Got some news for ya this fine Tuesday morning.

No, it’s not about the impending status of Ken Griffey Jr., although word out of Orlando a few minutes ago indicated that his decision on whether to sign with the Mariners or Braves could be delayed until tomorrow. The reasons: Alex Rodriguez’s press conference in Tampa.

This bit of news is about the usually-popular Mariners television commercials, which will be filmed Thursday and Friday at the Peoria Sports Complex. The players involved in the next batch of 30-second ads — the 15th year anniversary bunch — are pitchers Felix Hernandez, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Ichiro, who actually filmed his latest commercial in Seattle. Manager Don Wakamatsu also is featured this year.

As part of the 15th year of the ads, Mariners Hall of Famers Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez will take a trip back into time and reflect on some of the early commercials.

It will be the 100th commerical of the long-running series.

Fans have asked how they can get their hands on the commercials. Boy do I have good news for you. Kevin Martinez, the Mariners’ director of marketing, said fans attending the the July 10 and August 28 games at Safeco Field will receive a DVD with 50 commercials each on them.

The newest commericals will debut in mid-March.

— Jim Street

The waiting game continues for the Mariners — and Braves. At some point during the day, Ken Griffey Jr., is expected to announce which team he will play for this season.

“What have you heard?” was the most often-asked question among the early arrivals this morning.

Everyone was informed that there’s nothing new so far, but stay tuned.

— Jim Street

There was a Josh Fields sighting this afternoon, in the strangest of places — a parking lot beween the Mariners offices and Peoria Stadium and in full view of the always-alert media.

Fields, the Mariners’ first-round Draft choice last June, his father, and a representative, were conversing with Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik. Assistant GM Lee Pelekoudas, carrying some kind of paperwork, joined the group.

Several minutes later, the club officials returned to their offices, while the Fields party hopped into a silver SUV and drove away.

Although Fields and the Mariners apparently reached a tentative agreement on the parameters of a contract late last week, and the pitcher underwent a physical on Saturday, he still hasn’t signed a contract. But we’re told the deal could be announced sometime around 4 p.m. MT today.

— Jim Street

 

 

It doesn’t take much these days to cause a clubhouse stir, especially when the still-unsigned Ken Griffey Jr. is involved..

Such was the case at the Braves’ Spring Training complex this morning when players walked into the clubhouse and saw a Seattle Mariners equipment bag sitting a couple of lockers away Chipper Jones’ locker.

The first thing that came to mind was: Junior is in the house!

Not so fast.

As it turned out, the bag belongs to Greg Norton, who played for the Mariners early last season.

Meanwhile, there is nothing new on the Griffey-signing front. He is expected to make a decision on where he’ll play — Seattle or Atlanta — in the next 48 hours.

The biggest news out of camp this morning was manager Don Wakamatsu and third baseman Adrian Beltre discussing at length about the clubhouse being so divided last season that it led to discontent and who knows how many losses.

Check it out later today on the Mariners web site.

— Jim Street

There was nothing new Sunday on the two buzz words of camp — Griffey, Fields.

Not surprisingly, Junior was nowhere in sight at the Peoria Sports Complex during the second day of workouts for pitchers and catchers. Fields was expected to participate in the drills, but he still has not signed a contract, although he had a physical at the complex on Saturday.

The financial parameters on a contract apparently have been settled, but until all the “I’s” are dotted and “t’s” crossed, the organization will not announce a deal and the right-handed reliever can begin his pro career.

As for Griffey, he is expected to talk to his family in the next day or so before deciding whether to play for the Mariners or Braves next season.

Meanwhile, the second group of pitchers worked their first bullpen sessions and left-hander Erik Bedard looked good.

In fact, catcher Rob Johnson was surpised by what he saw — and caught.

“His curveball was on, his changeup was on, his cutter was on and his sinker was on,” Johnson said. “I mean, everything was on. He obviously wasn’t throwing 100 percent. He’s not the type of guy who’s going to even try to go 100 percent on the first day, but it was so smooth, so effortless, so easy.”

It has been a tough start for left-hander Tyler Johnson. A sore left shoulder, which caused him to miss all of the 2008 season, is sore and he probably will be held out of action for a week to 10 days.

