23 in the series.

Manager Don Wakamatsu used Garrett Olson on Saturday and Sunday to pitch to the duo in middle inning situations - like you would with a lefty specialist. Olson held them hitless.

“For two days in a row to have trust in Olson to face the heart of their order and for him to do what he did is phenomenal,” Wakamatsu said.

Could this be a future role for Olson? Maybe. But at least Wakamatsu knows he can use him in that situation if needed.

“After what he did the last two days, if I don’t have the belief system I don’t know who will,” Wakamatsu said.

Still, Olson isn't a classic left on left guy and his versatility and ability to spot start is important.

Some of may wonder why Sean White got the closing duties instead of Mark Lowe, who Wak said would close before the game. Well, Wak saw Morneau and Mauer most likely coming up in the ninth and he decided to use White, who's change-up and movement on his fastball are a little bit better against lefties.

A few other things ...
Mr. C.B. Bucknor and his floating strike zone didn't have many fans in either clubhouse. Nobody would comment directly.

“I don’t think (Erik) had much help there and I think it bothered a little bit on a few of the close calls,” Wakamatsu said.

“A couple of those were pretty close,” catcher Jamie Burke said. “That’s the way this game goes, you just can’t get discouraged, you just have to focus on the next pitch.”

And Bedard?

"It wasn't bad," he said, not wanting to discuss it further.

Well, I thought Bucknor was bad, but he was at least bad for both teams.

Wakamatsu was asked if Yuniesky Betancourt would start on Tuesday, and he replied, "I haven't decided on that yet."

TWINS NOTES:
• The Twins are now 5-14 in day games this season…have lost 11 of their last 18 games overall.
• Brendan Harris went 1x3 and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a double in the in the 6th inning…during the streak he is hitting .348 (16x46) with 3 runs, 5 doubles, a home run and 2 RBI.
• Kevin Slowey snapped a 4-game win streak, allowing a season-high 3 home runs today…5 of 12 home runs allowed this season have come against the Mariners…of 35 runs allowed this season, 16 have been via home run (46%).
• Denard Span had his first hit of the series, a leadoff single in the 1st inning, going 2x4 for the day…Span has now hit safely in 13 of last 18 games, going 23x69 (.333) with a double, 3 home runs and 6 RBI.
• Joe Mauer went 1x4 With a double in the 4th inning and a run scored…in 39 career games vs. Seattle, Mauer has a career average of .396 (57x144) with 16 doubles, 5 home runs, and 25 RBI.
• The Twins did not commit an error today for the 43rd time this season (58 games). They have committed just 2 errors in their last 10 games and lead the American League in fewest errors with just 21.

MARINERS NOTES:
• Seattle has won each of last 3 series (MIN, BAL, LAA) and 4 of last 5 (SF)...is now 9-6 in their last 15 games.
• Seattle and Minnesota finished their season series at 5-5...Seattle pitching held Minnesota to 2 runs or less in 5 of those, including all 3 at Safeco Field for a 1.29 ERA (4 ER, 28.0 IP) at home.
• Mariners hit season-high-tying 3 home runs (last: 5/13 at TEX) with solo shots from Branyan, Lopez, Jamie Burke.
• Erik Bedard earned his first career victory against the Twins, they were the only American League team that he had yet to defeat, he had been winless in 9 career starts and was 0-5 with a 4.80 ERA (24 ER, 45.0 IP)…has now allowed
2 earned runs or less in his last 7 consecutive starts at home and for the 12th time in 13 games.
• Sean White recorded his first Major League save, and extended his streak to 16.0 scoreless innings, 3rd in the AL.
• Russell Branyan hit his team-leading 13th home run of the season to score the first run of the game in the first inning.
Branyan went 2x4 today and now has a hit in 20 of 25 home games (.333/28x84)
• Catcher Jamie Burke, after being selected from Triple-ATacoma this morning, collected 2 hits, including the 3rd home run of his career in the 5th inning, going 2x4 today.
• Ichiro Suzuki went 2x4 and has at least 1 hit in 35 of his last 38 games (.372/61x164) and has reached base safely in 37 consecutive games, the longest active streak for any player in the American League.
• Adrian Beltre went 2x4 with a run scored…he is tied with Russell Branyan for 2nd most multi-hit games this season with 15 (Ichiro – 23)…Beltre is batting .353 (24x68) with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 10 RBI over his last 16 games.
• Jose Lopez went 3x5 with an RBI double in the 3rd and home run in the 5th…has 5 three-hit games this season... has 9 extra-base hits in last 13 games and 2 multi-extra base hits in last 5 games, ranks among best in American League.
• Seattle was 0x13 with runners in scoring position the last two days, but has won both games.

Top of 1st
The Interview looking okay. Going to be interesting with C.B. Bucknor behind the plate today. The guy is perennially voted as having the worst strike zone in all of baseball. It has a tendency to float. He also isn't the most accepting of comments or criticism about his performance.

Bottom of 1st
Russell Branyan with a long home run to center field. I can't wait for the FSN interview tonight with him. That's an inside joke some of you may have heard of if you listened to KJR at all on Thursday and Friday or to me in Friday's weekly segment with Ian Furness.

Beltre with a single, and Griffey with a walk, but the inning bogs down with Lopez and Cedeno.

Top of 2nd
Bedard gets himself into trouble with the help of Bucknor's floating strike zone, including back-to-back walks, but he rallies to strike out Alexi Casilla to end the inning. However, he is at 51 pitches after two innings. That's not a good sign.

Bottom of 2nd
Jamie Burke with a single in his first at-bat of the game.

Top of 3rd
A little better inning for Bedard, who kept his pitches down and finished with 62 at the end of the inning.

Bottom of 3rd
The Mariners have a two-run lead! Adrian BEltre leads off with a bloop single and then Jose Lopez followed with an RBI double to right-center. M's up 2-0. Maybe it won't be a one-run game today.

Bottom of 4th
The Mariners load the bases for Junior. He takes some exception to one of Bucknor's strike calls, which is rare for Junior. And then he grounds out hard to short, even giving a bit of a stare back to Bucknor again.

Top of 5th
The Twins tie the game as Denard Span draws a lead-off walk, Joe Mauer singles and the Twins use a hard ground ball to second and a sac fly to score the runs. Bedard is at 101 pitches. I don't know that we'll see him in the sixth.

Bottom of 5th
The Mariners take the lead on a solo homer from Jose Lopez. And get another homer from Jamie Burke of all people. Like columnist John McGrath, they call up one of the few guys from Tacoma not known to hit homers and he hits one out.

