The Seattle Times: Mariners Blog

Chris Shelton up for Seattle Mariners, Jason Vargas down

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:41:04 PDT

The Mariners finally made the move everyone knew was coming official. Chris Shelton has been added as an extra bat by the team. Jason Vargas will head down to Class AAA Tacoma in his place.

Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik explained the move.

Weekend showdown for Mariners is the stuff baseball fans live for

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:46:03 PDT

Hard to believe it's still only the first part of the season, pre-All Star Break. The Mariners have been through so much together as a team that, at times, it feels they've already played a full season plus.

And now, they face their latest challenge.

It seems as if, all season, we've pointed to the next big game, or big series, as a determining factor in whether the Mariners can continue to advance against odds and hope.

And in a sense, that's what it has been.

Yuni being Yuni

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:02:04 PDT

ADDITIONAL NOTE (10:28 p.m.): Word is that Chris Shelton is on his way to Seattle from Tacoma for tomorrow night's game. Expect Jason Vargas to head down to Class AAA to clear the roster spot since he has no more starts to make until after the all-star break and Garrett Olson is still fresh enough to be used in the bullpen. Shelton would be filling in Mike Sweeney's role as a pinch-hitter, backup first baseman and possible righthanded DH.

Yes, I realize that's an old file photo we've pulled up. Put it there to help emphasize a point, though not quite sure what it is.

Anyhow, Yuniesky Betancourt made his second base debut tonight for Class AAA Tacoma. One of our writers, Tom Wyrwich, was there to see it firsthand and relayed the details to me. First, the good news. Betancourt made what Wyrwich described as "a nifty play'' at second when he scooped a ball with his glove over to first baseman Jeff Clement. Yeah, I know, we'll gripe about Clement's situation another day.

Now for the not-so-positive Betancourt news. Or, what I'll call Yuni being Yuni.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Wakamatsu keeping the faith

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:00:04 PDT

The Mariners have had some tough losses this season --- the back-to-back last at-bat defeats in Texas come readily to mind.

Hard to imagine a worse one than this, though, blowing a three-run lead largely due to self-inflicted wounds in the ninth inning.

But Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu was resolute afterward that this one won't break his team.

"These guys have done an awful lot this year,'' he said. "We've went through touch stretches this year and the point is we are going to stay strong and stay together and get back on the horse. We've got Felix (Hernandez) going tomorrow, We talk about belief systems and we have to maintain that.''

Closer David Aardsma said he was "over pitching'' trying to do too much in the ninth inning, when he blew his second save opportunity of the season allowing five runs on four hits though just three earned thanks to two errors by Jose Lopez, who quickly went from hero to goat after having earlier played a role in all three Seattle runs with a two-run homer in the first and a double and a run scored in the eighth.

Wakamatsu said he could see from the start that Aardsma was just a little off his game.

"Today was one of those games where the momentum just got away from him,'' Wakamatsu said.

As for Lopez, he said he was in too big a hurry to turn two on the critical error on a potential double-play grounder that would have gone a long way toward ending the game.

"All my life I want to make sure I get the first one,'' he said. "But I do too much on that one. I want to make a quick throw to second base and you see what happened.''

Lopez then made a throwing error on another grounder that allowed the fifth run of the inning and said it was simply a bad throw.

There was no panic in Wakamatsu, who defended Lopez saying "he's done a good job for us.''

The Mariners are assured of being 4.5 games behind either the Rangers or Angels, depending on which team wins tonight, their largest deficit since June 19. It's not inconceivable fans will look back at these two games lost to the Orioles in the last 18 hours as a turning point of the season, especially if things get away in the series coming up with the Rangers.

But as noted earlier, there was nothing but a stiff upper lip from Wakamatsu.

"Now is a time we are going to have to regroup a little bit,'' he said. "But I believe in these guys.''

Mariners game thread, July 8

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:46:03 PDT

WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON? --- This one has to be up there as the Mariners simply threw this one away to lose two straight to the lowly O's. More later from what figures to be an especially somber clubhouse

UH OH --- So much for insurance. This game came undone in a hurry as four hits, a walk and an error have given the Orioles a 4-3 lead with two runners on base and still no outs. This would be a crusher to go into the Texas series. Seattle still has to get out of this but for what it's worth, the M's are due to have Balentien, Cedeno and Ichiro up in the bottom of the ninth. Figure on Griffey getting one of those at-bats.

M'S GET SOME INSURANCE --- A gift run in the eighth thanks to a two-out throwing error by Oscar Salazar has Seattle up 3-0 and David Aardsma now on to close it out. If he does, Seatte will get its 10th series win out of its last 12.

M'S HOLDING ON --- More solid bullpen work for the Mariners, as well as the latest Franklin Gutierrez defensive gem as Seattle gets through the eighth 1-2-3 to hold on to a 2-0 lead. Gutierrez made a diving stab of a leadoff liner by Aubrey Huff as the O's failed to have a runner reach base for just the second time this game.

OLSON SAVES IT FOR MARINERS --- If the M's hold on, give Garrett Olson a huge gold star for getting out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam the result of a hit, a walk and an error. Olson came on and struck out Nick Markakis then got Ty Wigginton to hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Baltimore is now 0-11 with runners in scoring position and has left nine runners on base.

