The players’ next Kangeroo Court undoubtedly will include a “substantial” fine for right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

 

The fun-loving session, directed by “Judge Mo Money” (Ken Griffey Jr.), cites players for all kinds of “infractions” on and off the field and the cash register rang a few times on Wednesday night when Ichiro lost track of the number of outs in the fourth inning of the 1-0 victory over the Angels.

 

Ichiro ran a long way to catch up with a foul popup hit by Angels Howie Kendrick with the bases loaded.

 

Making sure the runner at third base did not tag up and try to score the tying run, Ichiro made the catch, quickly transferred the ball to his throwing hand and was ready to throw to the plate — when he finally realized that he actually caught the third out.

 

He sheepishly grinned and tossed the ball into the crowd, giving someone a souvenir.

He returned to the dugout, a little embarrassed, to say the least.

 

“The joke was, ‘In Japan they play four outs (in an inning),” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “(Carlos) Silva actually came up and gave (Ichiro) a kiss on the cheek. Just to see a guy of that stature have a little snafu like that was refreshing for the rest of us.”

 

But just wait until Griffey gets a gavel in his hand and presides over the next court session.

In other matters, left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith had a good bullpen session today and will report to Triple-A Tacoma for a short rehab stint. He is expected to make two or three starts and get his pitch count up to around 100 before rejoining the Mariners in early June.

 

At that point, the Mariners will decide which five starters would be in the rotation. As now now, Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn, Jason Vargas and Chris Jakubauskas are pitching every fifth day.

 

Jakubauskas helped his status on Wednesday night, holding the Angels to two hits and no runs over six innings.

 

“When he pitches like that he deserves to stay in the rotation,” Wakamatsu said. “When Rowland-smith comes back we’ll have to make that decision.”

 

The only change in the Mariners lineup tonight is Mike Sweeney replacing Griffey as the designated hitter and batting third.

 

— Jim Street
   

If you are anywhere between downtown and Everett, the music you hear is coming from behind home plate at Safeco Field where guitarist Mike McCready is practicing the National Anthem on his really, really, really loud sound system.

Not that it’s loud, but I am trying to transcribe an interview that’s on my recorder and have absolutely not chance of hearing anything other than the guitar.

But he sure sounded good — and loud.

On another subject, Adrian Beltre is back in the lineup at third base and taking some extra batting practice as we speak, and Yuniesky Betancourt is back out of the lineup at shortstop, replaced (again) by Ronny Cedeno.

There are rumors out there that trade talks are ongoing between the Mariners and Pirates regarding Yuni and Jack Wilson. Nothing would surprise me, although I haven’t had anyone in the organization willing to discuss the subject.

Betancourt seems to be falling off the ship because of his lack of focus. He could be so much better if he could maintain his concentration.

Anyway, time to get this posted before the music resumes.

— Jim Street

Just when it looked like third baseman Adrian Beltre might be coming out of a prolonged batting slump, the current homestand has knocked him back into slump-land.

And, with a 0-for-11 skid the past three games and a hitless streak stretching to to 13 consecutive at-bats, manager Don Wakamatsu decided to give Beltre a breatherand took him out of the starting lineup for Monday night’s series opener against the Angels at Safeco Field.

Beltre, batting .211 with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 152 at-bats, was replaced at third by Ronny Cedeno.

The remainder of the lineup reads:

1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF.

2. Jose Lopez, 2B

3. Ken Griffey Jr., DH.

4. Wladimir Balentien, LF.

5. Russell Branyan, 1B.

6. Kenji Johjima, C.

7. Franklin Gutierrez, CF.

8. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS.

9. Cedeno, 3B.

P. Jarrod Washburn.

— Jim Street

The Mariners’ rotation against the Red Sox this weekend at Safeco Field might not exactly scare the socks off the Sox.

Manager Don Wakamatsu said this morning that left-hander Erik Bedard will likely miss his scheduled start on Saturday night because of a sore right hamstring. It does not appear serious enough to put Bedard on the disabled list, but it does take one of Seattle’s most experienced starters out of the three-game series that starts tomorrow night.