That's all for Slowey, and old friend R.A. Dickey comes into the game. I never got a chance to say to R.A. this weekend. But he's still one of the good guys in the game.

Top of 8th
Is it me, or is this game just dragging along?

Top of 9th
David Aardsma isn't available, and Mark Lowe threw a lot of pitches in the eighth so Sean White is on to shut the door. White does the job, it gets a little scary there, but the Mariners get the win and series win.

The Mariners were forced to make a roster move with Rob Johnson's sore foot not getting any better, so they called up catcher Jamie Burke from Tacoma and designated reliever Denny Stark for assignment.

"Rob is much better today," Wakamatsu said. "He was on crutches yesterday. But it's something that we think is going to heal up pretty fairly fast."

Johnson could have played on an emergency basis on Tuesday, but Wakamatsu is looking at having him ready by the end of the Baltimore series. That's why Wakamatsu decided to not to put him on the disabled list.

"It's unfortunate for Denny, but the way these games have gone and the way we have been forced to use the bullpen, he hasn't pitched a whole lot," Wakamatsu said.

Stark has only pitched once since May 25th. He appeared in nine games, and finished with an 0-1 record and a 6.55 ERA.

"If you take the 1/3 of an inning away, his numbers are awfully good," Wakamatsu said.

That third of an inning was against Texas when he gave up five runs on six hits.

Burke is starting at catcher today.

Ryan Rowland-Smith will not start Thursday against the Orioles like he had hoped. Wakamatsu said they are sending Rowland-Smith back to Triple A Tacoma and there is no timetable on his return.

"It was and it wasn't the fact that his outing wasn't where we thought it was," Wakamatsu said. "There's a reason why for the 14 hits. It's not just a bad outing and that's what we tried to convince him."

Rowland-Smith tried to convince the staff he's ready to return, but Wakamatsu felt different.

"In fairness to this club, in fairness to the bullpen, in fairness to him, it behooves us to have him pitch a little more down there," he said.

Rowland-Smith's reduced velocity is also a bit of a factor, Wakamatsu admitted.

"That's part of not wanting to expedite this," Wakamatsu said. "If he would have been electric down there and maybe been at 89, maybe it's a different story. The velocity comes into play and with that, is his arm truly in shape? That was his fifth outing and his longest one."

Wakamatsu's thinking on this a direct reflection of the struggles of Brandon Morrow.

"I think I learned a valuable lesson with Morrow," he said. "You can't just throw them right back into the fire."

Line-ups
For the third straight day, Yuni Betancourt is out of the line-up. And no, it's not to get Ronny Cedeno more playing time. Cedeno is nursing a nasty contusion on his leg from fouling two balls off his shin. Yuni is sitting out for a reason. My guess is his approach and the attitude he has displayed on the days he isn't playing haven't helped. I know the coaching staff does not care for his preparation, his commitment to getting better and his attitude about the whole situation.

Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Jose Lopez 2B
Ronny Cedeno SS
Endy Chavez LF
Jamie Burke C
Franklin Gutierrez CF
----------
Erik Bedard (4-2, 2.37 ERA)

Twins
Denard Span LF
Joe Mauer C
Justin Morneau DH
Joe Crede 3B
Jason Kubel RF
Michaels Cuddyer 1B
Brendan Harris SS
Carlos Gomez CF
Alexi Casilla 2B
------
Kevin Slowey (8-1, 3.97 ERA)

BOX SCORE

Here's my game story.

Columnist Dave Boling was also at the game and filed this column on Jarrod Washburn.

Not much to say, it's late and most of the stuff was covered in either my story or Dave's column.

One thing -- if you were looking for quotes from Junior on his game winning hit, you won't get any. He was long gone when we got in there. And if you notice, Junior is rarely quoted when he delivers game winning hits and key homers in wins. He doesn't usually prefer to talk about them. He's more apt to speak when the team is struggling. When the team wins, he wants others to get some glory. Understandable.

He talked to me before the game and guaranteed he could still dunk a basketball with ease, he just can't deliver the reverse dunk.

Also, Ryan Rowland-Smith hinted to some other reporters that he probably won't start in Baltimore on Thursday and instead do another rehab start. I don't know that it will make a difference either way. I understand his frustration and there is no more genuine guy in the Mariners organization than RRS. But he needs to be patient with his return, even though I know it is tough for him to be patient. I respect the fact that he wants to go out and pitch and compete.

GAME NOTES
TWINS NOTES:
• Nick Blackburn took the no decision after winning his last 3 starts…hasn’t lost since May 5 @DET…over his last 4 outings, has allowed just 4 ER in 27.0 IP (1.48 ERA)… in 12 starts this season, 8 have been quality while allowing 1 ER or less in 5 of 12 starts this year.
• Brendan Harris extended his hitting streak to a career-high, 11-games with a single in the in the 2nd inning…during the streak he is hitting .349 (15x43) with 3 runs, 4 doubles, a home run and 2 RBI.
• Joe Crede scored the first run of the game and went 2x4, tying his season-high for hits…his 8th multi-hit game on the season.

MARINERS NOTES:
• Jarrod Washburn recorded his 2nd-highest strikeout total this season (6) while throwing his 8th quality start… along with Felix Hernandez, leads the M’s in quality starts…over his last 3 outings, has allowed just 2 runs in 19.0 innings (0.95 ERA)…now allowed 2 ER or less in 8 of his 11 starts…against Minnesota this season, he remains 1-0, but drops his season ERA against the Twins to 0.64.
• Washburn and the M’s got out of a 1-out bases loaded jam in the 3rd, striking out Justin Morneau and catching Delmon Young, attempting to advance from 3rd to home on a pitch that got away from the catcher (no PB or WP).
• After having his team-record, 27 game hit streak snapped on Friday, Ichiro went back to hitting… going 3x4, including a 2-out, RBI double in the 5th as well as scoring the go ahead run in the 8th… had his 23rd multi-hit game, 7th with 3 or more hits on the year…has now safely reached base in 36 consecutive games, the longest streak in the AL this season… Nationals R. Zimmerman has longest streak in ML this season (43).
• Ken Griffey Jr. doubled in Ichiro for the go-ahead run in the 8th inning… has 5 extra base hits in his last 4 starts.
• David Aardsma made his 28th appearance on the season, tied for the AL lead… recorded his 9th save… is 9-for-10 in save opportunities…allowed runs in just 1 of his last 18 outings (18.0 IP, 3 ER, 22 K).
• Saturday’s win was the 15th come from behind win for The Mariners, their 9th since the start of May.
• The Seattle bullpen has allowed only 1 earned run in their last 5 games spanning 14.1 innings (0.63 ERA).
• Seattle held the Twins to 1 run today...they have held opponents to 1 run or less in 10 games this season, including 3 against the Twins.

