M's Notebook | Broussard starts; roof still on

Ben Broussard finally got to start another game for the Mariners on Tuesday, but manager Mike Hargrove wasn't making any assumptions two hours before game time.

"Hopefully, we won't close the roof, or it might fall in if he's in the lineup," quipped Hargrove.

Twice recently, the manager had tried to give Broussard a start, penciling him in the lineup. In Texas, the game was rained out. Then, this past Sunday, Broussard was to start against Kansas City but came down with a 24-hour flu. He lost 6 pounds and was so weak the Mariners sent him home when he showed up at Safeco.

"I was feeling funny toward the end of [Saturday's] game," Broussard said. "He [Hargrove] told me I was playing the next day. I was feeling a little nauseous, and I couldn't even make it home. I had to pull over."

Broussard recuperated Monday during a Mariners off day and felt much better Tuesday. He was given the nod in right field in place of Jose Guillen. Broussard's only other start this year came April 18 in a loss to Minnesota.

While adjusting to his new reserve role, Broussard has three hits in 14 at-bats, including a grand slam.

"You have to be patient," said Broussard, who went 0 for 3 Monday. "I know this isn't going to be my role, but for now, it's what I'm doing. I'm going to be good at it. I just try to get in and do my talking with my bat. I figure if I'm hitting the ball good enough, I'll get in the lineup somehow."

Mum on Weaver

Hargrove said he knows what he's going to do with Jeff Weaver — but he still wasn't ready to reveal Tuesday whether he's decided to give Weaver another start or let him attempt to sort out his troubles in the bullpen.

The right-hander has an 0-4 record and 18.26 earned-run-average in four starts. Weaver has yielded 31 hits and 23 earned runs in 11-1/3 innings, allowing opponents a .492 batting average.

Meanwhile, Felix Hernandez remains on track to come off the disabled list to start against the Yankees in New York on Friday. He threw a bullpen session before Tuesday's game, and pitching coach Rafael Chaves said it went well.

Hargrove added that the team will take every caution with Hernandez, who went on the disabled list April 23 with a strained right forearm.

Johjima out of lineup

Catcher Kenji Johjima, who was leading Mariners regulars with a .323 average, was scratched from Tuesday's lineup because of back spasms. Backup catcher Jamie Burke got the start.

Johjima originally hurt himself on Sunday. He had been given the day off, but tweaked his back while working out.

His status remains up in the air for today's game, which will be followed by a cross-country flight to Boston for Thursday's makeup game at Fenway Park. Hargrove said he expects Johjima to be ready to play today.

Notes

• One final reminder: Today's game will start at 12:35 p.m. at Safeco Field. It was originally a night game but was switched to the afternoon to accommodate the Mariners' departure for Thursday's makeup game in Boston.

• The Mariners observed a moment of silence before the game to honor Edo Vanni, the Seattle baseball legend who died Monday at age 89. Vanni was a member of the original Seattle Rainiers team in 1938, and collected the first hit, scored the first run, and stole the first base at Sicks' Stadium.

• The Associated Press obtained a copy of Jose Lopez's recently signed four-year, $6.07 million contract, which contains some interesting clauses. According to AP, Lopez can earn an extra $125,000 annually by passing four in-season tests: body-fat percentage, a 60-yard sprint, a 20-yard shuttle run and a vertical jump. Success in each test earns $25,000, and if all four are passed in the same season, another $25,000 is tacked on.

• Mike Morse of Class AAA Tacoma was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week after hitting .560 (14 for 25) and slugging .920 last week. Left-hander Paul Fagan of Class A High Desert was named California League Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two starts, striking out 13 in 12-1/3 innings.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists

For the record

Streak: W2

Home: 7-6

Road: 4-4

vs. AL West: 7-5

vs. L.A.: 0-3

vs. Oakland: 4-1

vs. Texas: 3-1

vs. AL East: 1-1

vs. AL Central: 3-4

vs. NL: 0-0

vs. LHP: 2-2

vs. RHP: 9-8

Day: 5-3

Night: 6-7

One-run: 1-3

Extra innings: 0-0

Home attendance

Tuesday's crowd: 20,739

Season total: 346,020

Biggest crowd: 46,003 (April 2)

Smallest crowd: 19,015 (April 17)

Average (13 dates): 26,617

2006 average (13 dates): 26,979