Mariners Update

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, May 31, 2001

Opponent: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

When: 7:05 p.m. today, 7:05 p.m. Saturday, 1:35 p.m. Sunday

Where: Safeco Field

TV: Fox Sports Net all three games

Radio: KIRO (710 AM) all three games

Pitchers: Today – Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (6-1, 4.50 earned run average) vs. right-hander Bryan Rekar (0-6, 4.80).

Saturday – Right-hander Paul Abbott (3-2, 5.67) vs. right-hander Ryan Rupe (2-4, 7.75).

Sunday – Right-hander Freddy Garcia (5-0, 3.97) vs. right-hander Tanyon Sturtze (2-4, 5.55).

Bald game: The line already had formed when Mariners employees reported to work about 9 a.m. Thursday. By 3 in the afternoon, when the shearing had been going on for two hours, the line stretched the length of two city blocks.

The sun was still hours from setting on Jay Buhner Buzz Night VII, and it already looked like a sure success.

The promotion drew a record 5,258 who had their heads shaved, including 112 women. Another 988 who showed up bald also gained free admission to the game with their freshly sheared brethren.

The oldest to be buzzed was 77-year-old Helyn Nelson of Puyallup, who auctioned her hair at her church and raised $148 for a group of students going on a mission to Fiji.

Among those who lost their locks was KIRO radio sports talk show host “New York Vinny” Richichi, who promised to have his head shaved if listeners donated at least $10,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The total soared past $25,000. One person donated 150 shares of Microsoft stock, valued at more than $10,000 after the market closed Thursday, and a group of construction workers pooled about $7,000.

After his appearance with the shiny-headed masses, Buhner returned to the Mariners clubhouse to find general manager Pat Gillick watching a baseball game on TV.

“Let’s go Pat. You’re next,” Buhner said to his boss.

Gillick just smiled and went on watching the game.

Back to school: The Mariners fanned out to six elementary schools across the area Thursday afternoon as part of the team’s fourth annual education day.

Manager Lou Piniella and six of his best-known players gave a group of Seattle schoolkids the ultimate thrill when they conducted an assembly at the John Stanford International School in Seattle. Piniella was joined by Ichiro Suzuki, Kazuhiro Sasaki, Jamie Moyer, Edgar Martinez, coach John McLaren and broadcaster Ron Fairly.

The school offers specialized programs in Japanese and Spanish, and the students heard the Mariners’ message about the importance of education and staying drug-free in those languages as well.

What did Suzuki tell them?

“Hell if I know,” Piniella said. “I didn’t understand a word he said. Ichiro and Kaz spoke to the students in Japanese, Edgar talked to them in Spanish and I spoke a little of both.”

Spanish and English, that is.

The Mariner Moose also attended.

“He didn’t say a thing,” Piniella added.

Return date: The one detail of Buhner’s foot injury that the Mariners have never been willing to discuss is when they expect him to play again. Piniella finally shed a flicker of light on that Thursday.

Asked if Buhner could return before the All-Star break, he said, “We’ll have a good indication of that over the next week to 10 days.”

Buhner began jogging early this week, “and pretty soon we’ll see if he can run,” Piniella said.

Kirby Arnold