One thing I forgot mention last night was that left-handed reliever Tyler Johnson was released by the Rainiers.

Johnson, who hadn't pitched much for the Rainiers and was slow to recover from offseason arm surgery in the spring, had a clause in his contract that he could be released by July 1st if he didn't make the major league club.

But Johnson, who was a little off and plenty sure of himself, was released last night instead.

The Mariners had hoped Johnson could be their lefty specialist in the bullpen, but he never could quite get the command and location needed to be successful.

He pitched in four games for a total of 2 2/3 innings allowing nine runs on eight hits with two homers.

Also former Mariner Horacio Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals, according to the KC Star's Bob Dutton.

My only question on that: What took so long?

I love day baseball, but I hate that on Saturday's Fox gets to black out certain games in certain coverage areas, even for people with the Extra Innings package. The logic behind this drives me crazier than Vicente Padilla.

Oh it's Latin Beisbol Day here at Safeco. The Mariners have a rather large contingent of Latin Players.

Also I didn't mention this before but Yuni sitting for the second straight day, isn't just to get Ronny more playing time.

Top of 1st
Washburn faces three lefties and gets three outs.

Bottom of 1st
The Mariners get a ground rule double from Branyan and a walk from Junior but nothing else.

Top of 2nd
Ronny Cedeno with a nifty little pick to start the double play.

Bottom of 2nd
The Mariners go down meekly 1-2-3, the bottom of this order isn't exaclty an offensive juggernaut.

Top of 3rd
Washburn gets out of the inning by sailing a splitfinger off the backstop and then tagging out the runner out home on some good hustle from Guillermo Quiroz --- just how you draw it up.

Bottom of 3rd
Ichiro starts another hit streak with a single to right.

Top of 4th
Mike Redmond slices a double just past Ichiro to score a run.

Bottom of 4th
Washburn has now struck out Denard Span three times in the game.

Top of 5th
No major issues for Washburn

Bottom of 5th
The Mariners score! I don't believe it! The Mariners score! Just kidding. Anyway, Gutierrez beats out an infield singles and the scores from first on Ichiro's double to right field.

Top of 6th
Washburn gets out with only allowing a hit, but is done for the day -- he pitched six innings, allowing one run on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Bottom of 6th
Washburn doesn't figure in the decision. Since the Mariners can't score. So that's three straight starts where Washburn has allowed one run or less and won't get a win.

Top of 7th
Morrow gets in a minor jam thanks to a double from Alexi Casilla and an error from Jose Lopez. Wak goes to Garrett Olson to face Joe Mauer and he gets him to ground out to end the inning.

Ryan Rowland-Smith met with manager Don Wakamatsu and pitching coach Rick Adair for about 20 minutes before Wakamatsu met with the local media. Obviously they were discussing Rowland-Smith's outing last night in Tacoma - which he called "the worst" of his professional career.

I was there for it. You can read the game story here.

The numbers weren't good -- 12 runs, 14 hits, three walks, a hit batter and no strikeouts.

Well there could be repercussions for Rowland-Smith because of the outing, meaning he might not pitch on Thursday in Baltimore.

"We're going to make a decision on that," Wakamatsu said. "The one thing with him right now is that we have to make sure this guy is ready to pitch on Thursday. The outing last night was obviously not what we were looking for."

Wakamatsu is going to talk with Rainiers manager Daren Brown, Rainiers pitching coach Dwight Bernard, GM Jack Zduriencik and also consult with Adair before making a decision.

"You have to judge that outing, is it safer to say go down and get another start," Wakamatsu said. "We want to make sure we make the right decision. It's not always about the numbers. Is there an angle to it? Were they softly hit balls? We have to find that out."

Well, since I was there, I will tell you it was a mixture of things. RRS's command wasn't great. He fell behind a few times and got punished for it. But take for example the first inning where he gave up two runs on four straight hits to start the game. All four of those hits were groundballs that weren't hit very hard and got through. To be fair, the Rainiers - with six first baseman on the roster - aren't exactly rolling out the best defensive line-up.

In the third, where he gave up a couple runs, there were a few balls hit to the gap. One of them Michael Saunders was about an inch away from making a spectacular catch. The other a triple to right-center was also aided by the fact that Brad Nelson - a first baseman normally and not exactly the fleetest of foot - was playing right field.

In the fifth when things got completely out of hand, Rowland-Smith loaded the bases, got an out and then barely hit a batter with bases loaded (scraped the guys jersey). He gave up a well hit double, but left with the bases loaded and Jared Wells served up a double to clear the bases.

As I wrote in my story, those numbers would have never got so out of hand but they left him in simply for the fact that he had to get his pitches in, which Brown reaffirmed after the game.

Have I seen RRS pitch better? Definitely. His curveball was ok, but his fastball location wasn't good enough to set up the breaking ball or the change-up. He's not an overpowering pitcher and location and command are a necessity for him to be successful.

If I had one concern it was his velocity. His fastball sat consistently in the 85 to 86 range (this from the Rainiers' team gun not the stadium gun) and he topped out at 88. We saw a little of this in spring training as well where his velocity had dipped. Last season Rowland-Smith's fastball usually averaged around 88 and topped out and 91-92. It may not seem like a big difference but it is.

Obviously, he hasn't thrown enough this season because of the injury to perhaps build up the arm strength and the velocity. But the velocity makes a difference in getting outs.

And that's the concern for Wakamatsu: Can Rowland-Smith get outs if they send him out there? And since he's only pitched once this season before getting hurt there really isn't a body of work to call on for Wak to find that "trust factor."

"If there was a little more than one outing you might give him the benefit of the doubt," he said. "We accomplished the one thing and that is getting his pitch count up."

Here's the line-up for the Mariners ... a few notes Rob Johnson is badly beat up. He took a ball of the instep of his foot and inflamed the tendon in there. Wakamatsu said it isn't bad enough to DL him yet, but he may miss a few days.

MARINERS
Ichiro RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Jose Lopez 2B
Ronny Cedeno SS
Endy Chavez LF
Guillemro Quiroz C
Franklin Gutierrez CF
----------
LHP Jarrod Washburn

Felix Hernandez and Franicsco Liriano have been matched up before, and while Liriano has struggled this season he's no one to take lightly.

Ask Yuniesky Betancourt, who is sitting this one out. His career numbers vs. Liriano: 1-for-14. Ronny Cedeno, starting in his place, has never faced Liriano.

