Mike Brumley, who turned an eight-year career as a utility player into a longer stint as a coach, manager and instructor, has been hired by the Seattle Mariners as a third base coach.

One of Brumley’s big-league stops as a player was in Seattle, where he played in 1990.

Now 46, Brumley has spent time in the Dodgers, Rangers, White Sox, Angels and Diamondbacks organizations and overseen all aspects of baseball instruction.

“We talked to candidates inside and outside the organization,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said, “and Mike will be a great fit for us. He’s had experience as a …

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Seattle Mariners Bryan LaHair, Cesar Jimenez and Randy Messenger have been outrighted to Tacoma – making each eligible for free agency – and Justin Thomas has been claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Outfielder-first baseman LaHair, 26, and pitchers Jimenez, 24, and Messenger, 28, could accept their assignments or choose to become free agents. A fourth player, pitcher Marwin Vega, 23, has been outrighted to Tacoma but is not eligible for free agency.

Thomas, a 25-year-old left hander, was claimed off waivers by the Pirates.

LaHair, a first baseman who played mostly in left field with Tacoma, hit .289 with 28 …

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Was going though a closet this week and came across The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated from September, 1998.

Mark McGwire was the cover story for both – and hero worship was the order of the day. SI’s headline was ‘The Record: What it means to Mark McGwire – and to America’. The Sporting News simply shouted ‘Hero!’ in huge type.

Since then, the world has piled on McGwire, who faced the U.S. Senate and had the gall to say he wouldn’t talk about the past.

Other than that and Jose Canseco’s book, hard evidence has yet …

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Ken Griffey Jr., whose return to the Seattle Mariners included battles with a painful left knee last season, has undergone surgery to remove a bone spur.

Junior had the surgery performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati, and is expected to be ale to begin cardio work within four-six weeks.

At age 39, Griffey batted .214 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI last season, playing almost exclusively as the Mariners left-handed hitting designated hitter. Late in the year, Griffey missed more than a week with knee problems.

Though no negotiations have begun between Griffey and the Mariners, it’s …

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The Yankees made us wait a bit, but now we know it’s a New York vs. Philadelphia World Series.

Before it starts, I’d like to hear the concensus: Who’s going to win, in how many games – and why?

And since the Fall Classic is baseball’s magic carpet ride of memories, let’s hear those, too. Which Series do you remember most, which October moments?

If you’re of a certain age, it’s hard not to think of Soupy Sales and smile.

Those of us old enough to remember his children’s shows – which were never really for children – will never forget Pookie, White Fang or Black Tooth. Heck, some of us can still mimic White Fang’s voice.

Watching Soupy sit and laugh while Pookie, the lion puppet, ‘sang’ songs by Stevie Wonder, was such a happy occasion in my life I actually named my dog Pookie.

As a performer, Soupy was a seat-of-the-pants comic who loved live TV and made it both hip and …

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The Philiadelphia Phillies will defend their 2008 World Series title by returning to the Fall Classic again this October – and Pat Gilick’s fingerprints are all over that team.

The former Mariners general manager, who won rings as the GM in Toronto and Philadelphia, is a consultant for the Phils now. Look at their roster, their scouting department and front office, however, and this remains as much Gillick’s team as that of GM Ruben Amaro.

That’s the long-term impact a good GM can have, and during Gillick’s run here he made the Mariners into a formidible team – culminating with …

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Well, for those who just didn’t think it rang true that catcher Kenji Johjima left two years of his contract with the Seattle Mariners just to be closer to his family – hoist one to your own brilliance.

Japanese writers have had their post-departure conference call, and Johjima told them he left over playing time, not family time.

Kirby Arnold, the fine beat writer with the Everett Herald, has been hearing not only from Japanese writers but talked to reliever Mark Lowe – and Lowe remembers Joh talking about playing time a year ago.

Kirby’s blog is must reading …

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