GOOD START FOR BATISTA --- Batista needed just seven pitches to retire the Orioles in the sixth so it remains 2-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth. This is looming as a weird series for the O's, who were one-hit Monday night, scored 12 last night, and now are on the verge of another low-hit game as they have just three through six innings.

BATISTA NOW IN --- Hold on to your seats now as Batista is entering the game for Vargas, who leaves allowing no runs and only three hits but throwing 97 pitches while walking five and striking out six. He had 54 strikes among those 97 pitches. Batista has been good overall this season but in his last outing was rocked around in Boston on Sunday. Seattle has just two hits since the first inning leaving the score at 2-0 entering the sixth.

VARGAS FINALLY GETS A QUICK INNING --- Didn't look that way at the start when he threw five straight balls. But a double play and then a quick ground out ended Baltimore's fifth as Seattle continues to lead 2-0. He's thrown 97 pitches, however, and figures to be out soon --- his season-high is 106. Miguel Batista has been warming in the bullpen the last two innings.

VARGAS ESCAPES AGAIN --- Vargas walked the first two batters of the fourth inning, eliciting a meeting with pitching coach Rick Adair attended by the entire infield. And something in that meeting seemed to do the trick as he then struck out Gregg Zaun swinging, got Robert Andino on a little fly to left, and then struck out Adam Jones swinging to get out of the jam. He's approaching 90 pitches and may not last long, but so far, he has Seattle still ahead 2-0.

SCORING CHANGE --- Scratch the error on O's RF Nick Markakis in the second inning and give a double to Langerhans. It was originally ruled a single and an error when Markakis overran the ball. But the thinking apparently is that Langerhans would have gone for two anyway.

M'S KEEP 2-0 LEAD --- O's get another two runners on, but Reimold came to the rescue again for the M's, striking out to end the threat. Baltimore has left five on in three innings, allowing Seattle to continue to lead 2-0.

ROOF CLOSING --- Must be a threat of rain as the roof is closing as I write this. That sometimes seems to make the balls travel better, so we'll see if that changes the game at all.

STILL 2-0 M'S --- Vargas gave up a one-out double to Melvin Mora but again left the O's scoreless so it's 2-0 heading to the bottom of the second.

MORE ON BRANYAN --- Sorry not to have mentioned this earlier, but it does bear noting again that Branyan is batting third. Times baseball maven Larry Stone points out Branyan had batted second every game since June 2, a span nduring which the M's were 19-12. Obviously with Beltre out, however, it was inevitable the lineup might get reconfigured.

M'S STRIKE FIRST ---- Jose Lopez followed a gift bloop hit with a 380-foot HR to left field that struck the foul pole to put Seattle ahead 2-0. The HR came off Oriole starter David Hernandez on an 0-2 pitch that appeared to be a low fastball that didn't get low enough. Lopez is hitting cleanup for the fourth time this season. He followed Branyan who is hitting third for the first time this year. Chris Woodward scored ahead of Lopez reaching when his blooper fell in front of a diving Baltimore LF Nolan Reimold --- looked like it bounced off his glove. It was scored a hit.

VARGAS LABORS THROUGH FIRST BUT GETS OUT OF IT --- It took 25 pitches and a walk and a single, but Jason Vargas finally got through the first inning unscatched now turning it over to the Mariners offense. Vargas is one of the interesting storylines to watch as he had a 5.93 ERA in June after a 1.65 May, and lasted just four innings in his last start at New York. But he's been great at home this year, going 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in five starts. That's the Vargas Seattle needs today.

FIRST PITCH NEARING --- We're about five minutes away from the start of this one, and it feels like a pretty big game as the Mariners need a win to avoid losing the series to the last-place Orioles --- which would obviously kill a lot of the momentum gained on the 5-4 road trip of the previous week.

Ichiro DH-ing and a few other pre-game notes

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:42:27 PDT

About 90 minutes to first pitch and Bob Condotta filling in for Geoff Baker today.

Most interesting aspect of the lineup today may be that Ichiro is serving as the designated hitter for the first time this year --- he's played in right for the other 75 games he has started this season.. Manager Don Wakamatsu said he simply wanted to give Ichiro "a little bit of a break'' noting that he hasn't had many this year and saying it has to be remembered that he missed the first eight games of the season for what was officially termed as "severe fatigue'' after battling a bleeding ulcer.

That might make you think Ken Griffey Jr., would be in the field today.But Wakamatsu said Griffey has been battling some minor knee pain of late, so the outfield today instead has Wladimir Balentien in left, Franklin Gutierrez in center and Ryan Langerhans in right for the first time --- his previous six games as a Mariner have come in left. Wakamatsu said Griffey is available to pinch-hit today.

Wakamatsu also talked more about the plan for Yuniesky Betancourt, continuing his return from a strained left hamstring. The plan is for him to play five innings at second base tonight in Tacoma and then seven innings of shortstop on Thursday and then "assess his progress.'' If Betancourt shows he can play second, that would allow the M's to use Jose Lopez at third as they attempt to fill-in for the injured Adrian Beltre.

"That just gives us some options,'' Wakamatsu said.

Also, Ryan Rowland-Smith allowed just two runs in 7-and-one-third at Tacoma last night and Wakamatsu said "that's a good sign he's headed in the right direction'' though it's still uncertain when he may return.

