Newsmakers

Added The Seattle Mariners have hired two former major leaguers for their minor league staff, Carl Willis as pitching coordinator and Andy Stankiewicz as field coordinator. Willis, 48, was the Cleveland Indians’ pitching coach the past seven seasons. Stankiewicz, 45, was an assistant coach the past four years at Arizona State University.

Sidelined Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic is out again, sidelined up to four weeks with a sprained left ankle. Lucic limped off the ice in Wednesday’s shootout win over the Minnesota Wild.

•Edmonton right wing Ales Hemsky will miss the rest of the season because of a left shoulder injury that will require surgery to repair.

•New York Jets cornerbacks Dwight Lowery and Donald Strickland will not play against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday because of injuries. Lowery will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by Lito Sheppard. Linebacker Vernon Gholston, sidelined the past two games with a strained hamstring, is listed as probable against Carolina.

•Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson will miss three more games while recovering from a bout with pneumonia. Nelson will return after the Warriors’ game Tuesday in Denver. Top assistant Keith Smart is coaching the Warriors during Nelson’s absence.

Off the bench Georgia has gone to its mascot bench for the game against No. 7 Georgia Tech. Russ, the 5-year-old half brother of Uga VII, will be prowling the sidelines when the Bulldogs face the Yellow Jackets tonight after Uga VII’s sudden death from heart-related causes Nov. 19.

Listed Fifteen first-time candidates, including Roberto Alomar, join holdovers Mark McGwire, Andre Dawson and Bert Blyleven on this year’s baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Edgar Martinez, Barry Larkin and Fred McGriff also are new to the ballot this year. Martinez spent 18 seasons with Seattle, winning two A.L. batting titles and finishing with a .312 average and 309 homers. A seven-time All-Star, he was a designated hitter in 1,412 of 2,055 career regular-season games.

Promoted Son of Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian, Chris Polian, has been promoted to vice president and general manager of the team.