Notes: Wilson enjoying his visit

03/07/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- It seemed like any other Tuesday morning at the Mariners' Spring Training complex: sunny skies, the loud smack of baseballs hitting catchers' gloves, and Dan Wilson soaking up every bit of it.
The only difference is that Wilson isn't a player anymore. Wilson, who retired to much local fanfare at the end of last season, came to camp as a guest instructor.
Wilson spent the first of three days with the team as a part-time catching instructor and general team confidant.
He will work with new catcher Kenji Johjima, possibly pitch batting practice, and serve as a sounding board for any players looking to talk baseball.
"It's just nice that they invited me down," Wilson said. "It's a chance to see some of the new catchers and young guys and talk to Kenji a little bit. It's been nice."
Retirement also has been nice for Wilson, who said he's been happy to see his four children adjust to life with Dad around the house.
Wilson said he hadn't missed the whole Spring Training regimen until he was sitting on the couch with his wife, Annie, on the first day of pitchers and catchers reporting to Arizona.
"You miss the guys you know and the relationships you had," Wilson said. "That's the thing you really take away from this game."
Wilson said he hasn't yet considered returning to the Mariners in a coaching position or some organizational capacity other than continuing his longtime charity work, but he did say he's going to work on finishing up a business degree from the University of Minnesota via online study.
For these three days, however, he's expected to be working on the field and in the dugout.
"I'll be working and hopefully sitting with them on the bench during games, just talking," Wilson said.
"It's all about being open and willing to talk."
Felix, Part 2: Felix Hernandez made his second start of the spring Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park, and it didn't go nearly as well as his first start, in which he struck out the side on 13 pitches.
On Tuesday, Hernandez got through a scoreless first inning, giving up nothing but a J.J. Hardy infield single and notching one strikeout, but he was touched up for three runs in the second.
Bill Hall led off with a single, former Mariner Jeff Cirillo doubled in a run down the left-field line and Corey Hart made it a 3-0 game with a two-run home run to left-center. Hernandez left the stadium without speaking to reporters.
Manager Mike Hargrove said it wasn't difficult to figure out what was going on.
"He was so-so," Hargrove said. "He struggled with command, didn't throw a lot of strikes and was behind a lot of hitters."
Johjima chooses Jamie: On Monday, Hargrove said he wasn't sure if he'd have Johjima play against his countrymen Wednesday night when the Mariners play a split-squad game against the Japanese World Baseball Classic team.
On Tuesday, the decision was made, and Johjima will play in the Wednesday afternoon game against the San Francisco Giants instead. This gives Johjima another opportunity to catch Jamie Moyer, who is scheduled to pitch three innings and might square off against Giants slugger Barry Bonds.
When asked if he'd stick around to watch the Japan game Wednesday night, Johjima shook his head and said, "No."
Classic cuts: Adrian Beltre impressed his Mariners teammates from afar when he dominated the Dominican Republic's 11-5 first-round World Baseball Classic win over Venezuela. Beltre paced the Dominicans' attack by going 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs.
Beltre, starting at third base and batting sixth, struck for a three-run homer in the fifth inning off Carlos Zambrano, then added a two-run shot in the ninth off Jorge Julio.
"That's good to hear," Hargrove said. "I'm glad he's doing well. He got a lot of good work in with [hitting coach] Jeff Pentland before he left."
Joel Pineiro of the Mariners and the Puerto Rican team is set for his Wednesday start against the Netherlands in Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan.
Mariners log: Right-hander Clint Nageotte has a pulled left hamstring and has been scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday. ... Right-hander Gil Meche (oblique strain, left side) will play catch Wednesday. ... Reliever J.J. Putz (lower back spasms) is set for a one-inning stint in Wednesday afternoon's game against the San Francisco Giants. ... Second baseman Fernando Vina (strained hip flexor) took batting practice Tuesday. ... Left-hander Cesar Jimenez (mild strain of left hamstring) threw a bullpen Monday with no problems. ... Left-hander Bobby Livingston (stiff neck) played catch Tuesday. ... Outfielder Wladimir Balentien has a strained right hamstring but will continue to participate in workouts, although he's still not available for games.
Coming up: The Mariners stay home Wednesday for a full day of baseball. First, they'll play a split-squad game against the Giants in Peoria Stadium 1:05 p.m. Arizona time, or 12:05 p.m. PT, with Moyer scheduled for three innings. Moyer is set to be followed by Putz, Jeff Harris and Travis Blackley, and regulars in the lineup include Jose Lopez and Raul Ibanez.
In the night game against Ichiro Suzuki and the Japanese World Baseball Classic team, Luis Gonzalez will get the start and will be followed by Dave Burba, Emiliano Fruto and Sean Green. Regulars in the lineup include Jeremy Reed, Yuniesky Betancourt, Richie Sexson and Carl Everett.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/