Opponent: Texas Rangers
When: 7:05 p.m. today and Friday, 6:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday
Where: Safeco Field
TV: Fox Sports Net (cable) on today, Friday and Sunday; KIRO (Ch. 7) on Saturday
Radio: KIRO (710 AM) all four games
Probable pitchers: Today – Seattle right-hander Brett Tomko (2-1, 5.78 earned run average) vs. right-hander Aaron Myette (4-4, 6.61)
Friday – Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (19-6, 3.46) vs. right-hander Rick Helling (12-10, 5.11)
Saturday – Undecided vs. left-hander Doug Davis (11-9, 4.60)
Sunday – Seattle right-hander Aaron Sele (15-5, 3.56) vs. left-hander Darren Oliver (11-11, 6.12)
Martinez, Pineiro suspended: Edgar Martinez arrived in the visiting clubhouse Wednesday to discover he’d been given a new nickname by Mariners teammates – Lucifer – and shortly afterward began a two-game suspension for letting the devil get his temper.
Martinez was suspended by major league baseball a day after charging Angels pitcher Lou Pote, and rookie teammate Joel Pineiro was suspended three games for retaliating by hitting Anaheim third base Troy Glaus with a pitch.
“Not many people have seen me that angry,” Martinez said, but that was about all he’d say of the incident.
After being hit in the arm by a pitch that glanced up and hit him in the face, Martinez went down Tuesday night. When he got up, he was in full stride and after Pote – and Mariners teammates had trouble believing this was the man who’d only been ejected twice before in his career.
“I mean, his head was spinning around and pea soup was coming out his mouth,” outfielder Jay Buhner said, laughing. “He was yelling, but it sounded more like growling.”
“He kept yelling, ‘Let go of me,’ second baseman Bret Boone said, “and no one would.”
No blows were landed in the gathering near the mound, but Martinez took a while to calm down.
“He wasn’t very happy,” manager Lou Piniella said.
Martinez and Pineiro were fined $1,000, and while both could have appealed the suspension, neither will.
“The way it stands, it’s out of the way in the next three days,” Piniella said. “That’s better than having it extend into next season.”
Guillen out for first round: Still hospitalized for treatment of tuberculosis, Mariners shortstop Carlos Guillen was told Wednesday he wouldn’t be medically cleared to be activated in time for the American League Division Series that begins next week in Seattle.
While the move came as no surprise – Guillen had been hospitalized Friday and undergone minor surgery Tuesday – it left open at least small hope that should the Mariners play deep into the postseason, Guillen could return.
“Carlos is responding well to treatment and a full recovery is expected,” team physician Mitch Storey said in a release. “Carlos has requested that the Mariners limit the amount of medical information released about his treatment. However, he wants everyone to know he’s doing fine and is looking forward to getting back to the ballpark.”
No one is certain just when that will be.
Today, the full Mariners roster, coaching staff, manager and much of the front office will be tested for tuberculosis, and over the next few days manager Lou Piniella and his staff will complete the postseason roster.
Without Guillen, rookie shortstop Ramon Vazquez – who played all season with Class AAA Tacoma – will certainly be part of that roster, although veteran Mark McLemore will likely start at shortstop.
Playoff rotation: Seattle is preparing its rotation for the American League Division Series by giving each of its starters six days rest before they pitch in the series. Freddy Garcia will start Game 1 on Tuesday; Jamie Moyer, whose last regular season start is Friday, will start Game 2 on Thursday. Aaron Sele will start the final game of the regular season Sunday, then pitch Game 3 of the series on Saturday.
Milestone: Mariners trainer Rick Griffin hit a major milestone Wednesday – his 3,000th game in the majors. Griffin has been with the team 19 seasons, and during his tenure has worked for nine managers.
Another award: Ichiro Suzuki was named AL Rookie of the Month again for September – his fourth such award this season. Suzuki also won in April, May and August.
Larry LaRue
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