--RF Ichiro Suzuki is on the disabled list for the first time in his career. He missed games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday after coming out of a game early on Monday complaining of fatigue. He was diagnosed with not only fatigue but a bleeding ulcer (it's not currently bleeding), and he asked to remain on the active list. But Mariners management overruled him. He's going to miss the first nine games of the season after having missed just 16 games in his first eight years and will be eligible to return on April 15.
--RHP Brandon Morrow will probably start the season in the bullpen after a spring-long battle with right forearm tightness didn't allow him to get stretched out enough to be a member of the starting rotation, as originally planned. The Mariners had promised that he'd get a chance to start, but Morrow went to manager Don Wakamatsu and suggested starting the season in the 'pen because of his lack of innings. --RHP Mark Lowe at one point appeared to be the leading candidate to be the Seattle closer, but through Thursday he'd allowed runs in six of his last eight appearances. Lowe is battling RHP Miguel Batista and RHP Roy Corcoran for the job, and none has had a great spring, although Corcoran has been sidelined for a week or so and is just not getting back into action. "Mark's got to command the baseball and he's got to get it down to be considered (as the closer)," manager Don Wakamatsu said.
--3B Matt Tuiasosopo hit over .400 for the spring (.404, seven doubles, two homers), but that didn't prevent him being sent down to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday. Tuiasosopo was called the most improved player on the club, offensively and defensively, by manager Don Wakamatsu, and if the Mariners are struggling at midseason to the point where they'd consider trading free agent-to-be 3B Adrian Beltre, Tuiasosopo would be in position to step in after his big spring.
--RHP Felix Hernandez didn't give up any runs in two starts in the World Baseball Classic while pitching for Team Venezuela, but he was pummeled by Kansas City in his first start back with Seattle. He said his command was "horrible," and he chalked it up to it being one of those days.
--LHP Tyler Johnson was looked on as likely to be the club's situational lefty, but Johnson, trying to recover from shoulder surgery, might not be ready. He has not pitched in a Cactus League game yet, and manager Don Wakamatsu said the club might not carry a situational left-hander to start the season, implying that Johnson could start the season in the minor leagues.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- The number of consecutive years RF Ichiro Suzuki will have reached 200 hits if he gets there this year. No player in history has done that.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'd need a lobotomy to change anything." -- Batting coach Alan Cockrell when asked if he planned on altering anything in Ichiro's swing.
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