When I got home from dinner last night, I laughed. Yesterday's version of the Mariners beat the Padres. They didn't only beat the Padres - they beat the Padres by scoring six times as many runs. Yesterday's version of the Mariners applied one of the team's bigger beat-downs of the spring. Yesterday's version of the Mariners was underratedly fantastic.

If that's what a lineup of D- and C- and B-grade minor leaguers can do to a Major League Baseball team, imagine what a lineup of Major Leaguers could do to a very similar Major League Baseball team. The Mariners play the Royals at 1:05pm, and Eric Wedge is bringing many of the starters back because they've rested enough:

Figgins, LF
Kawasaki, SS
Ichiro, RF
Smoak, 1B
Montero, DH
Olivo, C
Seager, 2B
Liddi, 3B
Wells, CF

I think Dustin Ackley's still feeling a little ill, so that explains some of that. Michael Saunders is also ill, so that explains the rest. I guess it doesn't explain why Brendan Ryan isn't in at shortstop, but Brendan Ryan just got hisself a fiancee so maybe he's getting a breather.

On the mound is Major League Baseball starting pitcher Blake Beavan, who is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher. This is how he should introduce himself. That's how I would introduce myself if I were Blake Beavan, or a relatively unknown Major League Baseball starting pitcher.

Additional notes: the Mariners have closed to within two games of first place in the Cactus League. And the Mariners also released Aaron Heilman, who was over in minor-league camp. Something tells me Aaron Heilman's not going to want to ever re-join the Mariners. Remember when we all thought he'd make the bullpen? We all thought he'd make the bullpen. Every single one of us. Every single one of us.