As for the rotation after the break, Wakamatsu said Felix Hernandez will start the second game in Cleveland on Friday night with Brandon Morrow likely going on Thursday and Jarrod Washburn on Saturday. Washburn's regular turn would come Thursday, but Wakamatsu said the break allows a good chance to give him a couple extra days of rest.

Also, the manager said Mike Sweeney had X-rays on his aching back Tuesday, though still without any results. He said the hope is that it's found to just be some muscle tigihtness or something and nothing serious. Depending on what the X-rays show, he may need an MRI.

Here are the lineups:

Mariners
Ichiro DH
Woodward 3B
Branyan 1B
Lopez 2B
Gutierrez CF
Langerhans RF
Jojhima C
Balentien LF
Cedeno SS

Orioles
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 2B
Aubrey Huff 1B
Nolann Reimold LF
Luke Scott DH
Melvin Mora 3B
Gregg Zaun C
Robert Andino SS

Mariners see one rival's top hitter return, while another's hurts his knee

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:15:04 PDT

Just as the Mariners were getting clobbered last night, the Angels took a giant step backwards when Vladimir Guerrero injured his knee making a routine fielding play. They're calling it a strained muscle behind the knee for now. He'll have it re-evaluated today, but likely won't be in the lineup for the finale of the Angels-Rangers series.

A guy who will be in the lineup is Josh Hamilton of the Rangers, now back in action after being out since May with a torn abdominal muscle.

What an AL West race this is turning out to be, huh?

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/U.S. Presswire

Talkin' Baseball on KJR AM 950 coming up at about 8:30 a.m.

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:34:04 PDT

We'll once again have plenty to talk about as I go on KJR AM 950's Mitch in the Morning show today at about 8:30 a.m.

I thought Erik Bedard threw the ball well after the first inning. Could not understand what he was doing between pitches in that first. Took more time between pitches than Miguel Batista. His pacing was off. Told the media afterwards that he was just "trying to throw strikes''. Had he done more of that in the first inning, he would not have burned a third of his pitch quota so early.

But eight strikeouts over four innings? That's ace-like stuff. The real shame of the Bedard trade, when all is said and done, is that M's fans will have gotten to see him pitch for fewer than a full season.

Oh yeah. This team needs to add another bat -- pronto.

Johnson on Bedard: "His stuff was electric."

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:28:04 PDT

The bullpen will be a story to watch in this final week before the All-Star break, but the story on Tuesday night was the return of Erik Bedard, who lasted only four innings -- but at least three of them were pretty impressive.

"His stuff was electric," catcher Rob Johnson said.

His pitch count will move from 75 to 90 for his start Sunday, and then presumably he will be all set to return to normal in his first start after the break. A healthy Bedard, pitching like he did tonight, could mean the world for keeping the Mariners in contention (or, possibly, moving him in a deal).

"My arm feels good, so I'm ready to go," Bedard said.

At one point, he had struck out six of seven batters. He finished with eight in four innings, an impressive total. Bedard will never, at least not this season, be a pitch-to-contact guy who goes deep into games on a regular basis. But if he gives six or seven innings on a regular basis, pitching like he did tonight, that's pretty darn good. And it looks like that is what the Mariners took out of Tuesday night.

As manager Don Wakamatsu, who didn't dare test Bedard with the fifth innings, said: "Good signs."

Mariners-Orioles game thread, 7/7

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:37:04 PDT

9:33 p.m. Amid what has quickly become a Baltimore blowout, here's some bright news for Mariners fans: High Desert's James McOwen hit a single in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to an amazing 44 games. He is almost two-thirds of the way toward the minor-league record of 69.

9:03 p.m.: You don't see that every day: Franklin Gutierrez misplays a fly ball to center, which ends up a two-run ~~double~~ triple for Luke Scott. It's 5-3 Orioles, and Shawn Kelley is coming in.

8:48 p.m.: In the that-just-happened department: the Orioles just intentionally walked Franklin Gutierrez.

8:27 p.m. That is likely all for Bedard, who is at 72 pitches. Chris Jakubauskus is in the bullpen warming up.

8:15 p.m. Jeremy Guthrie, who never looked right and had a fastball topping out around 88, is out of the game after 2 1/3 innings. Mark Hendrickson is now in what appears will be a bullpen game.

7:52: Impressive three-strikeout inning for Bedard. He is now at 45 pitches and likely has just a couple innings left. The bullpen, after a night off Monday, will bear much of the burden in this one.

7:45 p.m. On June 21, Franklin Gutierrez was hitting just .252. In the 13+ games since, Gutierrez is 25-54 with three home runs and eight RBIs, after that 422-foot no-doubt home run to left that put the Mariners ahead 3-2.

7:30 p.m. Baltimore manager Dave Trembley was just ejected during the break, likely arguing that a third Oriole runner should have scored on Franklin Gutierrez's throwing error on Scott's single.

Trembley seemed to have a legitimate case, as Reimold seemed to have already rounded second when the ball was coming in. The ball hit the mound and went into the stands, and it appeared at first that third-plate umpire Brian Runge pointed Reimold home. But home-plate umpire Tom Hallion kept the runners at second and third, and that run never came home.