Against the Twins, Felix has always pitched well, without always winning. He's 3-3 despite a career 2.98 ERA.

In a case of mutual need tonight, the Mariners would love about eight innings from their ace - and Hernandez would love about four runs.

As for Ichiro, he starts the night with a 27-game hitting streak, the 11th longest in the majors since 2000 - and the second longest in baseball this season.

We're off.

Mr. Sweeney lives

Mike Sweeney batted .182 in May, and some folks began losing faith in him as a viable DH.

In the lineup tonight, Sweeney's second-inning solo home run has given Hernandez a lead. - and in a game like this, ever run is magnified.

The pitchers are dealing.

After two: Mariners 1, Twins 0

Really small ball

Two balls bounced past third and fielded by Cedeno at shortstop became base hits - not misplayed, but perfectly placed - and the Twins bunted those runners to second and third base.

Joe Mauer walked to load 'em up and Justin Morneau walked to the plate already owning 50 RBI.

That, folks, is your classic jam.

Morneau flied out deep enough to score one run, but Felix got a ground ball to get out of the inning.

The only ball hit hard was Morneau's fly.

In the third: Twins 1, Mariners 1

An opportunity missed

Ichiro drew a two-out walk, Russell Branyan singled him to third base and Adrian Beltre coaxed a walk on a 3-2 pitch from Liriano.

That brought up Sweeney with the bases loaded and Liriano laboring - his 57th pitch pushed the count to Sweeney to 3-2.

On pitch No. 58, Sweeney flied out.

After three: Mariners 1, Twins 1

Not Ichiro's night?

Ichiro's third plate appearance of the night came with Cedeno perched on second base with one out.

Ichiro tapped out to second base, and is now 0-for-2 with a walk, and the game remains tied.

After five: Mariners 1, Twins 1

Not Felix's night?

The Mariners ace pitche like on, going seven strong innings and giving up just one run on a couple of excuse-me ground ball infield singles.

He controlled the two most dangerous Twins hitters - Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. He battled out of a couple of troublesome innings.

Now he's done, pulled by his manager after 111 pitches - quite a few thrown under duress.

Felix can't lose, but cannot win, either.
Seattle was held scoreless in the seventh inning, with Ichiro's weak grounder the final out.

Sean White now pitching.

After seven: Mariners 1, Twins 1

And now, the bottom of the ninth

White worked the eighth inning, David Aardsma the ninth and the Mariners will be coming up the bottom of the ninth with the chance to win by scoring a run.

Can they?

They'll start with Jose Lopez, Wladimir Balentien and Rob Johnson.

One thing to keep in mind. The Mariners have four walk-off, game-winning hits this season. Lopez has two of them.

To the bottom of the ninth: Mariners 1, Twins 1

Extra innings, anyone?

Mauer just doubled, hitting a slicing ball to the wall in left field that Balentien couldn't make a play on - looking bad in the process.

Mark Lowe intentionally walked Morneau.
Gutierrez then turned in one of the finest plays of the season, out-running Jason Kubel's fly ball before leaping and spearing the ball just as it was clearing the fence.

Spectacular catch - but it got Mauer to third base with one.

The Twins then called a suicide squeeze, and the Mariners countered with a pitchout, leavin Mauer hung up and tagged out.

All that, and Balentien then dropped the third out - a fly ball to left from Matt Tolbert, allowing Morneau to score.

In the 10th: Twins 2, Mariners 1

Just another battle of young Latino pitchers, Venezuelan Felix Hernandez vs. the Dominicans Francisco Liriano - two guys who don't figure to give up a lot of runs in Safeco Field.

It's also a return to Seattle for knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, now a Twins reliever.

Here's Don Wakamatsu's lineup:
Ichiro RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mike Sweeney DH
Jose Lopez 2B
Wladimir Balentien LF
Rob Johnson C
Ronny Cedenno SS
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Felix Hernandez RHP

Sad news for J.J. Putz, who has struggled for the Mets most of the season, was demoted out of the eighth-inning set-up role and is now facing elbow surgery.

Here's the story from the NY Daily News.

I really wasn't skeptical of the Putz trade during the winter meetings, though I did get a few e-mails from people who weren't pleased.

I'm thinking they may change their mind now.

Yesterday’s Results Standings Winner/Loser/Save
Reno 10, at Tacoma 4 --- 28-25, 3rd, -3.5 --- L-J. Thomas (0-2)
at Mississippi 2, West Tenn 0 --- 22-31, T3rd, -8.5 --- L-D. Christensen (0-3)
Inland Empire 6, at High Desert 2 --- 34-19, 1st, +5.0 --- L-D. Hume (5-3)
Kane County 3, at Clinton 1 --- 26-26, 4th, -7.0 --- L-A. Pribanic (4-2)

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (Pacific Coast League)
Meg Wochnick's story from the News Tribune
BOX SCORE

Pitching Lines:
RH Doug Fister 5.2,8,2,2,0,6
RH Eric Hull 1.1,0,0,0,1,1
LH Justin Thomas (L, 0-2) 1.1,4,4,4,1,1
RH Brodie Downs 0.2,4,4,4,3,0
With the Bats:
DH Jeff Clement 1x5, 2 RBI
Rainiers Notes: The Rainiers bullpen allowed 8 runs over the final two innings in a 10-4 loss to the Reno Aces. LHP Justin Thomas (0- 2) took the loss allowing 4 hits and 4 runs in 1.1 IP. A night after having his 20-game hit streak snapped, DH Jeff Clement started a new streak going 1-for-5 with 2 RBI. His 2-run single in the 5th inning gave the Rainiers a 4-1 lead. CF Michael Saunders scored a run in his 24th consecutive game (31 runs during streak). 3B Chris Shelton went 1-for-5 with one RBI to extend his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games (.400/18x45). Over his last 25 games (since May 1), Shelton is batting .393 (42x107), raising his season average from .227 to .324. Starting pitcher Doug Fister recorded a no-decision, scattering 8 hits and 2 runs in 5.2 innings. Fister tied his season-high with 6 strikeout and did not walk a batter.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Chris Seddon (3-3, 5.59) vs. Reno

