What’s worse, fan interference or a failure to steal?

There’s still a fair amount of talk about the young man who reached over the railing and grabbed the baseball in the eighth inning last night, resulting in a ground-rule double that might have kept the Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki from scoring the tying run from first base against the Royals.

Yes, fans who sit in the front row need to be more aware of whether it’s a live ball or a foul when they lust after a souvenir. Then again, maybe it was a Royals fan who was acutely aware of the situation and did his team a favor. This wasn’t the first time a fan has grabbed a ball in play and it won’t be the last.

The bigger issue — to me, at least — is why Ichiro wasn’t on second base when that play began, meaning he would have scored the tying run on Branyan’s double, ground-rule or not. Earlier in the inning, with Jack Wilson on second and Ichiro on first, Ichiro had a grand opportunity to reach second when Wilson stole third base. While it wasn’t a called double steal, the trailing runner must be ready to go when he sees the man on second base break for third.

Ichiro wasn’t, and it was stunning to look toward second base and not see him there after Wilson had stolen third.

While the spectator who reached over the railing and created the ground-rule double remained a topic among many media today, a lot of baseball people were more consumed with Ichiro’s decision to stay at first base. One baseball veteran noted that there isn’t an easier bag to swipe than the back end of a double-steal, and that baserunners dream of such a situation.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu told reporters it was a tough play for a runner at first to read because Wilson not only ran on his own, he stutter-stepped briefly before he broke for third.

“Jack started to take off, there was a little stutter step, and then he went,” Wakamatsu said. “A guy at first base, the last thing he wants to do is start to go and get picked off because that guy all of a sudden pulls up. It wasn’t a straight double steal, it was something we knew the pitcher was 1.7 (seconds to the plate) last night, and that’s the only thing I can think of that kept him at first base.”

What, you thought Wakamatsu would criticize Ichiro?

Ichiro also said it was a difficult situation to read, but admitted that he didn’t read it well. Fair enough.

However, when we dissect the reasons why the Mariners can’t win close games, it’s a mis-read here and a lapse in judgment there that often lead to a one-run loss. The Mariners have suffered 16 of those this year.

A few pregame notes today, plus lineups:

Milton Bradley’s day-to-day status with a sore right knee has cost him a fourth straight start. Wakamatsu said Bradley has bruising under the kneecap. It was serious enough Tuesday night that Wakamatsu used Ryan Langerhans to pinch-hit in the ninth inning instead of Bradley.

Reliever Shawn Kelley saw a doctor today for his sore right elbow and began a throwing program. Kelley has been shagging flies during batting practice wearing a left-hander’s glove, borrowed from fellow reliever Garrett Olson. “I can throw it left-handed,” Kelley said. “I’ve been playing catch with (Doug) Fister, and I can throw it 90 feet right to his chest.”

Erik Bedard, scratched Tuesday from his comeback start from left shoulder surgery was because of stiffness in the shoulder, is still expected to throw a bullpen session this weekend.

Tonight’s lineups

ROYALS

Scott Podsednik, left field

Jason Kendall, catcher

David DeJesus, right field

Billy Butler, first base

Alberto Callaspo, third base

Wilson Betemit, DH

Mitch Maier, center field

Yuniesky Betancourt, shortstop

Chris Getz, second base

Right-hander Kyle Davies, starting pitcher