7:29 p.m. Erik Bedard was almost out of the jam. But instead, the Mariners are in a big jam tonight. Had Bedard been able to get rookie Nolan Reimold out with runners on first and second, he would have left the first under 20 pitches. Instead, he walked Reimold and then allowed a two-run single to Luke Scott on an 0-2 count.

Considering Bedard is on a pitch count of about 75 or 80, this may be a short outing in his return to the starting lineup. He is already at 28.

Bedard did make made Ty Wigginton and Aubrey Huff look foolish on strikeout pitches. But he could not get the final strike on Reimold and that lengthened the inning.

After several delays, Erik Bedard will finally start today, his first start since June 7. What was supposed to be a minor shoulder issue ended up as a month-long issue, though the Mariners went 15-10 in his absence.

Baltimore will pitch Jeremy Guthrie, who you might remember threw a complete game four-hitter against the Mariners last year. Amont the Mariners who have faced him several times, Jose Lopez has the best track record: 7-for-18, 2 home runs, three RBIs.

M's not set on rotation after All-Star break

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:48:04 PDT

With starter Erik Bedard's return, the Mariners will eventually be forced to decide who must leave the starting rotation. Don Wakamatsu came up with one solution on Tuesday afternoon.

"We put them all in a hat," he said.

The Mariners have time. Jason Vargas will pitch Wednesday, followed by Brandon Morrow on Friday. Then the Mariners, because of the All-Star break and off days, will not need a fifth starter again until July 25. The Marienrs won't even have to determine a fourth starter until July 19.

After the trio of Felix Hernandez, a rejuvenated Jarrod Washburn and Bedard, the Mariners have at least four pitchers from which to pick the final two parts of the rotation:

-Morrow, who has been transitioning from reliever to starter and threw his first quality start Sunday in Boston.
-Vargas, who has a 4.42 ERA in 10 starts, with the Mariners 6-4 in those starts.
-Lefthander Garrett Olson, who has a 5.00 ERA in eight starts and is coming off a quality start in Boston.
-Ryan Rowland-Smith, whose stint in triple-A Tacoma after triceps tendinitis has lasted longer than originally planned. Rowland-Smith got his first win in more than a month last Thursday and starts tonight (Tuesday) for Tacoma.

Sweeney goes to DL to make room for Bedard (and lineups)

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:35:05 PDT

To open a spot on the roster for today's return of starter Erik Bedard, the Mariners have placed Mike Sweeney on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, with back spasms.

Sweeney tweaked his back in Sunday's loss to Boston. The move leaves the Mariners with 13 pitchers -- including six starters -- and 12 position players.

Here are today's lineups:

Orioles (36-47)

Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Ty Wigginton 2B
Aubrey Huff 1B
Nolan Reimold LF
Luke Scott DH
Melvin Mora 3B
Matt Wieters C
Robert Andino SS

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (6-8, 5.20)

Mariners (43-39)

Ichiro RF
Russell Branyan 1B
Jose Lopez 2B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Franklin Gutierrrez CF
Ryan Langerhans LF
Rob Johnson C
Chris Woodward 3B
Ronny Cedeno SS

LHP Erik Bedard (5-2, 2.47)

Erik Bedard should provide a boost to Seattle Mariners in the Pythagorean department

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:44:03 PDT

Despite the Mariners sitting four games above .500, there has been some hand wringing about all of the one-run victories registered by the club.

In fact, if you look at the team's run differential, they've scored 325 runs and allowed 338 for a minus-13 score. According to the math wizards who've developed the Pythagorean Expectation, the team should really be 40-42, as opposed to 43-39.

Well, perhaps Erik Bedard can get the team into the positive side of the ledger. I'll explain why.

Jarrod Washburn sets the tone as Seattle Mariners prepare for B-Day

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:03:06 PDT

Yes, that's right folks, it's B -Day for the Mariners.

That's "B'' as in Bedard.

The rest of this 2009 season should come into focus a little more clearly tonight as Erik Bedard steps back on the mound for the first time in a month. In fact, should the Mariners wind up doing anything post-season-wise this year, tonight could go down as a pivotal point in that quest.

For me, what Jarrod Washburn did last night should clarify something that's been obvious for this entire season. He's not the same pitcher he was for the first two years of his four-year contract here. The turnaround began roughly a year ago, then faded somewhat as injuries caught up to him last August. But then, he picked up this spring where he'd let off last summer, improved his sinker, then reaped the benefits of an improved outfield defense -- the infield D, led by Chris Woodward, wasn't too shabby in this game either -- to take his game to the next level.

His last four starts have seen Washburn go at least seven innings on three occasions, while striking out 18 and walking only five. He's delivered eight consecutive starts of at least six innings while allowing no more than four earned runs in any of them.

So, yeah, his trade value is high. But so is his real value to the Mariners right now. And you have to factor that in when considering what to do with Bedard.

What a night for Jarrod Washburn, one-hit wonder

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:25:04 PDT

That was as dominating performance as you'll ever see from a guy that doesn't have overpowering stuff, but had brilliant command. Aubrey Huff of the Orioles summed up Jarrod Washburn nicely, alluding to Nick Markasis's two-out single in the fourth -- Baltimore's only baserunner of the game.