Camp ended for Infielder Tug Hulett, a classy guy if there ever was one. He was designated for assignment to make room for pitcher Luis Pena, acquired off waivers from the Brewers. If doesn’t find another job from another organization in 10 days, Hulett might return to the Seattle Minor League system. 

— Jim Street

 

Mariners left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith has made a decision on which team he’ll play for this spring, Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic or the Mariners.

His pursuit of a spot in the Mariners rotation will keep him in the Mariners’ Spring Training camp from start to finish.

“It was a tough decision, but I have decided to stay here,” he said this morning. “I have worked too hard during the offseason to hurt my chances of being on the team.”

Rowland-Smith said Team Australia coach John Deeble was “disappointed, but understands my decision.”

The lefty from Down Under said he was concerned that if the Australian team was successful in the Classic, he could miss up to three weeks of camp, which could hurt his chances of being in the Seattle rotation.

— Jim Street

The reason Ken Griffey Jr., wanted to leave Seattle nine years ago could be the same reason why his much-anticipated return to the Mariners might not happen after all.

He can play for a team closer to his family home in Orlando.

The late-charging Braves could on the verge of spoiling the Mariners’ coming-home bash for Griffey, the most celebrated player in franchise history. Although Junior has expressed a strong desire to return to his MLB roots, turning the Braves down could be difficult. The National League team holds its Spring Training in Orlando and Atlanta is less than an hour away by air, compared to six-plus hours from Seattle.

It is believed that the offers Griffey has received from both organizations are similar, perhaps with a base salary in the $2 million range, plus incentives.

Griffey, who played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Game golf tournament (his team missed the cut) returned home afterwards to ponder a decision as to where the next stop on his Hall of Fame career will be. His decision could come as early as Sunday, or as late as mid-week.

If he chooses the Braves, look for the Mariners to attempt to sign free agent outfielder Garret Anderson.

The Mariners still need an offensive boost, and although the 36-year-old Anderson wouldn’t match the fans’ warm-and-fuzzy feelings for Griffey, he’s is a quality big-league hitter and  familiar with AL West pitching.

And although Mariners fans who have been injected with enthusiasm the past few days, when it appeared Griffey definitely was coming back, signing Anderson could be a good “consolation” prize.

— Jim Street

Mariners left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith says he will decide in “a couple of days” whether to pitch for Australia’s World Baseball Classic team or stay with the Mariners and concentrate on earning a spot in the five-man rotation during Spring Training.

The 26-year-old from New Castle, Australia said it has been a “tough, tough decision trying to figure it out.

“But ‘m going to make a decision and live with it,” he said.

The Australian WBC team, which will prepare for the Classic in Peoria early March, lost both of its games in the inaugural 16-team event three years ago. Rowland-Smith was not on the team, electing to pass because he didn’t think his left arm was prepared enough.

“I’m on the fence right now,” he said.

So, how will he announce his decision?

“I was thinking about doing it on the MLB Network,” he quipped. 

— Jim Street

 

Before taking his physical on Friday, recently-acquired pitcher Garrett Olson had some “painting” to take care of.

The former Orioles right-hander plopped down on the stool in front of his locker, put one of his  baseball shoes in one hand, a magic marker in the other, and proceeded to get rid of as much orange that he could.

There wasn’t much he could do to remove the bright orange on the bottom of the shoes, but he was successful in coloring out the rest of the orange.

Meanwhile, across the room, clubhouse attendant Pete Fortune was busy working on another pair of Olson shoes.

In another camp observation, it might be just a coincidence, but there are two unoccupied lockers at one of end of “regulars” row. You have to wonder if a guy named Ken Griffey Jr. soon will be occupying the lockers.

And speaking of Junior, negotiations are ongoing as we speak and I would be more surprised if the two sides don’t agree on an incentive-laden one-year contract than if they do.

— Jim Street

Ken Griffey Jr. could be coming home in a few days.

A little more than nine years after being traded to the Reds for four players, Griffey and the Mariners are nearing agreement on a one-year contract.

Griffey, who is playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament this week, could join the Mariners in Spring Training as early as Wednesday – the first full-squad workout.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik would neither confirm or deny that a deal is imminent, saying, “I do not comment on free agents.”

The deal would not be finalized until Griffey passes a physical, which is expected to occur in the Phoenix area.

— Jim Street