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
BOX SCORE

Pitching Lines:
LH Danny Christensen (L, 0-3) 7.0,2,1,1,2,3
RH Josh Fields 1.0,1,1,1,0,2,HR
With the Bats:
CF Greg Halman 2x4, 2B
D-Jaxx Notes: For the second time in three games, the Diamond Jaxx were shut out by the Mississippi Braves, 2-0. Left-hander Danny Christensen (0-3) gave the Jaxx 7.0 solid innings (2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and took a no-hitter into the 6th inning, but did not get any run support. It was the 8th time this season the Jaxx have been held scoreless. West Tenn out-hit the Braves 7-3, but left 8 men on base and were 1-for-7 with RISP. CF Greg Halman went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the club at the plate. The Diamond Jaxx are now 7-10 in one-run games and 2-5 in games decided by 2 runs. In the series against the Braves, Jaxx starters Steve Bray, Kyle Parker and Danny Christensen have allowed just one run 21.0 innings pitched.
Today’s probable starters:
RH Justin Souza (4-3, 3.16) at Mississippi

A High Desert Mavericks (California League)
BOX SCORE
Pitching Lines:
LH Donnie Hume (L, 5-3) 6.0,8,4,4,1,2
LH Edward Paredes 1.0,3,2,2,0,0
RH Juan Zapata 1.0,1,0,0,0,1
RH Aaron Jensen 1.0,0,0,0,1,1
With the Bats:
DH James McOwen 2x4
SS Juan Diaz 1x3, 2B
C Travis Scott 1x4, R, HR, RBI
Mavericks Notes: The Mavericks hit into a season-high 4 double plays and went hitless with runners in scoring position (0x8), falling to Inland Empire 6-2 Wednesday night at Mavericks Stadium. The Mavs have dropped 5 of their last 7 games, but still hold a 5.0-game lead in the California League Southern Division. Mavs starter Donnie Hume picked up the loss, although he pitched better than the line would indicate. Hume (5-3) allowed 4 runs on 8 hits over 6.0 innings. C Travis Scott went 1-for-4 with his 9th home run of the season. Scott is batting .417 (15x36) with 2 home runs and 8 RBI over his last 10 games. CF Tyson Gillies was 1-for-4 in the leadoff spot, extending his hitting streak to 4 games. Gillies has reached base safely (H+BB+HBP) in 45 of 47 games this season, and ranks 3rd in the California League with a .423 on-base percentage.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Nathan Adcock (4-2, 3.55) at Stockton

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League)
BOX SCORE
Pitching Lines:
RH Aaron Pribanic (L, 4-2) 3.0,1,1,1,1,4
RH Blake Nation 3.0,3,1,1,1,2
RH Ryan Moorer 2.0,1,0,0,0,1
RH Cheyne Hann 1.0,1,1,1,0,2,HR
With the Bats:
1B Scott Savastano 4x4, R, 2B
RF Denny Almonte 1x3, 3B
Lumberkings Notes: The LumberKings dropped their second consecutive 2-run game in a 3-1 loss to the Kane County Cougars. RH Aaron Pribanic returned from the disabled list to allow one hit and one run in 3.0 innings (45 pitches). 1B Scott Savastano recorded a team-high 4 hits, including his 5th double of the season. Savastano, the Mariners 28th round selection out of Franklin Pierce (NH) University, has recorded a hit in 9 of his last 10 games (.312/10x32) to raise his average from .270 to .292. LumberKings ace Brett Lorin makes his 11th start of the season tonight vs. Kane County.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Brett Lorin (4-2, 1.79) vs. Kane County

When Jason Vargas throws his first pitch tonight, he'll be part of Seattle Mariners history - the first time the started four consecutive but different left-handed pitchers.

The streak began Sunday with Garrett Olson and now includes Jarrod Washburn, Erik Bedard and Vargas.

It's a strange piece of triva, because the Mariners used six consecutive lefties around the '98 All-Star game - but Jeff Fassero, Jamie Moyer and Randy Johnson twice each in that stretch.

Vargas is ready, Ichiro is hoping to continue The Streak - now 26 games in a row - and Mariners fans are right to wonder whether Ken Griffey Jr. can do all summer what he did 24 hours ago.

Junior doubled twice and homered Tuesday, the 22nd time in his career he had three or more extra base hits in a game.

The Mariners could use a bunch of those games.

We're off - Vargas vs. Brad Bergesen.

Let's think about this

Nick Markakis singled with two outs and Aubrey Huff hit a ball that appeared to wrap around the right field foul pole for a home run.

After both men had circled the bases, the four-man umpiring crew huddled and ruled the ball foul.

That brought the Orioles out of their dugout in protest, and the umpiring crew left the field to view a television replay while fans waited.

When the crew returned, the call was: foul ball.

Huff then grounded out. No score.

That one counts

Designated hitter Luke Scott hit his 12th home run of the season deep into right center field, where no umpire could mistake it for a foul ball.

It could easily be 3-0, but it's not.

In the third: Orioles 1, Mariners 0

The Streak lives, the Mariners lead

One out into the third inning, Ichiro singled into right field - and his hitting streak is now a team-record 27 consecutive games.

One out later, Adrian Beltre stayed hot with his fourth home run, and the Mariners had a lead.

In the fourth: Mariners 2, Orioles 1

How many outs an inning?

Vargas just earned a little more respect in the fourth inning, getting out of the same jam - twice.

With two on and one out, he got a double play ground ball to Beltre, who bobbled it and got no one, loading the bases.

Vargas calmly got the next batter to ground into a double play.

If you're counting, that's five outs he got without allowing a run. That's pitching.

And we are tied

One out in the sixth, a one-run lead for Seattle and two Baltimore runners on base. Vargas looked weary after allowing two hits.

The team went to Chris Jakubauskas, who got a fly ball out from Melvin Mora, but Scott doubled a run home to tie.

Catcher Rob Johnson then pickd Huff off third base, ending the inning. Vargas will get no decision.

In the sixth: Mariners 2, Orioles 2

Oh, for a hit

The old familiar issue cropped up again - can't anyone here get a hit when the situation absolutely, positively demands one?

Not in the seventh inning.

The Mariners put two runners on base for Ichiro with out. He grounded out.

Baltimore walked Branyan intentionally to load the bases for Beltre. Given the chance to blow the game open, Beltre tapped back to the mound.

In the eighth: Still tied at 2.
And in the ninth

Wakamatsu has used his bullpen to get a tie game into the bottom of the ninth, so it would behoove the team to win it here.

Jakubauskas, Mark Lowe and David Aardsma have all held the Orioles in check - and Wak would dearly love to call it a night right here.

Cedeno struck out. Gutierrez tripled off the wall in left-center field, despite a spectacular effort by Adam Jones.

Ichiro was intentionally walked. Branyan was intentionally walked - for the second time.

That brought up Beltre, who already owned the only two Mariners RBI of the evening. With the Baltimore infield in, Beltre singled on a 3-2 pitch.