If Bedard is scratched, the Mariners would start right-hander Chris Jakubauskas, left-hander Garrett Olson and lefty Jason Vargas in that order against the Red Sox.

They are a combined 18-25 in their MLB careers. Boston is scheduled to start Jon Lester on Friday, Josh Beckett on Saturday and Justin Masterson on Sunday.

Right-handed reliever Roy Corcoran was eligible to come off the 15-day DL today, but he didn’t.

He still hasn’t thrown since a neck injury put him on the 15-day DL and there is no timetable on his return.

Some Mariners fans were wondering why Mike Sweeney did not pinch-hit for Ken Griffey Jr. in the 10th inning on Wednesday night against Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson. Junior bounced into a 1-6-3 double play with runners on first and third.

“Sweeney was unvailable with his back and I wanted to give him another day,” Wakamatsu said. “Plus, Junior hit a home run in  Minnesota. There’s all different scenarios there. Junior’s going to be in there, and I’ve done that with Mike. I  haven’t pinch-hit Mike with Grif in those situations, either.

“As we go forward, we’ll see. Grif’s starting to swing the bat better. I didn’t think it was the time to pinch-hit  for him there, for a lot of different reasons.”

— Jim Street

The lineup is out for tonight’s game and guess who isn’t in it.

If you guessed Yuniesky Betancourt, you win. But a few thousand others probably saw this coming. 

Betancourt could be a terrific all-around shortstop, probably one of the best in the Major Leagues, but he has tendency to lose focus on offense and defense.

His lackadaisical play in Tuesday night’s loss to the Rangers was especially bad in the eyes of manager Don Wakamatsu, who said after the game that some changes were forthcoming.

While only one change was made, Ronny Cedeno started at shortstop, the message sent was clear.

It might take a few more changes for the Mariners to have some success against right-handed pitchers. They are 9-15 against right-handers and that is no acceptable.

Betancourt’s focus, or lack thereof, isn’t the only blemish on the team, but it is one of the most glaring, so a step was taken to either get him to concentrate, or sit him for awhile.

— Jim Street

Greetings from Arlington, deep in the heart of Texas, or wherever, it is. In case you hadn’t heard, Randy Johnson won the 298th game of his career last night in San Francisco.

But that’s not what this blog is all about because I always look ahead.

The Big Unit, who basically started his journey to the Hall of Fame midway through the 1989 season when he was acquired by the Mariners from the Montreal Expos, just might get the first crack at his 300th career win on May 22 — at Safeco Field.

I kid you not. If the Giants stay in rotation, Johnson’s next start would be this Saturday afternoon against the Mets in S.F., and his ensuing start could be the following Friday night against the Mariners in the opener of a three-game Interleague Play series.

With Monday being an off day, Giants manager Bruce Bochy could re-arrange his rotation to keep Johnson on an every-fifth day routine and start him Thursday night against the Padres in San Diego.

But I really don’t see that happening, especially if Johnson beats the Mets on Saturday for career win No. 299.

It’s just too good of a story for the Big Unit NOT to start against the Mariners with a chance to notch his 300th win.

Johnson won the first of his five Cy Young Awards with the Mariners in 1997 — the year he also became a 20-game winner for the first time — and still ranks second on the franchise’sall-time win list with 130. Jamie Moyer is first with 145 victories.

While waiting to have lunch with former Mariners president/general manager Dan O’Brien and his wife, Mary Ann, I was wondering how the current Mariners have fared in their careers against Johnson.

It is sort of mixed bag, actually. Ichiro is a solid 7-for-15 against the Big Unit. Second baseman Jose Lopez is 4-for-10. Endy Chavez is 2-for-6, and Adrian Beltre has three home runs off Johnson in 62 at-bats. Beltre also has two doubles and 18 strikeouts.

