That above is early work. Good early work. Tui at third taking grounders, Saunders in left getting work as well. This is exactly what I hoped to see when I posted this two weeks ago. We have seen other teams doing this on the road all year long. The fact that this was not going on earlier in the season I recently learned was a concern. It only makes sense. If a team heading to the post season like the Twins can do it why can't a team who has had base running errors, poor situational hitting, young players up, players new to positions do the same? Again, it was good to see today.

One of the teams we have seen recently that is big on early work is the Chicago White Sox. Of course bench coach Joey Cora was in the news today as Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported that Cora has emerged as a "strong candidate" for the Seattle job. Interesting on a few fronts. First of all Jack Zduriencik has said that experience will be something he is looking for moving forward. Second, Cora was a strong candidate, possibly one of the top three for the manager job here the last time.

I don't know how important experience is. There are pitfalls that can be avoided by someone who has experience but I am not convinced that an inexperienced manager can't navigate around or completely avoid them. If the right experienced manager is not available wouldn't the best inexperienced candidate be the next best bet? The trick will be to find him.

What I like about Cora is that he has been coaching at the big league level for seven years, the last four as bench coach. His name has been out there for a couple of years now as someone who will be managing soon. He is smart as well as baseball smart. He is fiery and not afraid of confrontation or to get on a guy though he has mellowed somewhat since becoming bench coach. If he is indeed a candidate he would be a good one.

News and notes...Felix hit the 200 strikeout mark for the second straight year with his strikeout of Erick Aybar in the 7th inning tonight...Ichiro recorded his 500th infield hit with his single in the 2nd inning of the same game...To follow up on something I wrote yesterday, the Mariners released the names of players who will play along with Dustin Ackley in the Arizona Fall League this year.

- Maikel Cleto (RHP)

- Josh Fields (RHP)

- Josh Lueke (RHP)

- Tom Wilhelmsen (RHP)

- Matt Mangini (INF)

- Nate Tenbrink (OF)

- Eddie Tamez (Trainer)

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