OAKLAND – The Oakland Athletics figure heavily in the final record Seattle will put up this season. Counting Thursday’s first game of a four-game series, the two teams play one another in seven of the Mariners’ final 28 games.

The Athletics are also have the worst record of any team Seattle will face in the final month.

Seattle began the night 9-3 against Oakland this season, with a total of 70 wins. Should they win five of the last seven against the Athletics, and 10 of their other 21 games, the Mariners would end the season 85-72.

Last year, when they lost 101 games, the Mariners, Nationals and Padres went down to the final week to determine which team would have the worst record in baseball.

Look at the same three teams through Wednesday’s games, and Seattle had 70 wins, the Padres 59, the Nationals 46.

Variety fine with Hall

Bill Hall has a fantasy, where the Mariners let him suit up behind the plate one inning, then pitch the ninth inning for a save in the same game.

“That would be great,” he said.

Probably not going to happen, but the Mariners are delighted to use Hall in the role Willie Bloomquist used to fill. In the 11 games he has played for the Mariners since coming in trade from Milwaukee, Hall has played left field, right field, third base and second base.

“We’re more versatile now than we’ve probably been all year, and seeing how Bill has played makes you comfortable he can do the job,” manager Don Wakamatsu. “He’s athletic enough to play infield or outfield.”

On Thursday, it was left field. On Wednesday, second base – something of a test to see whether Hall would be comfortable there. He was.

It doesn’t mean the Mariners are preparing to move Jose Lopez, who started Thursday at second base for the 122nd time this season. In those games, by the way, the Mariners were 61-60 going into their game against Oakland.

Short hops

Mariners catchers lead the American League in throwing out opposing base runners, having caught 34 of 94 runners trying to steal against them. That 37.2 percent is the highest in the league. ...

When Felix Hernandez and David Aardsma beat the Angels, 3-0, on Wednesday, it was Seattle’s 21st win of the season when scoring three runs or fewer. That’s eight more wins in that fashion than any team in the league, and only St. Louis has as many in baseball. It’s also a franchise single-season record, breaking the old mark of 19 set in 1989. ...

Russell Branyan skipped this trip to get treatment in Seattle on his ailing back. The Mariners hope his herniated disk will improve enough to allow him to take batting practice upon their return, but his playing again this season is in doubt. ... Salary drive! Over the past 11 games, Mike Sweeney has batted .421, raising his season average from .228 to .265.

On tap

Seattle continues its series in Oakland today with a 7:05 p.m. game that will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Seattle’s Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-2, 3.95) vs. Vin Mazzaro (4-9, 5.32).

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com