Mike Sweeney is 3-for-25 with four strikeouts against the Big Unit; Ken Griffey Jr. is 0-for-5 with three strikeouts; Kenji Johjima is 0-for-3 but with no strikeouts; and Carlos Silva is 0-for-2 with one whiff. Overall, the current Mariners are 32-for-139 with three home runs, four walks and 30 strikeouts.

However, former Mariners third baseman and now TV analyst Mike Blowers was 9-for-16 (.583) against Randy, so guess I will have to have a little chat with Blowers and have him explain why he was so good against the Big Unit.

— Jim Street

A hard swing that Mike Sweeney took on the first pitch of his final at-bat in Saturday night’s game tweaked a muscle in his lower back and he spent most of Sunday morning in the trainer’s room getting treatment.

“We think he’ll be fine on Tuesday,” manager Don Wakamatsu said in his pre-game media session. “It’s in a little different spot than where it was before, just a muscle spasm so he should be fine.”

Sweeney was due to bat fourth in the ninth inning on Saturday night, but would have been removed for a pinch-hitter — Ken Griffey Jr. if there had been two runners on base or Ronny Cedeno with one out. It became moot when Jose Lopez grounded into a game-ending double play.

Wakamatsu said he talked to Felix Hernandez earlier in the day and was assured that there is nothing wrong with the ace right-hander’s right arm. Wakamatsu had expressed some concern after Saturday night’s game, saying it appeared that Hernandez was having an issue with his arm.

But Felix told reporters after the game that he was fine and said the same thing on Sunday.

“There were no repercussions from the game,” Wakamatsu. “His mechanics were a little out of whack and I think he tried to do too much.”

In other medical updates:

— Relievers Tyler Johnson and Chad Cordero are still working out with the extended spring group in Peoria. They will throw again onb Tuesday and Johnson could begin his rehab assignment real soon. Cordero is farther behind.

— Right-hander Roy Corcoran, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a neck issue, is much better and will begin playing catch on Friday before the Mariners face the Red Sox at Safeco Field.

— Shawn Kelley is improving, but the strained left oblique will keep him out of action for another six or seven weeks.

— Right-handed starter Carlos Silva (shoulder inflammation) is expected to play catch this week in Arlington during the three-game series against the Rangers.

Here’s today’s lineup:

1. Ichiro Suxzuki, RF.
2. Jose Lopez, 2B
3. Ken Griffey Jr. DH.
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B.
5. Russell Branyan, 1B.
6. Wladimir Balentien, LF.
7. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS.
8. Rob Johnson, C.
9. Endy Chavez, LF.
P. Erik Bedard.

— Jim Street

A decision has  been on what to do with struggling right-hander Carlos Silva.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list today.

The move was made to make room on the 25-man roster for right-handed closer Brandon Morrow, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list.

“Back in Anaheim, he had some shoulder inflammation back there and since that time he has battled it and I think we need to get him right and get him healthy,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “Now is the time to do that.”

Left-hander Jason Vargas replaces Silva in the rotation and will start Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers in Arlington.

“We want want to find out about some of the young guys, too,” Wakamatsu said. “He’s a guy that we liked in Spring Training and he pitched well at Triple-A to start the seasona and now we have a need to see him out there. He has shown us a lot in the games he has pitched.”

Silva, in the meantime, will receive treatment on his shoulder, step back and let his mind rest for awhile. Besides the ailing shoulder, he has been fighting himself.

The plan is for Silva to eventully throw some bullpens and at least one or two simulated games before returning to the rotation.

— Jim Street

There’s a team meeting of sorts going on as we speak at the Metrodome.

It’s called early batting practice and a big chunk the lineup is taking turns hitting against Antony Suzuki, one of the two Japanese translators that travel with the team.

The hitting group includes Ronny Cedeno (.138), Rob Johnson (.204), Ken Griffey Jr., (.205), Adrian Beltre (.208), Jose Lopez (.259), Franklin Gutierrez (.278) and Wladimir Balentien (.341).

