SCOUTING REPORT: These Mariners don't look much like the perennially contending teams Lou Piniella left behind.
These Mariners had lost five straight going into Wednesday and eight of nine and were 28 games under .500 at 39-67, the second-worst record in the American League.
These Mariners don't have the depth and the talent Piniella had during his 10-year reign, and they don't have some of the players he relied on, such as John Olerud, Mike Cameron, Kaz Sasaki and Freddy Garcia.
They do, however, still have a group of talented, and potentially troublesome, hitters, such as Bret Boone (.252, 14 homers, 51 RBIs), Ichiro (.355, including two 50-hit months, four homers, 36 RBIs), Edgar Martinez (.258, eight homers, 46 RBIs) and ex-Ray Randy Winn (.289, eight homers, 44 RBIs).
Inseason additions include catcher Miguel Olivo and DH Bucky Jacobsen, who has six homers in 56 at-bats.
Injuries have ravaged their pitching staff, with Eddie Guardado, Julio Mateo, Joel Pineiro and Rafael Soriano all on the disabled list.
CONNECTIONS: Winn was the Rays' All-Star representative and team MVP in 2002. Bullpen coach Orlando Gomez worked previously for the Rays. ... Piniella managed the Mariners from 1993-2002 and is credited with saving baseball in the Pacific Northwest by turning the team into a winner. Coaches Lee Elia, John McLaren and Matt Sinatro were part of his staff there. ... Rays Jose Cruz, John Halama, Rey Sanchez and Tino Martinez are former Mariners.
SEASON SERIES: This is the first of seven games between the teams. The Mariners lead the overall series 39-23, including 20-10 at Tropicana Field. Overall, the Jays lead 57-47, but the Rays have a 27-23 edge at home.
