Mariners
Notebook: Woodward's time may be nearing end

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Woody Woodward's days with the Mariners organization may be nearing an end.

Woodward was Seattle's general manager from 1987 to 2000 and is best known for his 1992 hiring of Lou Piniella, the manager who helped him with most of his personnel moves.

Woodward was dismissed as GM and replaced by Pat Gillick, who kept Woodward on as a scout to work for the remainder of the money the club owed him.

There is speculation Woodward, with his contract up for renewal, will not be back.

Asked if that might be accurate, current GM Bill Bavasi said: "Woody and I are discussing his relationship with the organization."

To be or not to be suspended

For about an hour yesterday, the Mariners thought catcher Miguel Olivo had been suspended. But it turned out, in the words of assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas, "a miscommunication between Olivo and his agent."

Earlier in day, Olivo told reporters he had not been suspended.

But during pregame workouts, manager Bob Melvin announced that the catcher, who seemed to bump plate umpire Wally Bell during an argument Monday, had been suspended for three games but was appealing it.

Asked where his information came from, Melvin said, "Olivo came in and told me."
 
At that time, Melvin said the tape of the incident he had checked did not show a bump, "but we heard Wally say, 'Don't touch me again.' "

When and if Olivo does get suspended, it still would not be a lock that young Rene Rivera would get a start behind the plate. "It would be tough to give him a start. Texas is right there (in contention)," Melvin said.

Eight is enough

When Ichiro singled to left-center field to open last night's game, he tied a team mark for hits in eight straight at-bats, done previously by Harold Reynolds (1998), Darnell Coles (1988), Ken Griffey Jr. (1989) and Joey Cora (1997).

Ichiro singled in his last two at-bats Monday, was walked intentionally in his last plate appearance, went 5 for 5 Tuesday and had the one hit last night before grounding out his second time up.

Angels say farewell to Edgar

The Angels said farewell to Edgar Martinez with a brief pregame ceremony at home plate in which manager Mike Scioscia and pitcher Aaron Sele, an ex-teammate of Martinez, presented the designated hitter with a plaque and autographed bat. In addition, the Angels showed a clip of Martinez highlights on their scoreboard big screen.

Note

• While Ichiro's five-hit Tuesday was the fourth time this season he has had five hits, no other Mariner has had more than two such games in his career.

Raul Ibanez, Randy Winn, Alex Rodriguez, Tino Martinez and Griffey each had two with at least five hits, including Ibanez's six-hit game last night.