"If it wasn't for Nick's little hit out to left, he's got a perfect game. He was that good. I saw one pitch to hit and I hit it to left. Other than that, I didn't see much to hit the whole game. He's just one of those guys, I feel comfortable against him every time I step into the box and he just gets you out. That's just something he's done my whole career. I never feel like I'm overmatched. He just gets me out every time."

"He's a frustrating guy. You don't feel overmatched and he doesn't throw it by you. You go in there thinking you're going to get a hit every time and I come out of there 0-for-3, 0-for-4 every game. He's just one of those guys. He just mixes his cutter, gives you a little sinker every now and then, drops in a nice curveball. He keeps you off balance all game. He's just a really frustrating guy to face."

It's amazing to think how close Washburn came to a perfect game. Let's look a little closer at Markakis's hit, which came on a 2-2 pitch. He lined it to left -- opposide field for the left-handed-hitting Markakis. It dropped cleanly between left fielder Ryan Langerhans and center fielder Franklin Gutierrez. It was closer to Langerhans, who later in the game might have dived for the ball, but he wasn't going to lay out so early, especially with the Mariners still clinging to a 1-0 lead.

"He got two strikes on him, and I took a couple more steps over toward the line,'' Langerhans said. "I don't know, that might have made the difference (in being able to catch the ball or not). I've already caught a little ribbing from the guys.''

Game thread, Mariners vs. Orioles, July 6

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:41:04 PDT

UPDATE 8:38 P.M. (bottom of sixth): Huge two-run, bases loaded double by Chris Woodward gives the Mariners a 4-0 lead.

UPDATE 8:36 P.M. (BOTTOM OF SIXTH): Ryan Langerhans just missed a homer by about a foot on that opposite-field double off the top of the left-field wall. Rob Johnson just got walked intentionally to load the bases for Chris Woodward.

UPDATE 8:22 P.M. (BOTTOM OF FIFTH) : Ichiro delivers a huge two-out hit to give the Mariners an unearned run, and a 2-0 cushion for Washburn. Another key play in the inning was Chris Woodward, with two strikes, breaking his bat on a grounder to first that moved Rob Johnson to third with one out. Ronny Cedeno blew the suicide squeeze, fouling off an 0-1 pitch, then struck out, but Ichiro, on 1-2, grounded a single to right to score Johnson.

UPDATE 8:07 P.M. (MIDDLE OF FIFTH): Washburn is making it look easy. He's thrown 64 pitches through five, one baserunner -- Markakis's two-out single in the fourth. But, typically, the Mariners have given him one run. Will it be enough? Will it have to be enough?

UPDATE 7:57 P.M. (MIDDLE OF FOURTH): Forget the perfecto, and the no-no. Nick Markakis punched a two-out, two-strike single to left in the fourth. A solid, no-doubt base hit. Aubrey Huff then sent Ryan Langerhans to the track, but he hauled it in for the third out. 1-0 Mariners, 53 pitches through four innings for Washburn.

UPDATE 7:40 P.M. (MIDDLE OF THIRD): Jarrod Washburn puts them down in order again. I haven't looked it up, but I'm almost positive this would be the first perfect game of Washburn's career. 1-0 Mariners.

UPDATE 7:33 P.M. (BOTTOM OF SECOND): The Mariners really botched that inning. Franklin Gutierrez led off with a double, but Ryan Langerhans couldn't advance him on a ground out to the pitcher, and after a walk to Rob Johnson, Gutierrez ill-advisedly tried to steal third and was gunned down by rookie catcher Matt Wieters. I've never quite understood the old baseball adage, never make the first or third out at third base. Doesn't seem to me that making the second out at third is very good, either. 1-0 Mariners.

UPDATE 7:26 P.M. (MIDDLE OF SECOND): Washburn breezed through the second. He's thrown just 24 pitches in two innings. Brandon Morrow could learn some lessons about pitch economy. P.S.: You don't realize how much you rely upon the scoreboard until it's gone.

UPDATE 7:20 P.M., BOTTOM OF FIRST: Russell Branyan just gave a little rebuttal to the All-Star selection people with his 21st homer, on a 3-0 count. 1-0 Mariners.

UPDATE 7:15 P.M.: Impressive 1-2-3 first for Jarrod Washburn, who struck out both Adam Jones and Nick Markakis on off-speed pitches..So far, the scoreboards at Safeco are all out of commission tonight.

I neglected to mention that High Desert's James McOwen went 1-for-3 against Visalia on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 42 games. High Desert plays Visalia again tonight. This is starting to get very interesting.

Will the Mariners have a letdown after going 5-4 on their rugged road trip against the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox? Don Wakamatsu doesn't think so, although he admits it's a danger.

"What we've tried to do from day one,'' he said, "is say, Today is anothergame, let's treat it that way. Play the best possible baseball we can."

Tonight's opponent, the Orioles, look like they're on the verge of becoming a factor again, with a ton of promising young players either already here or on the way -- but it's not happening yet. They are 36-46. Tonight's pitcher, rookie Brad Bergesen, is 5-2 with a 3.53 ERA in 14 starts and is coming off a strong eight-inning performance against the Red Sox. Though he got no decision in the Orioles' 11-inning, 6-5 loss, he limited the tough Red Sox lineup to four hits and one run in eighth innings, striking out six. Bergesen started twice against the Mariners in June and went 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA (15 innings, two earned runs).f

Former Mariner Adam Jones, named to the All-Star team on Sunday, is in a little bit of a slide. He hit just .229 with one homer and eight RBI in June.

