Notebook: Meche stays focused on return to spring training

Gil Meche, disappointed that his surgically repaired shoulder prevented him from participating in the Mariners historic season, is setting his sights on spring training.

The right-hander who turns 23 Saturday, had surgery on his labrum Feb. 6 and has been going through rehabilitation for the past six months. He finally joined the Mariners last night so he could be measured by the medical staff and extended by the coaching staff.

"I think I should be ready for spring training," said Meche, who has been throwing off the mound for about a month. "I know it's (throwing ability) there, it's just a matter of going out and feeling good every day."

Meche, who didn't begin throwing until May 1, has had to break through countless barriers on the way to recovery. At one point, he couldn't even lift his arm. That evolved into long tossing, flat ground throwing and finally throwing off the mound.

"It's up and down. Sometimes it's a good day, sometimes it's not," said Meche, who has normal discomfort in his shoulder but not in the repaired area. "I just keep pushing through it.

"Mechanically, I think I'm throwing really well. (Pitching coach) Bryan Price said he was impressed with what he saw. That's good to hear, coming from him, because it's good to hear different opinions. I've been with the same people all year long."

Price, who played catch with Meche before the game, said, "he looked great. He looked better than any time last year when he started to have problems with his arm."

He said Meche is with the team now to keep him on a consistent rehab program "and he could use a boost right now. He's back in the clubhouse again with the guys."

Meche will stay in Seattle for a couple of weeks then will go to Arizona for the Fall Instructional League. He will have his first mound experience since last summer in a game there.

A record with quirks

A quirkiness in the way baseball recognizes records casts a shadow on the next two home runs for Mariners second baseman Bret Boone.

Boone has 32 home runs, which, on the surface, would be enough to tie Cleveland's Joe Gordon's 1948 record for most home runs by a second baseman.

However, one home run came in a June 21 game at Oakland when Boone entered as a pinch hitter. He hit a three-run home run. But after the blast, he remained in the game to play second base.

"It's the stupidest thing I ever heard," Boone said. "It's not like I've played another position this season."

But since he didn't start the game at second, he doesn't get credit toward the record.

He intends to make it a moot point with a few more home runs, but added, "I don't know which ball to keep, the next one or the one after."

Notes

• The Mariners held off bringing up catcher Pat Borders. He played in Calgary last night with the Tacoma Rainiers and is expected to be activated tonight when the team returns home.

• John Olerud, who has had the fewest number of off days among the position players, was given a second straight day off yesterday. Stan Javier started at first base. It was revealed by Mariners public-relations staff that Olerud has played in more games since 1997 than just about everyone in baseball. Entering the game, he had played in 768 games from 1997 through 2001. Only three players have played more. Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs has played in 771 while Atlanta's Andruw Jones and Texas' Rafael Palmeiro have each played in 769.

• Ichiro, just the sixth Mariner to steal at least 40 bases in a season, is trying to become the third to reach 50. He has 46. Harold Reynolds set the club mark with a league-leading 60 in 1987 and Julio Cruz had 59 in 1978.

• The Devil Rays' are the first team to promote a player from this year's June draft. The Rays brought up right-hand pitcher Dewon Brazelton Saturday when rosters were expanded. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Brazelton was the No. 3 overall selection out of Middle Tennessee State.

After tough negotiations in which Brazelton was prepared to return to MTSU for his senior year, he agreed on a four-year, $4.8 million contract on Aug. 25. Part of the terms included a call-up this season.

Brazelton, 21, is the 19th player ever to go straight to the majors but don't expect to see him this series or this season.

How the runs scored

Devil Rays first: Tyner infield single to second. Abernathy struck out. Winn doubled to center, Tyner scored. Cox struck out. Hall flied out to left fielder Buhner. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Devil Rays 1, M's 0.

Mariners first: Ichiro singled to center. Javier infield single to short, Ichiro to second. Boone grounded into fielder's choice, right fielder Winn to shortstop Gomez, Ichiro to third, Javier out. Martinez walked on a full count, Boone to second. Cameron hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Winn, Ichiro scored, Boone to third. Buhner popped out to center fielder Tyner. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. M's 1, Devil Rays 1.

Devil Rays tenth: Javier in as left fielder. McLemore in as third baseman. Olerud in as first baseman. Grieve homered to center on a 0-2 count. Sandberg struck out. Gomez popped out to second baseman Boone. Tyner was out bunting, pitcher Nelson to first baseman Olerud. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Devil Rays 2, M's 1.

Mariners tenth: Yan pitching. Boone struck out. Martinez struck out. Cameron singled to left. Cameron stole second. McLemore singled to right, Cameron scored. McLemore to second. Wilson struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 2, Devil Rays 2.

Mariners eleventh: Olerud singled to center. Martin pinch-running for Olerud.Martin stole second. Guillen struck out. Ichiro infield single to short, Martin to third. Javier infield single to short, Martin scored, Ichiro to second. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. M's 3, Devil Rays 2.