Around AL West Spring Training, 3/26: Mike Sweeney Lives On

Mariners: Felix Hernandez threw five solid innings in a split-squad game Thursday, although he says he felt a little “strong” with his sinker moving all over the place. Nice problem...Rule 5 pick Kanekoa Texeira tossed 3.1 shutout innings on Thursday, solidifying his grasp on a spot in the bullpen...Shawn Kelley tossed 2.2 effective innings Thursday as well as the de facto starter, showing a good changeup...Mike Sweeney appears to have won a roster spot, through which he would serve as part of a DH platoon. Ryan Garko would then be sent to AAA Tacoma...Don Wakamatsu is comfortable with Casey Kotchman serving as the everyday first baseman and Milton Bradley serving as the everyday left fielder...catchers Eliezer Alfonzo and Guillermo Quiroz have been sent to minor league camp, leaving Josh Bard as the only remaining competition. If Rob Johnson feels good on Friday in the second of back-to-back games, he and Adam Moore will take the two spots. Bard is insurance...Cliff Lee’s next throwing session, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been pushed back to Wednesday as he continues to experience abdominal discomfort. He may miss all of April...Jason Vargas and Doug Fister are intended to be the 4th and 5th starters while Lee is out.

Angels: Slow day.

Athletics: Ben Sheets tossed six innings in a minor league start on Thursday, and while the results weren’t good - due in large part to a “terrible” changeup - Sheets physically felt great...Mark Ellis returned to the lineup Thursday from a hamstring strain...Edwar Ramirez tossed an inning Thursday in his A’s debut.

Rangers: Eric Hurley, coming off shoulder and wrist surgeries, is eying a May 1st rehab stint that would put him in line to return to the mound a month later...the Rangers have posted a much-improved strikeout rate so far this spring...the Rangers have a terrible record right now, but the Rangers don’t really care.