Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
When: 4:15 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday
Where: SkyDome in Toronto
TV: KIRO (Ch. 7) today, Fox Sports Net (cable) Wednesday and Thursday
Radio: KIRO (710 AM) all three days
Pitchers: Today – Seattle right-hander Freddy Garcia (4-2, 3.66 earned run average) vs. right-hander Brandon Lyon (1-3, 6.08). Wednesday – Left-hander Jamie Moyer (3-1, 4.68) vs. right-hander Luke Prokopec (2-4, 6.82). Thursday – Right-hander Joel Pineiro (3-0, 2.25) vs. TBA.
About once every homestand, someone tosses out Chris Snelling’s name just to see manager Lou Piniella’s eyes light up.
Piniella loves the young Australian outfielder because of his hustle and his hitting, and he’s taken a special interest this year in Snelling, who is batting .353 at Class AA San Antonio with nine RBI and a .431 on-base percentage.
Asked about Snelling’s chances of competing for a spot on the major league team next year, Piniella amended the question.
“Next year? He might be here this summer if we have an injury or something,” said Piniella, who is confident Snelling not only can fill in but play well at the major league level. “Up here if you have a weakness, they will exploit it more because of advance scouting reports and all the games that are on TV. But at the same time, the pitchers here have better command and they’re around the plate more.”
Emergency pitcher: Pitching coach Bryan Price wouldn’t have been surprised if Charles Gipson’s eyes lit up last week when the Mariners’ relief pitching grew thin.
Gipson, a backup whose athleticism allows the M’s to use him not only in the outfield and infield but as the emergency catcher, actually has pitching experience in the pros.
“Gibby pitched about two or three times for us in Double-A in 1996 (at Port City), and he was effective,” Price said. “That’s the worst thing that could ever happen.”
Worst for whom?
“For me,” Price said. “Because he had success, he’s always saying, ‘Hey B, if you need someone … ’ You have those games where you play extra innings and the bullpen’s a little bit tired, and Charles gives you that hairy eyeball and he wants in.
“The thing is, he’s got to fight it out with Relaford, who’s got major league experience on the mound.”
Desi Relaford pitched a scoreless inning last May 17 while with the Mets, including a strikeout of the Padres’ Jose Nunez.
Bobblehead hero: Pat Borders may be a Mariners minor leaguer now, but he’s still a legend in Toronto, where they remember his MVP performance on the 1992 World Series team. The Blue Jays will give away bobblehead dolls with Borders’ likeness to the first 15,000 fans at Sunday’s game.
Kirby Arnold
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