UPDATED: Major happenings on the minor league side

MID-AFTERNOON UPDATE

While Carlos Silva was in the midst of an uninspiring outing against the Brewers’ Class AAA team, Brandon Morrow threw one nice inning in a Class AA game.

Morrow threw a dozen pitches, seven for strikes and all of them either fastballs or sliders. He didn’t face any left-handers, so no changeups. Didn’t matter, because this outing was all about getting Morrow back on the hill and keeping him healthy. He gave up an opposite-field leadoff single, then got three straight outs.

Silva, meanwhile, needed 107 pitches to go five innings. He allowed 10 hits and six earned runs, walked two and struck out seven. As they like to say, he got his pitch count up, and that’s about it. Silva thew some nice sinkers and was happy with his cutter, which he’s been working on the past couple of outings.

It’s Silva’s final spring training appearance in Arizona and he’s probably glad to see it end. He’s been affected as much as anyone by the dry air, which has foiled his attempt to get a good grip on his sinker.

These are important outings for the relievers as the Mariners make their final roster decisions. In the next three days, they must know which relievers can pitch multiple innings and which ones can pitch on back-to-back days. Given Morrow’s situation, plus the status of recovering relievers Arthur Rhodes, Chris Reitsm and Mark Lowe, chances seem good that the Mariners will start the season with a 12-man pitching staff.

While manager John McLaren would like to have the roster set before the Mariners leave Arizona on Thursday, Stottlemyre said this afternoon that it doesn’t seem possible to get the pitching staff et until after Saturday’s final exhibition in Las Vegas.

The impact will be felt on the bench, which would be a four-man unit instead of five if the M’s go with 12 pitchers. It means the bench would consist of backup catcher Jamie Burk, utility infielder Miguel Cairo, utility infielder/outfielder Willie Bloomquist and one other — either veteran pinch hitter Greg Norton, young Mike Morse (who’s led the team in hitting this month), speedy Charlton Jimerson, outfield/hitting prospect Wladimir Balentien or outfielder Jeremy Reed.

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