It's the turn of the rotation

The main Mariner site has the latest weekly writing assignment. This one is on the starting pitching rotation. Guess what is brought up within the first two paragraphs.

The top of the Mariners starting rotation already has one No. 1 pitcher in right-hander Felix Hernandez.

But a No. 1A sure would be nice.

That's the thinking of general manager Bill Bavasi, who has been trying for more than two months to acquire hard-throwing left-hander Erik Bedard from the Orioles. However, just three weeks from when pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz., the proposed trade remains on hold and no one seems to know when -- or if -- a deal will be finalized.

As of now, there will be 12 potential starting pitchers in camp vying for five spots.

"It is going to be an interesting Spring Training," said new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. "I don't know the guys real well, and they don't know me real well. But we will have six weeks together to get on the same page.

Here are Stottlemyre's thoughts on the ex-Rattler in the rotation:

RHP Hernandez: "Felix is at the top of the rotation. He's a young pitcher that's shown a lot of progress and we're hoping he can step it up and go to the next level. He certainly is capable of it, stuff-wise. He has as good of stuff as anyone in the American League and his future has barely been tapped. He has a lot to give us and we look forward to getting as much out of him as we can."