Welcome to the last day before the first day of Spring Training.

As we speak, players are arriving for their afternoon physicals. I had a nice chat with longtime Mariners head athletic trainer Rick Griffin about how the pre-camp physicals have changed since he began working for the organization nearly 30 years ago. Check out his story on the Mariners web site.

Dr. Mitch Storey, one of the team physicians from Seattle, said the Mariners were, to his knowledge, the first MLB team to introduce the EKG exam to the physical.

The first workout for pitchers and catchers is Thursday morning, beginning with a team meeting at 9 a.m., a team stretch at 10 a.m. PFP (pitchers fielding practice) commences at 10:30 and lasts for 48 minutes. Pitchers will wear spikes.

There will be four stations — Comebackers-runners at second and 1-6-3 and 1-4-3 double plays; Pepper; Bunts down the first and third baselines; and cover first on grounders hit to the first and second basemen, and Inbetween play. That will be followed by Team Fundamental, bunt defense.

Also, at 11:35 Felix Hernandez, Ian Snell, David Aardsma and Brandon League will have a throwingt program to prepare for the first bullpen sessions of the spring, which begin at 11:45. The second group of Doug Fister, Garrett Olson, Luke French and Sean White follow at 11:57; Chris Seddon, Mike Koplove, Steven Shell and Chad Cordero at 12:09; and Mauricio Robles, Kanekeo Texeira and Josh Fields at 12:21.

The seven catchers in camp will split the BP catching duties, take batting practice against the coaches, a good way to build confidence, throw for 10 minutes and conduct fielding drills for 20 minutes.

If camp co-ordinator Ty Van Burkleo has his way, the schedule will go off like clockwork.

— Jim Street