Watching closely are manager Don Wakamatsu, bench coach Ty Van Burkleo and hitting coach Alan Cockrell.

The Mariners, you might have heard, are having a devil of a time scoring runs. They were shut out on Friday night and their season-high losing streak reached five in-a-row.

In the past four games, they have scored just four runs (three earned) in their past 36 innings and the meat of the batting order has been struggling, big-time.

Griffey just hit three consecutive pitches into the upper deck in right field, including one in right-center, just a few feet below the huge poster of the late Kirby Puckett and well above the baggy that separates home runs from doubles, or triples.

Beltre, who amazingly has no home runs this season, just cranked two-in-a-row in the left field seats. Sure, they con’t count, but it could be a start. He and Griffey are standing off to the side of the batting cage, chatting and working on their hitting knowlege, which is vast.

This stat alone tells you why the Mariners went from 15-10 to 15-15: during the first 25 games, they batted .324 (60-for-185) with runners in scoring position. During the five-game skid, they are batting .185 (5-for-39) MISP.

— Jim Street

You probably didn’t know this — and the man himself probably didn’t know this — but Ken Griffey Jr. tied Babe Ruth during Thursday’s game against the Royals.

Griffey hit his 506th career double in the 3-1 loss to the Royals. Next up is Rickey Henderson, who ranks 41st on the all-time list with 510 two-baggers.

Junior has hit three doubles in his past five games.

If he hits two home runs during this three-game series, Griffey would tie Jim Thome for most home runs by an opponent at the Metrodome. Thome has 27 and Junior checks in with 25, including one this season.

Another little known fact: Hall of Fame announcer Dave Niehaus reached the 5,000-mark for the number of Mariners games he has broadcast. Congrats. He doesn’t look a day over….never mind. He looks good and sounds good for a just-barely senior citizen.

Food for thought: The Mariners head into tonight’s series opener against the Twins with four runs scored in their past three games. The Red Sox scored 12 runs in ONE inning on Thursday.

More food for thought: The Mariners are 10-3 when scoring four or more runs and 5-11 when touching home plate three or fewer times.

I’m waiting for any news regarding right-hander Carlos Silva and what kind of plans the team has for him — keep him the rotation; re-assign him to the bullpen; put him on the DL with “mental fatigue”; or something else.

Stay tuned on that one.

Tonight also will be the final game withough closer Brandon Morrow. He will be activated prior to Saturday night’s game.

Just returned from the pre-game media session with Wakamatsu and there was nothing new of Silva. He is still scheduled to start one of the games against the Rangers in Arlington.

Meanwhile, left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith had a bullpen session and will pitch a simulated game on Tuesday in Texas — a two-inning, 30-pitch outing at The Ballpark in Arlington. He will take a day off, throw another BP session on Thursday, and then go to Peoria, Ariz., for extended Spring Training.

Wakamatsu explained that it would be easier to monitor his progress there and build him back into baseball shape instead of sending him out a rehab assignment with a Minor League team. That being said, Rowland-Smith eventually will have at least one rehab start, getting up to about 75 pitches before returning to the Mariners.

That could be in about three weeks.

The pre-game hitters meeting was mostly about being more patient at the plate. Wakamatsu told the hitters he would like to see more innings like the ninth inning in Thursday’s game in Kansas City.

Some of the best at-bats in the past several days occurred in that inning and even though they scored just one run, the improvement in patience was noticed. He said the hitters are “trying too hard” to do the job instead of just relaxing and letting their natural ability take over.

The exact same thing happened last season and it got progressively worse as the losses mounted.

Among the lineup changes tonight: Endy Chavez moved back into the No. 2 spot and Griffey batted sixth, behind Adrian Beltre.

From top to bottom:

1. Ichiro, RF

2. Chavez, LF

3. Jose Lopez, 2B

4. Russell Branyan, 1B

5. Beltre, 3B

6. Griffey, DH

7. Kenji Johjima, C

8. Franklin Gutierrez, CF

9. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

P — Chris Jakubauskas

— Jim Street