Betancourt unlikely to play before All-Star break and other Mariner notes

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:35:03 PDT

Some Mariner pre-game notes as the gloom and wind disappears, and the sun returns:

Yuniesky Betancourt, on the DL with a left hamstring strain since June 25, is "feeling awful good,'' manager Don Wakamatsu said. "We're going to have him move around today, test it a little bit, test it tomorrow.''

If he passes those tests, Betancourt will likely head out to the minors for a rehab assignment.

"Right now, we don't anticipate him being activated before the All-Star break unless everything looks 110 percent,'' Wakamatsu said. "I'd like to see him go down and get a couple of at-bats under his belt first.''

Mike Sweeney, who came out of yesterday's game with back spasms, has improved slightly, but Wakamatsu rated him at 75 percent.

Endy Chavez talks about the play that ended his season

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:05:04 PDT

Endy Chavez was in the clubhouse today on crutches, greeting teammates with a big smile. He will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, a devastating injury as the result of colliding with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt This was our first chance to talk to Endy since the indident on June 19..

"It's better,'' he said. "At least I don't have the pain that I had before.''

The immediate pain from the collision, he admitted, was excruciating.

"It was unbelievable,'' he said. "I knew something was wrong because it was so painful that I couldn't even move my leg. I knew something was wrong in there. The pain was terrible. Now its just uncomfortable because you can't do anything with it.''

The surgery was delayed to make sure the swelling was gone. He's hoping to be back in nine to 12 months, which might be overly optimistic considering the extent of the injury.

"They say it just depends how the surgery goes and how my body reacts to it,'' he said. It's tough. This is the first time I'm down in my career where I'm done with the season and not even have a chance to start the next season. Its tough. It's something I have to go through and get ready to get back.''

Tonight's lineups, Mariners vs. Orioles

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:39:03 PDT

Wouldn't you know it -- the Orioles today called up reliever Kam Mickolio. He's one of the pitchers the Mariners gave up in the Erik Bedard trade. One of the others, Chris Tillman, is expected to be up early in the second half -- shortly after pitching in the Futures Game in St. Louis -- to join the Orioles' rotation. I won't mention that Adam Jones made the All-Star team, or that George Sherrill, who made it last year, was under strong consideration.

Mickolio ws 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 27 games for Norfolk. He replaces Chris Ray, who went on the 15-day DL with right triceps tendinitis.

ORIOLES

Brian Roberts 2B
Adam Jones CF
Nick Markakis RF
Aubrey Huff DH
Ty Wigginton 1B
Nolan Reimold LF
Melvin Mora 3B
Matt Wieters C
Robert Andino SS

Brad Bergesen RHP

MARINERS

Ichiro RF
Russ Branyan 1B
Jose Lopez 2B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Ryan Langerhans LF
Rob Johnson C
Chris Woodward 3B
Ronny Cedeno SS

Jarrod Washburn LHP

What the Seattle Mariners learned on their road trip

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:46:03 PDT

The Mariners get no rest as they enter today 3 1/2 games behind both the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers. Los Angeles just feasted on the Orioles team the Mariners face tonight and Seattle must do the same. That late letup yesterday cost the M's a valuable game to both teams in the AL West standings.

It would help Seattle's cause if it could pass one of those teams soon. With Texas in here later this week, they seem like the prime candidates.

There is something the Mariners should have realized by now after this 5-4 trip.

Podcast: Mariners did their part, now they need help

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:35:03 PDT

Not much to complain about after a 5-4 road trip against three of the top teams in baseball. The Mariners did their part to show they can compete with the game's best. And now, they need their front office to do the same.

We are halfway through the 162-game schedule. The "small sample size'' excuses are pretty much done. The Mariners are what they are. And what they are is a team that needs some help.

Mariners can't throw strikes in late innings, fail to notch first ever sweep in Boston

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:33:04 PDT

The reality is that this was arguably the worst game the Mariners played here all weekend, yet they still had a shot at winning with three innings to go. But the bullpen could not throw strikes, gave up five runs and turned a one-run lead into an 8-4 defeat.

Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 13:14:04 PDT

Miguel Batista and Mark Lowe couldn't get it done in the seventh inning and the Red Sox scored five times to take a 8-4 lead. Batista got the first out, then walked J.D. Drew and yielded a single to left by Dustin Pedroia that only some great Ryan Langernahs hustle prevented from being a double. Batista then got a flyout on Kevin Youkilis. But he fell behind David Ortiz 3-0 and saw the next pitch roped to right for a a tying single.

Lowe came on to face Jason Bay with runners at the corners and two out and walked him on four pitches to load the bases. He then walked Jacoby Ellsbury on five pitches to force in the go-ahead run.

Eight of Lowe's first nine pitches were called balls. Plate umpire C.B. Bucknor seemed to squeeze him a tad, but Lowe also missed the strike zone by a wide margin on a couple of offerings.

Lowe fell behind 3-1 on Mark Kotsay, saw the count go full, then gave up a two-run single that put Boston ahead by three.

