You can count the in-house attendance for Game 1 of the double header in the hundreds, not the thousands.

It’s always the case: an April game, not on the schedule, played on a week day, in bad weather ….

Put another way, if both benches emptied, then charged the stands as one, fans would be out-numbered. They may continue to wander in as the game goes along, but it will be getting colder.

We’re off – 39 degrees and falling.

Patience, patience

Three innnings in, the Mariners have worked Chicago starter Bartolo Colon for 48

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Endy Chavez was still accepting congratulations today, although many teammates weren’t certain precisely what they were congratulating him for.

On Monday, Mike Sweeney and the team held a ceremony for Chavez having earndd his American citizenship – during which Sweeney and others teased him that he was no longer a Latino.

Turns out, it was his residency, not a change of citizenship – Chavez had been issued a green card.

“And I can’t even have that yet,” he said.

As for the clubhouse ceremony?

“It was a lot of fun,” Chavez said.

Adrian Beltre and Ken Griffey Jr. made an executive call and it was the stuff of genius.

The Mariners were scheduled to stretch and take batting practice on the field before Game 1 of today’s double header. It is, by Chicago terminology, a bit cheeky.

Beltre and Griffey found a way to have the team take BP in the covered cages – meaning no pitchers had to shag in the outfield.

The White Sox never planned to take the field, so the move made perfect sense.

Now, about the two games.

“I think I’d rather

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LO NAMED CALIFORNIA LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taiwan native Kuo Hui Lo (right) ripped apart Cal League pitchers this week, with 4 homers in 5 games — including a pair of roundtrippers to cap off the week on April 26. The Mariners prospect hit safely and had at least 1 RBI in each game this week. He currently leads the circuit with 6 triples and an .811 slugging percentage. Lo is riding a 6-game hitting streak into the third week of the season.
.429 (9-21), 7 R, 0 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 0 BB, 3 SO, 0 SB, 1.190

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Here’s Mike Curto’s game story … of note Jeff Clement made his first start at first base and Cesar Jimenez looked solid in his second rehab apperance.

Tacoma 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors
Colorado Springs 5 runs, 10 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines: IP, H, R, ER, BB, K
RH Chris Seddon (L, 1-2) 5.0,9,5,5,1,1,3HR
RH Jesus Delgado 1.0,0,0,0,2,1
LH Cesar Jimenez 1.0,1,0,0,0,1
RH Doug Fister 1.0,0,0,0,0,0
With the Bats:
CF Freddy Guzman 1×3, R, 3B
DH Mike Carp 1×4
C Guillermo Quiroz 1×3
Of Note: Jason Hirsch allowed 3 hits in 7.0 innings and Eric Young, Daniel Ortmeier and Matt Murton hit solo homers as Colorado Springs earned a 5-1 victory over Tacoma on Monday. Hirsh struck out 9 and allowed 1 run when Freddy Guzman tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the 6th. Mike Carp is hitting .471 (8×17) with 5 runs scored, 3 extra-base hits and 5 RBI during his current 4-game hit streak. Prentice Redman went 0×4 in the game ending his hitting streak at 9 games. During the streak he hit .429 (15×35) with 4 multi-hit games. Redman has also hit safely 15 of 18 games this season, batting .324 (24×74) with 17 runs scored, 4 doubles, 6 home runs and 10 RBI. Jeff Clement also went 0×4 in the game, ending his hitting streak at 7 games (.419/13×31). Since starting the season batting .045 (1×22), Clement is batting .371 (13×35) with 6 runs scored, 6 extra-base hits and 7 RBI in his last 8 games.
Infielder Ben Billingsley was transferred to extended spring training, and infielder Erick Monzon joined the club from Double-A West Tennessee, where he hit .200 (5-for-25) with two home runs and three RBI.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Andy Baldwin (1-1, 1.72 ERA) at Colorado Springs

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Outfielder Endy Chavez became an American citizen on Monday, a process the 31-year-old had undertaken quite some time ago.

He was prepared for most anything, except perhaps the response of his teammates.

As he has done each time something of import has happened since the first week of spring training, Mike Sweeney called players to a circle in the clubhouse for an announcement.

"Endy Chavez has become an American citizen today," he announced, making Chavez stand on a chair in the middle of the circle. Much cheering ensued. "Today, he is no longer a Latino!"

Sweeney

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After weeks of working out and taking ground balls and trying to learn the intricacies of playing first base (believe me it’s more difficult than you think), Jeff Clement will start his first game at first base tonight in Colorado Springs against the Sky Sox. A big thanks to the estimable Mike Curto – the voice of the Rainiers and frequent TNT contributor for the heads up. Here’s his minor league column he wrote for the TNT this week.

If you want to listen to the game, tune into 850-AM

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That’s the kind of thing they told us in grade school in California, where they were afraid rain would somehow intimidate young minds who so rarely saw it.

It’s taking turns here at the ballpark, drizzling one moment, coming down pretty hard the next. Tarps on the infield, players hidden away safely inside.

Hitters can get their work done in cages under the stands. Pitchers?

“We don’t have anyone – rotation or bullpen – who was scheduled to throw today,” pitching coach Rick Adair said. “So no one is missing any work.”

Brilliant scheduling?

“Luck,”

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I’ve been meaning to do this, but have had some logistical issues with doing this, but here’s the complete minor league report we receive from the Mariners daily.

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Mike Curto’s game story.
Tacoma 5 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors

Colorado Springs 7 runs, 11 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines: IP, H, R, ER, BB, K
RH Gabby Hernandez 5.0,7,4,4,1,3
RH Eric Hull (L, 3-1) 2.0,4,3,3,0,1
LH Justin Thomas 1.0,0,0,0,1,1
With the Bats:
1B Mike Carp 2×4, 2 R, HR, RBI
C Guillermo Quiroz 2×4, R, HR, 2 RBI
DH Jeff Clement 2×4, 2B, 3B
SS Chris Woodward 2×4
RF Prentice Redman (right)1×5, R, HR, RBI
LF Bryan LaHair 1×4, R, HR, RBI
Of Note: Guillermo Quiroz, Mike Carp and Bryan LaHair each hit home runs for Tacoma, but the Rainiers fell 7-5 to Colorado Springs on Sunday afternoon. Eric Hull took the loss for Tacoma, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in 2.0 innings. Prentice Redman extended his hitting streak to 9 games, batting .429 (15×35) with 4 multi-hit games. Redman has also hit safely 15 of 17 games this season, batting .343 (24×70) with 17 runs scored, 4 doubles, 6 home runs and 10 RBI. Since starting the season batting .045 (1×22), Jeff Clement is batting .419 (13×31) with 6 runs scored, 6 extrabase hits and 7 RBI during his current 7-game hit streak.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Chris Seddon (1-1, 6.14 ERA) at Colorado Springs

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