All-Star Trip Not A Walk In The Park

None wanted to trade the honor for more sleep, but the five Mariners who went to the 1997 All-Star Game in Cleveland said the trip was anything but leisurely.

“After the night game in Anaheim on Sunday, we got to Cleveland about 7 a.m., had breakfast and went to the ballpark about 10 a.m.,” Edgar Martinez said.

Operating on no sleep, Ken Griffey Jr. took part in the homerun hitting contest Monday,, then got to his hotel room late that evening.

After the All-Star Game, Griffey, Martinez, Joey Cora, Alex Rodriguez and Randy Johnson all caught late-night flights home, arriving in Seattle close to 4 a.m.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Griffey said, “but folks on the East Coast don’t realize what guys on the West Coast go through just to get there and back, especially if you’re playing a night game on the West Coast.”

Notes

Seattle claimed right-handed reliever Tim Scott on waivers from Colorado and will have to find a roster spot for him tonight before putting him in the bullpen. Who goes to make room? Probably left-hander Greg McCarthy. … Bigger roster problem is who goes on Monday, when the Mariners bring right-hander Bob Wolcott back from Tacoma for a start in Oakland. Among the nervous: Rob Ducey, Mike Blowers and Jose Cruz Jr. …Jeff Fassero worked out Wednesday on his mildly sprained right ankle and reported no lingering pain, so will make his scheduled start tonight in the dome.