Hello again from the hotel computer lab!

I’m still unable to load pictures and video (trust me, there’s plenty more), but I’ll give you a brief update of my day thus far.

I spent the afternoon back out at Peoria, this time checking out the back fields as the Mariners geared up for a 1:00 PM game against the San Diego Padres.  I didn’t run into any former LumberKings out there, but I did get the chance to see current Kings manager John Tamargo, Special Assistant John Boles, Director of Player Development Pedro Grifol and General Manager Jack Zduriencik.

I unfortunately missed the Felix Hernandez/Cliff Lee simulated game by just minutes, but I did get a nice souvenir.  Upon seeing JT, he handed me the last baseball used by Lee in his session.

I shot a few photos of Dustin Ackley getting some cuts and also got a good look at Eric Byrnes and Franklin Gutierrez as they took BP.

Following that, I met up with Jeff Evans and Fernando Alcala of the Mariners’ Media Relations staff and was able to talk shop and get a behind-the-scenes look inside their offices.  I also got my hands on my first Mariners’ 2010 Media Guide and a trip to the pressbox.

At the game, I was able to chat with former LumberKings right-hander Andrew Carraway (’09), the man scheduled for emergency duty out of the bullpen today.  I snapped a few pictures and got video of Carraway throwing in the pen, but unfortunately he did not get into what turned out to be a 9-3 Mariners’ loss.

As soon as I can, I’ll get pictures and video up on the Peoria back diamonds and Carraway’s big-league bullpen session.

Tomorrow, I venture out to Camelback Ranch to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Chicago White Sox.  Hopefully I’ll see Manny being Manny, some “he gone” action and more.

-DL