While Scott Spiezio spent the past two weeks in Southern California, it was not as if he went to Disneyland or even to the beach. Stricken with flu that same day he knew for certain he had messed up the oblique muscle in his left side, the Mariners' utility player did not much enjoy his time off — which is ongoing.

"My health is better, but my side ... not yet," said Spiezio, who rejoined the team yesterday. "I might have had the flu thing coming. I had been getting on (Richie) Sexson for being sick with it. He said, 'Look out.' But I felt great, then 30 minutes after I came to the clubhouse with the oblique, I got hit hard."

He pulled the oblique during a pinch-hit appearance on April 18 in Anaheim, got the flu the next day and spent that game lying on a couch in the visitors' club wearing a T-shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, uniform pants and two pairs of socks, wrapped in a blanket.

"I had chills, then sweats. At home, I had super bad night sweats; the sheets were soaked. I had that foggy head, nasal congestion and the sore throat that goes with it. And I had the cough that goes on for 30 seconds at a time."

The cough was the worst part because he had just suffered an injury to his side.

"I learned that if I held my side with my hand and pulled my knee toward my chest and tightened my abs, it cut the pain some," Spiezio said. "Then, there was the time I went out at 2 o'clock a.m. to the all-night drugstore for medication, I was so ill. I can't believe what some guys did; like Sexson, looking like a zombie, he goes out and hits a big home run. This was no fun. I had mono in the offseason, and it was nothing compared to this."

But if Spiezio's flu is gone, the side issue lingers, and it is not good.

"I knew as soon as I did it what it might be," he said. "I was hoping it was adhesions or something. But the next day it was bad. I did the same thing last year, and it never really healed. This was worse."

Now that he is back, Spiezio is limited by his mid-body injury.

"I'm feeling like I'm getting more out of condition all the time. I hope I can go through the weight room with the trainers and find some kind of workout, legs or something, that I can do."

Rincon's suspension surprises Guardado

Mariners reliever Eddie Guardado said he was shocked to learn that his former Twins teammate, reliever Juan Rincon, had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

"Knowing Rincon, he would probably be the last person I'd think would do that," Guardado said. "I feel bad, because he's a great guy."

One interesting trend of the major- and minor-league testing results has been the number of pitchers testing positive.

"Everyone thinks of the big guy that comes to spring training 20 pounds heavier, all muscle," Guardado said. "It's surprising to see a lot of these pitchers coming up."

Wilson happy for Olerud

Mariners catcher Dan Wilson was pleased to see that friend and former teammate John Olerud landed with the Boston Red Sox, who signed him to a minor-league contract on Sunday.

"I know he was anxious to find someplace to play," Wilson said. "I'm glad he was able to do that. I know he's happy about it."

Olerud played 77 games for the Mariners last year before they released him on July 15. He hit .245 with five homers and 22 runs batted in, then finished the season with the New York Yankees.

Notes

• The tear in LHP Bobby Madritsch's left shoulder has started to heal, according to the MRI the pitcher had yesterday. Dr. Larry Pedegana examined Madritsch and said there has been some healing but that his arm should go back in a sling for two weeks and then be re-examined.

• Pokey Reese's ailing right shoulder was to be examined yesterday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.