UPDATE 6:53: That was a very rough outing for King Felix. He didn't strike out anyone in five innings (11 hits, five runs, three walks). He's only had one other career start with no strikeouts -- and that was the one last year against the Twins, his third start of the year, in which he exited after one-third of an inning with elbow problems. We'll need to find out after the game what's going on. He got hit in the foot by a hard line drive off the bat of Juan Uribe in the fourth, but he was struggling long before that.

(Sorry, internet troubles. I've been trying to post this for half an hour).

I've got to think covering the White Sox is pretty fun. You've got a good, exciting team to watch, and you get to deal with Ozzie Guillen every day. I've sat in on his pre-game sessions the last two days. What a kick. He really does love to talk, he's colorful, he says outrageous things. Everything that reporters love. I asked him yesterday whether Joey Cora was ready to manage. He went into a long, tongue-in-cheek schtick about he'd love to get him out of here, before getting serious and telling how ready he thinks Cora is to manage.

I said, "I'd bet you'd hate to lose him."

"Are you kidding?'' he replied. "I don't want to lose Carlos Quentin. Bleep Joey. He can be replaced by any bleeping body. Sitting next to me on the bench and talking bleep? That's what he does. I don't want to lose Carlos Quentin or JD (Jermaine Dye) or any of those guys. Joey? Anyone can do that bleep."

He was kidding, of course, and it was pretty bleeping funny. Maybe you had to be there."

BTW, I talked to Joey today about the Mariners' managerial job. He was very even-handed, because the job technically isn't open and he doesn't want to be disrespectful to Jim Riggleman, who is a friend. But I get the feeling that he wants it very badly. I'd be very surprised if Cora isn't at least a finalist if and when the job does open up. He has strong credentials as Guillen's \coach for five years (third-base coach 2004-06, bench coach 2007 and 2008) -- including a World Series ring, and another possible playoff run this year -- and he has those strong Mariner ties. Plus he's managed three years in the minors, and one year in the Venezuelan winter leagues. Cora has already interviewed for openings in Pittsburgh and Washington, and is starting to get traction as one of the prime names on the "manager in waiting" list. It's hard to speculate on the next manager

Lineups

Mariners

Ichiro RF
Miguel Cairo 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Jose Lopez 2B
Wladimir Balentien CF
Kenji Johjima DH
Jamie Burke C
Yuniesky Betancourt SS

Felix Hernandez P

White Sox

Orlando Cabrera SS
A.J. Pierzynski C
Carlos Quentin LF
Jermaine Dye RF
Jim Thome DH
Alexei Ramirez 2B
Ken Griffey Jr. CF
Nick Swisher 1B
Juan Uribe 3B

Clayton Richard P