Sean White came in and threw a pitch that Kenji Johjima let get by him for a passed ball and another run against.

Felix Hernandez, Ichiro are Mariners named to AL All-Star team

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:16:03 PDT

Felix Hernandez is off to the All-Star Game, joining Ichiro as the lone Mariners selected.

Hernandez was anything but a shoo-in for the AL team when May drew to a close. But his last seven or eight outings, earning him Pitcher of the Month honors for June, obviously swung things in his favor. He went 3-0 in June with an 0.94 ERA and held opponents to a .183 batting average.

Put your hands in the air for Seattle Mariners' "L. Ben Show'' squad

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:51:04 PDT

Time to market this one before Mike Sweeney gets the t-shirts made. Sweeney has come up with a name for the M's squad of reservists, many of whom have played key roles on this 5-3 road trip. The Mariners head into today with a chance to do something never done before in franchise history -- sweep the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

And the "L. Ben Show'' team of reservists has had plenty to do with it. Sweeney has toyed with the name -- pronounced "El Bencho" (ha, ha!) since spring training. But now, with the reservists seeing the lion's share of playing time for an M's squad just 2 1/2 games out of first place, he's about to get the t-shirts made.

The toughest part is figuring out who's on the L.Ben Show team and who isn't.

Podcast: Breaking down this "unlikely" Mariners win

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:45:06 PDT

Seems a handful of you are confused about why I wrote in a blog headline that today's win by the Mariners was an "unlikely" one.

Now I'm confused.

Because to me, the only thing less likely than a Mariners victory today would have been to see Michael Jackson moonwalk out to the mound to sing "God Bless America'' in the seventh inning.

So, I've done a podcast for you to try to explain.

Relief pitcher Roy Corcoran the latest Mariners player to step up big

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:29:04 PDT

This is what happens to teams that suddenly find themselves angling for a playoff berth. Guys start to perform in ways not expected. Hitters not known for hitting suddenly do. A team not known for drawing walks suddenly takes five of them, including three in the ninth to win the game 3-2 over the Boston Red Sox.

And yeah, while Red Sox reliever Takashi Saito couldn't find the strike zone, how many times the past few years have the Mariners swung away wildly in any event?

Nope, these are odd times indeed. The times that make you put away the stats sheets and the flow charts and just watch guys trying to win baseball games. The Mariners came in here with a bunch of subs trying to scrape together runs. Instead, they have won their first series here since 2001 and guaranteed a winning record on this trip, now 5-3, that ends tomorrow.

Which brings us to Roy Corcoran.

Mariners score unlikely win over Red Sox in battle of bullpens

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:12:03 PDT

We told you pre-game that David Aardsma was feeling better. He got a chance to prove it in the ninth, retiring the side to preserve a 3-2 victory for the Mariners. Who would have thought Seattle would win a late-inning bullpen battle? Not many folks, but Roy Corcoran and Aardsma did the job after 6 1/3 innings by Garrett Olson.

Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/04 game thread

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:52:04 PDT

Chris Jakubauskas told me something interesting last night about the Mariners bullpen: "The one thing about us is, we all want to get out there and pitch. It doesn't matter what the situation is, or who you're talking about. We all want to be out there contributing.''

That said, how many of you thought Roy Corcoran would survive the eighth inning once David Ortiz strolled into the on-deck circle? Raise you hands. Thought so. Believe me, my hand was at my side, too.

Corcoran went out nonetheless and threw a 1-2-3 inning, getting Ortiz on a soft lineout to right that was caught by second baseman Jose Lopez, playing the deep shift. So, this 2-2 game heads to the ninth.

Miguel Batista will pitch the bottom of the inning if we're still tied, David Aardsma will go if Seattle has the lead.

Here's a stat for you courtesy of longtime Boston Globe beat writer Gordon Edes, now a senior writer for Yahoo Sports (and the guy who wrote a letter to U.S. immigration on my behalf to get me into this country in 2006 -- blame him). After that last Ken Griffey Jr. flyout in the sixth, he is now just 4-for-52 with no RBI and only one extra-base hit in Fenway Park games since leaving the Mariners in 1999. That includes interleague games and his return affairs here with Chicago and now Seattle.

Griffey will lead off the ninth.

By the way, for those who hadn't heard, Dave Niehaus arrived at the ballpark, so that's great news here on the Fourth of July. No city to be in quite like Boston for all things patriotic. This is my third July 4 covering baseball in this city and there's always lots of fanfare associated with it.

Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus taken to hospital by ambulance for precautionary reasons

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:57:03 PDT

UPDATE: 9:54 a.m.: Niehaus has arrived at the ballpark, looking no worse for wear. Presumably, he's doing the game.

Hall of Fame boradcaster Dave Niehaus was taken by ambulance to a Boston hospital this morning after waking up feeling disoriented. Niehaus was conscious at the time and, from what we hear, was talking about actually doing the game broadcast this afternoon.

Niehaus is 74, so you have to be careful with these things, So far, he's not at the ballpark, We'll let you know when we get further word on his condition.

In other Mariners news, closer David Aardsma is feeling fine this morning after team trainers worked out "a knot'' that had developed near the back of his rib cage area. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu had earlier described the injury as perhaps "a mild intercostal strain'' bu Aardsma told me afterwards that the problem had been taken care of while the manager was still speaking to reporters.

