For M’S Newcomers, Off Day Becomes Moving Day

The three newest Seattle Mariners missed the longest part of the team’s 14-day road trip, but they’ll make up for it today.

While their Mariners teammates relax in the Northwest after a 7-5 trip, Mike Timlin, Paul Spoljaric and Heathcliff Slocumb will be in the Eastern time zone - packing.

“I figure these guys were on the road for a couple weeks, we ought to stay out and kind of catch up with what they’ve been through,” joked Timlin.

Timlin and Spoljaric, who flew from Milwaukee to Toronto after the game Sunday, will spend a full day in Canada packing clothes, goods and family, and rejoin the Mariners in Seattle on Tuesday.

Slocumb flew back to Boston to close down an apartment and pick up the necessities of life.

“It’ll be a long day, but I’ve got a late flight out (today) so I’ll be rested Tuesday,” he said. “It’s what happens when you’re traded. You’re in one city, everything you own is in another.”

All three players could have taken care of these personal matters before reporting to Seattle, but each chose not to.

“You get the chance to help a team that wants you, you just want to get there and do it,” Timlin said. “We’ve got a day off now, and though it’s not exactly the way you’d love to do it - flying across the country - it gives us a chance to get some stuff done. My wife and daughter are coming to Seattle with me.”

Notes

Alex Rodriguez stole his 22nd base in the first inning and could become the first Mariners player since 1990 to steal as many as 30. If so, he’ll join Julio Cruz, Harold Reynolds, Phil Bradley, Jack Perconte and Ruppert Jones as the only players in club history to steal 30 in a year… . Catcher Dan Wilson was a late scratch from the lineup because of a stiff neck… . In the third inning, Edgar Martinez was hit by a pitch for the 10th time this season.

Cy Young award update

Though he won his 15th game, Randy Johnson’s earned run average crept from 2.40 to 2.48, the second consecutive outing it’s risen since he got it to 2.18 three games ago. Leading candidate Roger Clemens (16-4) has a 1.78 ERA. Johnson leads in strikeouts, 224 to Clemens’ 192.

Coming up

Seattle has the day off today and on Tuesday begins a homestand with a 7:05 p.m. game in the Kingdome against Baltimore. Probable starting pitchers: Jimmy Key (13-6, 2.48) vs. Omar Olivares (6-6, 4.62).