This weekend's Mariners-Marlins series is taking place at Safeco Field due to an "upcoming U2 concert" at Sun Life Stadium, and the games will mark the "first time" NL rules are played in an AL ballpark, according to Larry Stone of the SEATTLE TIMES. The Mariners "will wear their road gray uniforms, while the Marlins will wear black tops and white pants." The Mariners "will keep using the home clubhouse and dugout, and they will take batting practice first, as they normally do at home." Mariners 1B Justin Smoak said, "Everything will be backward being at home. It's definitely going to be weird." Mariners P Jason Vargas said, "It will be good for the fans to see us playing in a different uniform. Other than that, it's a home game where we don't get the last ups" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/24).
NO SPECIAL TREATMENT: In Tacoma, John McGrath writes the Marlins' and Mariners' marketing departments "dropped the ball." The Mariners "knew they'd inherit these extra games in January -- the two organizations' brain trusts had five months to brainstorm -- and the only idea they had was to conduct business as usual." They "could've sold tickets at substantially reduced prices," and they "could've awarded free tickets to students with high grades or perfect attendance." McGrath: "Better yet, they could've designated, say, 25,000 free tickets for each game, and parlayed the freebies into a fundraiser: No cost for admission, but $10 to a predetermined local charity. ... But instead of reducing the price of tickets for a series relocated from Florida, the Mariners have added a $2 'Summer Weekend' surcharge" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 6/24).