Rob Johnson ties a club record as Mariners win 7-6 in 11 innings

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:04:04 PDT

The Mariners owe a huge round of thanks to Chris Jakubauskas after this nerve-wracking win over the Boston Red Sox. Jakubauskas came on and tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the win, settling things down after that blown lead in the eighth.

Rob Johnson then did the unthinkable, tying a club record with his third double of the game, off Ramon Ramirez in the 11th, to give Seattle two runs and an eventual 7-6 victory.

Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/03 game thread

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:30:05 PDT

Don Wakamatsu had said before the game that he wasn't going to use Shawn Kelley in any seventh or eighth inning nailbiters -- that he was going to ease him back into things after a nearly two-month absence. Well, he might have forgotten what he said in that eighth inning because there was Kelley, giving up a two-run double off the Green Monster in left field by former Mariners farmhand Nick Green that's tied this game up at 5-5.

Sean White, who clearly looks gassed, walked a batter and allowed a single to put two on with one out. Kelley came on from there, saw Jacoby Ellsbury hit a ball to the left field warning track, then yielded the double.

The problem here is, Wakamatsu has seven relievers on the team, but only a handful he can trust late. Roy Corcoran isn't heading out there to protect any leads and Miguel Batista was used quite a bit last night along with Mark Lowe.

That left Chris Jakubauskas, but you need the long reliever ready the next two days.

I know, it's not an optimal situation. One problem is Corcoran, a guy taking up a spot who isn't being used. Another is White, who has not looked right his past few outings and has thrown more big league innings than anyone expected this year.

This one might not have the happy finish some were expecting.

Also, in case you missed it earlier, our video tour of the new Yankee Stadium is on the next page.

Erik Bedard throws 54-pitch simulated game, ready to start for Mariners next Tuesday

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:40:04 PDT

The Mariners are out on the field for batting practice at the moment. Erik Bedard was warming up a lot earlier than that, throwing a 54-pitch simulated game before most of his teammates even had their uniforms on. He's been judged ready to go next Tuesday, then in the finale of the Texas series before the All-Star break.

"He looked as good as I've seen him,'' manager Don Wakamatsu said.

What exactly was he basing that on?

Mariners activate pitcher Shawn Kelley, option Mike Carp back to Class AAA

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:17:04 PDT

We told you a couple of days ago that this move was coming. The Mariners had planned to activate relief pitcher Shawn Kelley off the disabled list in order to have some bullpen insurance in case Erik Bedard made a start on Saturday. Bedard isn't starting until Tuesday, but the Mariners went ahead and made the move anyhow.

Mike Carp, pictured above, heads back to Class AAA. Why did the Mariners do this?

Mariners, Angels have serious trade deadline advantage over Texas Rangers

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:26:03 PDT

UPDATE 10:22 a.m.: Felix Hernandez has been named AL Pitcher of the Month for June and deservedly so. It's the first such honor of his career and comes just in time for his start tonight. A good showing in Boston, on a large stage, will likely thrust him into the thick of any Cy Young Award discussion.

Erik Bedard is looking mighty happy these days as he gets set to take the mound again next week. Bedard should figure prominently in any trade rumors surrounding the Mariners, though at this stage, with the team still just 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Angels, it makes perfect sense to keep him.

The Angels got the performance they needed out of John Lackey last night in a 5-2 win over Baltimore. He was supposed to be as dominant as he's been in a couple of years. That's bad news for the Mariners, who now need Bedard to step up and join Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn as a formidable starting trio to counter the Lackey-Jered Weaver combo in Los Angeles.

Both teams could also be active "buyers'' as the deadline approaches. But one division rival that won't be doing anything is the Texas Rangers.

Podcast: Mariners won tonight because of offensive balance

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:33:03 PDT

Time for me to sign off. But here's a podcast for you to listen to explaining why I thought this team won tonight. Had a lot to do with spreading the attack around and not relying on the same one or two guys. We've already spoken about what Miguel Batista did on the mound. Mark Lowe was key as well over the seventh and eighth innings.

But when this offense scores eight runs, that's the story. There's a Yankee Stadium video tour for you as well.

Seattle Mariners see bats come alive for 8-4 win over New York Yankees

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:22:04 PDT

The stands were already emptying out at the new Yankee Stadium by the time David Aardsma began working the ninth. And for good reason, given the scoreboard, though things got a little nervy after the first two hitters notched singles in the ninth and Hideki Matsui ran the count full before popping out on Aardsma's 22nd pitch of the inning.

But he muddled through.

There were a few keys to tonight's game for me, one of the biggest being Franklin Gutierrez launching that second inning homer off C.C. Sabathia. The New York Yankees ace never seemed to quite recover and spent much of the night off-balance.

Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees: 07/02 game thread

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:41:03 PDT

The Mariners managed to squander an inning in which they had a leadoff double by Ryan Langerhans and two walks -- including one from Russell Branyan to finish off C.C. Sabathia after he'd been down 0-2 in the count.

But Jose Lopez struck out on a pitch well outside of the zone to end the inning with Seattle still ahead 6-4.

Miguel Batista did a nice job of calming things down with a 1-2-3 fifth. He's back out there in the sixth.