It's a final: Mariners , Orioles 2

For people living in the area but unable to get to watch Tacoma Rainiers games, you can now watch them on TV - well, if you have a Comcast cable system.

Hey, they aren't dull to watch with several solid players like Jeff Clement, Mike Carp, Mike Morse, Michael Saunders and Adam Moore. I would tell you to go to a game, since its cheap and enjoyable, but this is a pretty good thing as well.

Comcast SportsNet Northwest will start live broadcasts of 15 Rainiers games, starting with Friday night's game against the Reno Aces -- with Ryan Rowland-Smith making his final rehab start for the Rainiers.

Don't know if you have the channel, here's the listings for the areas.

“Adding the Rainiers to our lineup is the latest step in a sustained effort to obtain compelling local sports programming as our network continues to grow," Comcast SportsNet General Manager David Manougian said in a press release. "Triple-A baseball gives our viewers the opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow play today, and we are excited to feature the Rainiers this summer.”

With the channel reaching throughout Oregon and Washington, Rainiers president Aaron Artman is pleased that local fans can see a solid Rainiers team.

"We're thrilled to partner with Comcast Sports Northwest to bring live Rainiers games to fans throughout Washington and Oregon," R Artman said. "It’s exciting to be a key part of their summer programming. We think this partnership offers viewers not only a chance to see top players in the Seattle Mariners system, but also offers a glimpse into the fun and entertainment that is the beauty of minor league baseball."

Friday's game will be broadcast by the venerable Mike Curto, who's been the voice of the Rainiers for 11 years, a contributor to the News Tribune and a friend and reader of tihs blog.

The color commentary will rotate through the season, featuring Northwest broadcast talent including former professional baseball players, sports talk show hosts, and others. I'm already preparing my audition tape.

Here's the games that will be televised.
Friday, June 5th vs. Reno Aces 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 20th vs. Reno Aces 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 2nd vs. Portland Beavers 7 p.m.
Friday, July 3rd vs. Portland Beavers 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 9th vs. Portland Beavers 7 p.m.
Friday, July 10th vs. Portland Beavers 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 11th vs. Portland Beavers 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 12th vs. Portland Beavers 1:30pm
Friday, July 24th vs. Las Vegas 51s 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 2nd vs. Fresno Grizzlies 1:30pm
Friday, August 14th vs. Iowa Cubs 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 16th vs. Iowa Cubs 1:00pm
Friday, August 21st vs. Omaha Royals 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4 vs. Colorado Springs Sky Sox 7 p.m.

The Great Russell Branyan Batting Second experiement moves into Day 2, and the Seattle Mariner send their secret weapon - lefty Jason Vargas - in search of his third win tonight.

That new-look lineup had its way with Baltimore, and Branyan helped set up runs and create them with his 12th home run.

Vargas was the lefty in the Mariners J.J. Putz trade last winter, and after he tried and failed to win a spot in the bullpen in spring training, he wound up in the rotation in May.

Ronny Cedeno found his way into the lineup again, this time as a left fielder, and the utiltyman continues to look for his stroke. He'll bat eighth, and start the game hitting .173.

That's worse than Rob Johnson's .193, and yes, the Mariners are still looking for an offense that works for more than a day.

Here's the lineup:
Ichiro RF
Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Jose Lopez 2B
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Johnson C
Cedeno LF
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Vargas LHP

As some of you know, we have a gentleman on here who often laments, complains and rants about pithcers' inability or unwillingness to pitch more than 100 pitches or seven innings.

So Dave8557, this guy is for you ...

Here's the game story from the Toronto Sun, and here's the story from the Toronto Star.

Yep, Roy Halladay tossed a complete game last night for the Blue Jays with a career-high 14 strikeouts. It was the 42nd complete game of his career. I know much was made of Kansas City's Zack Greinke a few weeks ago and he's having a phenomenal season, but right now Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball and probably has been for the last few years.

If I had to bet my all my worldly possessions, including my dog, on one game, I would pick "Doc" Halladay to pitch it. It's not even close. The guy is an absolute horse and the definition of a staff ace.

One of my baseball writing counterparts loves Halladay (having covered him) and has written about him on numerous occasions as the shining example of what Felix Hernandez should aspire to be. Well, that guy is right.

A quick thought: while it seems illogical and unthinkable, there are some who believe Halladay may be made available for a midseason trade. If that's the case, how will it affect the value of Erik Bedard?

The Seattle Mariners have juggled their lineup all season, looking for some way to put enough hits together to, like, score runs.

One thing they haven't done is drop Ichiro Suzuki down into the heart of the order. As a leadoff hitter, he's battin .352 with five home runs and 16 RBI.

The Mariners DH this season - Ken Griffey Jr. or Mike Sweeney - has a combined .223 batting averagr, six home runs and 22 RBI.

Why not flip Ichiro's bat to, say, third in the order?

From manager Don Wakamatsu's perspective, changing Ichiro's comfort zone - he loves batting leadoff - seems counter productive. And the leadoff spot is one of the few the Mariners don't have to worry about.

Would moving Ichiro just create a different set of issues?

Any manager's job is to put his players in position to succeed, and do it as often as possible.

Ichiro leading off has done that, consistently. The fact that the No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in the lineup haven't consistently succeeded is not Ichiro's fault - nor is it Wakamatsu's.

When Adrian Belre swings at eye-high curves and Junior or Sweeney fly out to strand the runner at third, they have all been put in position to help the team win.

When they fail, the team fails. Batting Ichiro third won't hide those failures.

The Mariners regularly have runners at third base available to score on an out - the right kind of out - and the heart of the lineup hasn't delivered.

The problem is, Ichiro is most often that runner on third base. Drop him to third and it's entirely possible the only change will be that there are fewer threats.

Here's today's lineup:
Ichiro RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Jose Lopez 2B
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Rob Johnson C
Endy Chavez LF
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Erik Bedard LHP

BOX SCORE

Here's my game story ...

Manager Don Wakamatsu was clearly not pleased with his offense's effort tonight. Two hits off of Rich Hill in seven innings? This was a guy that gave up seven runs in three innings in his last outing.

“One thing Rich did do really good tonight was throw his curveball any time in the count,” manager Don Wakamatsu said.

That was the extent of Wak's praise of Hill. He instead piled the blame up on his players.

“Offensively, it goes back to the same thing we’ve talked about all year – fundamental baseball and not executing when we need to,” he said.

And the patient approach at the plate he wants, well that was pretty much nonexistent too.

“We chased a lot of pitches, a lack of patience and really a lack of adjustments,” Wakamatsu said.

