Never have four words caused Mariners fans to shudder with so much fear. Except maybe, "Clemens in Game 4" or "A-Rod wants some money" but that's another story. Got to hand it to Jeff Weaver. He's the first to admit how bad he's been. But he's not looking for any rehabilitation starts in the minors. He threw 70 pitches in a simulated game today, no one in the bleachers got hit by any line drives and the picher later declared that he's ready to take on another starting assignment. Weaver is going to be an issue for this team in coming weeks. He's being paid $8.3 million to pitch here and right now, there is no room for him in the rotation -- assuming Horacio Ramirez isn't seriously hurt.

"I haven't shown anything,'' he admitted. "I haven't been bringing anything to the table. It'll speak for itself once I get back out there.''

Trouble is, who does he replace? Ramirez? What if Ryan Feierabend throws well in tonight's game? Nice problems to have, I suppose. But Weaver says he's ready. Mariners manager Mike Hargrove told us yesterday that he envisions Weaver making up to two rehab starts in the minors. Sounds like a guy who's trying to buy himself some time for a decision to more or less make itself. Time can solve many a problem.

Here's Weaver's take on rehab outings, which he's never had to go out for, by the way:

"I'm more or less recovered and I feel strong,'' he said. "My pitch count's already there. It's not like I have to start all over and build back up to it. It's there already.''

This will be an interesting little side story to keep an eye on.

Interesting factoid of the day: For all of Seattle's struggles with runners in scoring position barely a week ago, the team now has three hitters in the AL's top-10 in that category. I'm serious. It's the only main hitting category Seattle has three candidates in. Raul Ibanez is sixth at .412, Yuniesky Betancourt is seventh at .410 and Ichiro is eighth at .385.

Here are tonight's lineups:

LOS ANGELES

LF Reggie Willits
SS Orlando Cabrera
RF Vladimir Guerrero
CF Gary Matthews Jr.
3B Rob Quinlan
C Mike Napoli
2B Howie Kendrick
DH Shea Hillenbrand
1B Casey Kotchman

RHP Ervin Santana

SEATTLE

CF Ichiro
DH Jose Vidro
RF Jose Guillen
LF Raul Ibanez
1B Richie Sexson
C Kenji Johjima
3B Adrian Beltre
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
2B Jose Lopez

LHP Ryan Feierabend