@by:Larry LaRue

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@text:ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Paul Abbott passed another test Tuesday, inching

closer to something he hoped he’d never have to deal with again – a minor

league assignment.

Hours before the Mariners-Devil Rays game, Abbott threw a simulated game

against teammates, throwing 48 pitches from the mound, another 36 on the

sidleine.

“No pain, so that’s another step,” said Abbott, on the disabled list with

inflamation in his right shoulder since May 8. “The only bad thing was I

couldn’t get Chris Snelling out.”

Rookies Snelling and Luis Ugueto provided the opposition for Abbott, who

would get three outs, sit in the dugout for a few minutes, then get loose and

pitch another inning.

“He worked three innings, and he’ll throw again Friday in Baltimore, just

a bullpen session,” manager Lou Piniella said. “By Monday, he could be

pitching in a minor league game.”

Abbott has pitched in hundreds of those, and while he never imagined

himself back in Class A or AA, that’s exactly where he may be next week.

Because the Rainiers are out of town, Abbott could pitch for a warm-weather

minor league team – like San Antonio.

“What we’re looking for is a couple, three starts for Paul, getting him

strong and stretched out again,” pitching coach Bryan Price. “You don’t bring

a starter back up until he’s got the chance to pitch at least five innings.

If he can’t go five, he’s in a no-win situation no matter how good he feels.”

Abbott is ready, mentally at least, to pitch again.

“The focus so far has been on health, and today I went all-out, but it’s

still not the same as facing live hitters,” he said. “The emphasis is on how

you feel, not trying to make quality pitches. I made some good ones today,

but Snelling crushed me a few times, too.”

Next week, he’ll be facing minor league hitters. Two, probably three

starts later, he’ll be ready to face big leaguer hitters, barring a seetback.

Mariners notes – Add this to the growing Snelling File: For years,

Snelling has asked the umpire – after each pitch – what the count is during

his at-bats. “I’ve only done it once up here in the majors,” the rookie said,

“and he didn’t answer. He just looked at me funny.” … Jeff Nelson will play

catch for the first time Friday, testing his right elbow for the first time

since May 10 surgery. “Mostly, I’ve been stretching and doing strengthening

exercises, getting treatment to get the inflamation out of my elbow,” Nelson

said. “It’s pretty boring rehabilitation – about four hours of it a day.” …

Among the pre-game visitors was former Mariners reliever Tom Niedenfuer, who

retired at age 31 and is now living in Sarasota, Fla. … Now that Piniella

and third baseman Jeff Cirillo have cleared the air, the manager and others

are trying once again to joke Cirillo out of a prolonged funk. Bret Boone,

for instance, stood near Cirillo and declared him “my favorite teammate –

within five feet.” And Piniella wandered into a hitters pre-game meeting and

announced that he was naming Cirillo the on-field base-running coach. “He

laughed, we laughed,” Piniella said. “You’ve got to have some fun in this

game or it kills you.”

Today’s Game: Seattle plays Tampa Bay in a 4:15 p.m. (PDT) game at

Tropicana Field that will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers:

Freddy Garcia (5-4, 3.72) vs. Tanyon Sturtze (0-5, 5.19).

Reach staff writer Larry LaRue at larry.larue@mail.tribnet.com