Nothing irritated him more than the first inning where Ichiro led off with a double to extend his hit streak to 25 games - tying a career high - and then moved to third on an error. With Ichiro on third and no outs, the Mariners couldn't get him in. Yuni popped up, Beltre struck out and Sweeney popped up.

“We have to try to get him somehow,” Sweeney said. “Obviously, we didn’t get it done, me included.”

And it killed the vibe and the energy of the game.

“It’s a recurring theme where we do get a guy in that situation we do get overaggressive,” Wakamatsu aid. “Really the whole tempo of the game is set when you don’t get that run.”

The Mariners got the pitching more than enough pitching from Jarrod Washburn and Chris Jakubauskas. Washburn allowed just one run on six hits in seven innings - a beyond respectable showing. Jakubauskas, who was making his first relief appearance since being dropped from the rotation, pitched two hitless innings and got a big 3-6-3 double play from Russell Branyan.

“It’s an awful shame to be able squander a pitching performance from Washburn and Jakubauskas where they give one run and six hits against a club and really have nothing to show for it,” he Wakamatsu said.

On the positive side, Washburn said his achy knee felt better. He wore a brace recommended by the Angels' Scott Shields, who just went on the DL.

Washburn said the knee took a lot of the pain away. There is still some, but not nearly as much as before.

ORIOLES NOTES:
• Rich Hill tossed a season-high 7.0 innings for the first time since Sept. 12, 2007 at Houston...since Aug. 17, 2007 his teams have won 15 of his 18 starts including each of his 4 starts this season...during 18 game span he is 8-1, 4.13 ERA (44 ER, 96.0 IP) with 92 strikeouts.
• Nolan Reimold went 2x3, extending his hitting streak to 6 games…Reimold has now hit safely in 14 of 17 games. During the streak he is batting .333 (8x24) with 4 runs, a double, 3 home runs and 7 RBI.
• Adam Jones went 1x3, scoring the only run of the game…has now hit safely in 27 of last 33 games, batting .346 (48x139) with 8 doubles, 9 home runs, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored.
• The Orioles won their first 1-0 game since May 9, 2007 vs. Tampa Bay.
• George Sherrill has converted each of last 7 save opportunities…11 consecutive shutout relief appearances (11.0IP).

MARINERS NOTES:
• Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 25 games, matching his career-high streak (2007) and tying the Mariners franchise record…his streak is currently the longest in the Major Leagues and he has safely reached base in 32 straight games, the longest streak in the American League…also extended his home hitting streak against the Orioles to 13 games dating back to June 4, 2007 and during the streak is hitting .352 (19x54) with 10 runs and 4 doubles.
• Jarrod Washburn spun his 7th quality start of the season, tying Felix Hernandez for the team lead...it is the 4th time in 5 starts at Safeco Field that he has allowed 2-or-fewer earned runs and 7th time overall in 10 starts...it was also his 5th start of at least 7.0 innings...Seattle has now lost each of his last 7 starts after starting the season 3-0.
• Seattle was held to only 2 hits, their lowest hit total of the season and lowest since being held to 2 hits July 8, 2008 at Oakland…it was only the 4th time in the last 3 seasons to be held to 2 runs or less.
• Yuniesky Betancourt went 1x4 and recorded the only other hit…he has now hit safely in 4 of his last 5 home games.
• The Mariners were shut out for the 5th time this season and dropped their first 1-0 decision of the season...it is the 42nd 1-0 loss in team history...Seattle is now 13-11 in 1-run games this season.

Greetings from Safeco Field where the weather is absolutely spectacular and yet there is nobody at the game. Well, at least it appears the summer weather is here for the time being.

Anyway, let's get to it.

Top of 1st
Washburn has a long at-bat with Adam Jones, who coaxes a walk. But Washburn gets out of the inning with a little help from Franklin Gutierrez, who chases down a long ball in the right-center gap to end the inning.

Bottom of 1st
Ichiro with a double to left and then advances on a throwing error by Nolan Reimold. That extends Ichiro's hit streak to 25 games - tying his career record. And shockingly with a runner on third and not outs, he stays there. Yuni pops up, Beltre strikeouts and Sweeney pops up.

Top of 2nd
Washburn gets in a bit of a spot, giving up a couple singles but gets out of it.

Bottom of 2nd
A pair of walks in the inning lead to nothing as Lopez ground into a double play and Johnson strikes out.

Top of 3rd
Sweet fielding play from Yuni there, as he tosses one into the stands.

Bottom of 3rd
Two more base runners, two more base runners stranded.

Top of 4th
A 1-2-3 for Washburn

Bottom of 4th
A 1-2-3 for Rich Hill? If I'd told you would be 0-0 after four before the game would you have believed me?

Fifth inning
Not much happening.

Top of 6th
Jones with a double, but he didn't start out running very hard and Wlad made a nice thow and nearly got him. Jones made a nice slide to get into second. Markakis follows with a single and Aubrey Huff delivers a sac fly. O's lead 1-0.

Bottom of 7th
Apparently Rich Hill is unhittable. At least right now, he makes it through the seventh, allowing no runs on two hits. The hardest hit ball from the M's was Ichiro's double to start the game.

Top of 8th
Russell Branyan will never be considered a gold glover over at first, but he turned a great double play, gloving a hard shot, throwing to Betancourt and then retreating back to the bag to take the throw.

Bottom of 8th
Rich Hill is out, but it doesn't seem to matter as Jim Johnson gets through the inning with no problem. Rob Johnson fouled a ball hard off his instep but stayed in the game. He's clearly in some pain.

Ryan Rowland-Smith will throw a bullpen tomorrow. He'll pitch again on Friday for the Rainiers against the Reno Aces at Cheney Stadium. He will then start on Friday, June 11th in Baltimore against the Orioles.

Meanwhile Roy Corcoran will throw a simulated game tomorrow. Sean White is also battling a little bit of a tired arm as well.

Obviously David Aardsma will not be available tonight after pitching four days in a row. Mark Lowe will handle the closing duties.

When asked manager Don Wakamatsu said he hoped to give Aardsma two days off ideally.

"We'd like to give him two days off," he said. "But who knows, he could come in tomorrow and say he feels 100 percent. We'll see. He's thrown a lot, but he probably still will anyway."

Somebody also asked about Carlos Silva (not certain why). Wakamatsu said he's progressing nicely but no timetable is set for his return -- which is probably good news for most Mariners fans.

Talked with Adam Jones briefly. He was cordial and from the people I've talked to around the Orioles, he's really taken a step forward in terms of being more of a leader and his maturity is growing.

