Edgar's recovery still on schedule

RICH MYHRE, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published July 28

SEATTLE -- Designated hitter Edgar Martinez, on the disabled list since July 16 with a strained left quadriceps muscle, seems likely to return to the active roster on Tuesday as initially scheduled.

That is the day the Mariners open a seven-game road swing, with stops at Detroit and Cleveland. Martinez had some soreness in his leg while running on Wednesday, but his Thursday workout was much better, Seattle manager Lou Piniella said.

Given that Martinez is 38, and given the Mariners' hefty lead in the AL West, the team will lean toward caution if he's not quite ready.

"If it's a matter of a few days, we would wait. But if we can get him back on Tuesday, we'd be very pleased," Piniella said.

When Martinez is activated, the team will have to decide whether to trim a pitcher (leaving Seattle with 11) or a position player from the active roster.

"The dilemma," Piniella said with a nod, "will be how to get him back on the roster."

- TRADE TALK: Four days remain until the Major Leagues' trading deadline, which means there is an air of uneasiness in Seattle's clubhouse, just as there is in every other major league clubhouse at this time of year.

No one is expecting the Mariners to make an overhaul, but "if you're one of those guys who they're talking about going somewhere, then it's got to be nerve-wracking," Seattle reliever Norm Charlton said.

- NO BAD HABITS: With Thursday's win over Kansas City, the Mariners avoided losing their third straight game and being swept in a series for the first time this season.

In the clubhouse after the game, though, no one seemed overly impressed with the outcome. And why should they be? After all, the Mariners have a major league-best 74-29 record.

For this team, the losses should be the surprises, not the wins.

"It's always good not to get used to losing. Winning and losing are habits. When you're in a bad habit like losing, it's nice to get out of it right away and get back into the good habits," catcher Dan Wilson said.

- THAT'S A FACT: Going into Friday's game, the Mariners led the majors with a 27-14 record (.659 percentage) in games decided by one or two runs. Minnesota was second at 35-21 (.625).

- CONFIDENCE: During some rare idle time before Friday's game, Piniella sat in his office and did a newspaper crossword puzzle. In ink.

Is he really that confident in his crossword ability?

"Nah, I just don't have a pencil," Piniella said.

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