Less than two days and counting until the trade deadline and everyone is still here. As far as a Washburn deal goes I get the impression that it was pretty much a New York media generated rumor. I have no doubt there has been contact and talks but I do not believe that it was ever as far along as some media outlets reported.

In talking with Lee Pelekoudas today he stressed that the Mariners do not have to make a deal before or at this deadline and that they are in no way in salary dump mode. They would like to make a smart deal, but it takes two to tango. It is interesting to see that much of the rest of the baseball world thinks that the team must get rid of their big contracts or clear some room in the budget. Apparently they have not been paying attention.

Money has really not been a problem of late for this organization. How that money has been spent is another issue, but when needed, within reason, the money has been there. The last time I can remember the team bowing out on a player because of money was the Matsuzaka sweepstakes. They would not go astronomically high for a posting fee. Sounds reasonable to me.

Now with all this said Pelekoudas did admit to me that while payroll going forward has yet to be decided it very well could go down naturally as the team gets younger. That’s fine with me. Younger sounds good as does spending wisely.

As for Wash, well I think he is a little disappointed and who can blame him. Who wouldn’t want to play for a contender. Wash made a crack tonight after almost scoring the winning run as a pinch runner. “Now that they see I have speed I should be worth at least 3 prospects,” he said. He also revealed that he doesn’t ever wear spikes, belt or jersey on the bench which would explain the delay when he had to pinch run for Joh tonight. From the press box you could see the scramble and Riggleman giving Jarrod his belt as he ambled up the dugout steps.

Wash isn’t the only one who is trying to find the lighter side of trade anxiety. In Toronto the bullpen led by Arthur Rhodes pranked him before his start. When Wash went out to the bullpen to warm up there was no one their but Norm Charlton and bullpen catcher Brian Sweigert. Normally as a starter warms up the bullpen guys will trickle out to the pen and get ready to settle in for the game. This time no one came out.

When a starter if finished with his warm up the relievers and catchers will all come over and fist bump him and tell him to go get ‘em. This time no one was there. Wash noticed and knew they were playing with him. After the game he yelled, “Thanks for the support!” as Arthur and Lowe reeled in a laughing fit.

The truly funny thing was none of the relievers actually made it out to the bullpen until there were two outs in the top of the first. Norm and Swags were sitting out there alone. At one point I am told Norm turned to Brian and said “I guess I am one and you are two!” Luckily neither was needed.

On to the news of the day and that is Ichiro hitting 3000. It seems like it was more of a hassle than anything else for him. It is a huge deal in that only one other player in Japanese history has accomplished the feat. It is not so huge in that it is a passing point and the record itself is in reach, possibly this year. If he gets 216 hits this season he will become the all time hits leader in Japan.

After the game he did a couple of on field interviews then talked with the US beat reporters at his locker. He addressed the Japanese media in the Rangers media room a little bit later. He wanted to do that in his street clothes for some reason so they had to wait awhile.

He seemed energized after the game. I think these milestones and the coverage of them wears on him. Regardless, he answered every question we had. I was interested to know if he felt it was harder to get the hits here than in Japan. He pointed out that he accumulated hits here faster than in Japan so apparently it was easier. I then asked if perhaps it was easier here because I would expect the media frenzy would be less here than it would be in Japan. He wasn’t sure about that saying that while the numbers may be less, the access here is more. Reporters aren’t allowed in the clubhouse in Japan. He said he didn’t have to worry about things like the color of his underwear being reported there. Those things, he said, made it more difficult.

I thought I might be able to get an interesting answer with a question I thought up on the way to the clubhouse after the game. Some accuse him of being too wrapped up in his own numbers so I asked him what would baseball be like for him if there were no numbers?

Ichiro, I am told by Brad Lefton who documents his every move for Japanese TV, told me last week loves the witty retort. It is something he practices in the off season by going on numerous Japanese television shows. He was ready for the question, quickly responding with a laugh, “That would be boring because if you think about it there would be no runs either and we wouldn’t know who won.” Sometimes you ask a dumbass question and get a good answer. Other times…

On my way out of the clubhouse I was approached by a Japanese reporter who asked if I would answer some questions about Ichiro on camera for him. I have done this from time to time and as a result, I am now huge in Japan. Okay, not really. The reporter asked what people thought of the accomplishment in Seattle and I told him that he had many fans there and they would be thrilled. He also wanted to know what we thought of the legitimacy of the split 3000. I said that for now, nationally it was not a big deal but that I thought with time, it would be acknowledged as something more significant. I do believe this because when I talk to other players and managers none of them discount the fact that 1,278 of the hits came in Japan. Will be interesting to see what happens with time.