As expected, and has he said last year, he holds no special feelings for coming back to Seattle.

"None," he said.

He was asked about facing the pitcher he was traded for - Erik Bedard -- tomorrow and he was indifferent.

"Not really," he said. "I knew that question was going to be asked. It's going to be fun to face him. I know he's still one of the toughest pitchers you can face."

As for his progress and growth from last season to this season, he said it was simple.

"I've just matured as a baseball player," he said. "I figured out my role and I'm not trying to do too much. I'm just playing the way I know how to play it, and the results are there."

Orioles 23-28
Brian Roberts 2B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Aubrey Huff 1B
Melvin Mora 3B
Luke Scott DH
Matt Wieters C
Nolan Reimold LF
Cesar Izturis SS
-------------
LHP Rich Hill (1-0, 6.14 ERA)

Mariners (24-27)
Ichiro RF
Yuni Betancourt 2B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mike Sweeney DH
Russell Branyan 1B
Jose Lopez 2B
Wladimir Balentien LF
Rob Johnson C
Franklin Gutierrez CF
-----------
Jarrod Washburn (3-3, 3.45 ERA)

Adam Jones returns to Seattle today. It isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last time. At some point, the sting of seeing him in a Baltimore Orioles uniform will subside for Mariners fans.

Should it have happened by now? Perhaps.

But I think it makes it tougher for Mariners fans to move on considering Jones is in the midst of a breakout year that’s turning him from talented prospect into legitimate star.

At what point, do we stop calling it “The Bedard Trade” and call it the “the Jones trade” or even worse for Mariners fans “The Jones-Tillman Trade” because Jones and Chris Tillman could ultimately be the more relevant and celebrated players in the deal.

Of course, some people would rather call it: “The-crowning-example-of-the-total-incompetence-and-ineptness-of-Bill-Bavasi-that-destroyed-the-Mariners-as-an-organization-in-an-veiled-attempt-to-save-his-job Trade.”

I think it’s safe to say that the trade of Jones, Tillman, LHP George Sherrill, RHP Kam Mickolio, LHP Tony Butler for Bedard will go down as the worst in Mariners history, replacing the infamous swap of Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb in 1997 by Woody Woodward.

It seems anymore one of popular things to do is to look back and remind people who was for and against the trade.

To be honest, I was pretty non-committal on the trade. I didn’t know much about Bedard other than his talent and some injury issues. I knew even less about everybody else involved with the exception of Jones. I covered Adam at Triple A Tacoma for a season and a half, and never once did I think he wouldn’t become a quality big leaguer. Did I know he would be this good? This soon? No and no. But I knew he was driven to be this good. He was competitive, willing to work his butt off and ridiculously talented.

As someone who has very high expectations and old-school ideas about the game and the way it should be played, I never really had any complaints when I watched Adam play. Sure he struck out a few more times than I liked, but I loved that he seemed to make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. Several times, I saw him look bad in his first at-bat, learn from it and deliver a hit in the next one. And above all else he played hard.

In that regard, I didn’t like the trade. Yes, Jones was a prospect that hadn’t played much time in the big leagues, but to me he was about as sure of a thing as you could get. The Mariners had invested into Jones and were starting to see benefits and they got rid of him to add Bedard and ostensibly replace Jones’ projected starting spot in the line-up with Brad Wilkerson. Nice work Mr. Bavasi.

Either way, I’m hoping Mariners fans find a way to move on. Will it be easy when Jones comes rolling in with his .350 batting average with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, 40 runs scored and .401 on-base percentage and .617 slugging percentage? No, it will be downright painful to watch.

Maybe you can adapt the whole situation to follow the much-used and now almost cliché (but who am I to not to fall trap to one) of Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief: 1. Denial, 2. Anger, 3. Bargaining, 4. Depression and 5. Acceptance.

I would hope Mariners fans are at least at stage 4.

1. Denial – well with the rumors for weeks most of the denial came from the parties involved. But there were some people that just refused to believe that Bavasi gave up 5 players, including the organizations best and most-ready prospect, probably it’s best minor league starting pitching prospect, their best left-on-left specialist and two other decent players for one guy. People refused to believe that Bavasi would give up so much. They should have known better based on past experiences with him.

Or perhaps the denial begins with not allowing yourself to believe that Bedard was injured for most of last year and the Mariners tanked or that Jones should and probably will be an all-star this season.

2. Anger – I’ll give DMZ from the USS Mariner credit he wasn’t pleased with the trade even when it wasn’t finished check out the quote from the post.

Ugh. What a crappy deal. I know we’ve discussed it to death here before, but every time it’s laid out like that it makes me want to throw up in my M’s cap. And then mail the cap to the team.

I still think most people might be have a similar feeling about it now, or moved back to the anger phase after seeing what Jones is doing this season.

3. Bargaining – Some of that’s happening right now for M’s fans: “Well, Bedard is pitching like the pitcher we thought we got in the trade, maybe we can trade him at the deadline for some prospects.” It’s a nice premise. But are they going to get back anybody as good as Jones or Tillman or both in a trade this year? Hmm. I just wrote how good Jack Z is. But is he that good?

4. Depression – that will set in when Jones hits a three-run bomb deep into the Safeco night and then makes a stellar running catch in the outfield. It will be enough to ruin your Pyramid Curve Ball blonde ale with tears of melancholy.

5. Acceptance – well, that just isn’t easy for some people right now.

But really, it’s time to move on. I’d tried to talk with Adam on Saturday to write something before he came in today. At first, he was receptive, but the realization of answering a myriad of similar questions today from all the local media changed his mind.

What I wanted to ask and what I wanted to write is that it’s time for everyone to move on, media included. He has. It’s something he’s mentioned to me last year. He’s the type of person who constantly wants to move forward. And sitting there dwelling on or analyzing the trade or discussing about what might have been is something he doesn’t like to do.
Yes, the Mariners organization drafted and nurtured him in the minor leagues, but he only played 73 games with big club. As he said in the past, his sentimentality to the Mariners fans and Safeco is limited because he really didn’t get a chance to experience it for an extended period. He probably has more personal attachment to Tacoma than he does Seattle, since he spent more time there.

Will it be good to see Adam today? For me, yes. For Mariners fans, probably not. But he is no longer yours to cherish. It may be a horrible mistake. It may be the product of incompetence. And it may leave you feel like a jilted lover. But Adam Jones is now a member of the Baltimore Orioles. And nothing short of a flux capacitating time machine is going to change that. So perhaps, no matter how difficult it seems, it is just best to accept it and move on.