SEATTLE – With five games left at the time he was asked, what did Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu hope to accomplish this week?

The obvious, of course – win as many games as possible.

But Wakamatsu also wanted to see a group of the organization’s young players at least one more time:

“I’d still like to get (catcher) Adam Moore playing, get Matt Tuiasosopo another game,” he said. “Michael Saunders is playing in left field (Wednesday) and I’d like to get him one more before this year’s out.”

There are also players Wakamatsu doesn’t need to see again. Like pitcher Carlos Silva.

“If the game dictates it, we’ll give him another inning or so. He has committed to play winter ball,” Wakamatsu said.

And will utilityman Bill Hall – batting .211 with 45 strikeouts in 114 at-bats – be seen at third base or shortstop again this season? Probably not.

“There’s several things we can do, whether it’s shortstop or third base, but looking into next year we’ve got plenty of time to transition into that if need be,” Wakamatsu said.

Now that he’s seen most of the minor league talent in the system, what’s Wakamatsu’s take on 2010?

“I think you’re seeing most of what we have at the upper levels here now. We have a lot of talent at the A-ball level,” he said. “We’re looking at going into next year, depending on what Jack Zduriencik does, with a lot of younger players with experience in some big games. Adam Moore has caught some extra-inning games already, Tuiasosopo has gotten an opportunity to play against some good competition, and Saunders has over 100 at-bats up here.

“You look at (Doug) Fister and (Ian) Snell, just the fact that a we have a much better idea of what we have from down below is critical.”

Felix feathers his cap

Felix Hernandez will make his 34th start of the season Sunday, looking for his 19th win.

He has already matched Erik Hanson’s all-time franchise single-season strikeout mark among right-handed pitchers (211). Ahead of them are nine seasons of more strikeouts by lefties Randy Johnson and Mark Langston.

When Hernandez starts Sunday, he’ll be watched carefully for signs of fatigue after his 120-pitch outing Tuesday but won’t begin the day on a pitch count.

Short hops

Shortstop Jack Wilson is officially done for the season, which is hardly a surprise. He’s missed the last 10 games with a bone bruise on his right heel, and not even frequent physical therapy last week – when he didn’t travel with the team – has helped much. Wilson is still limping in the clubhouse. ... When Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 17th home run Tuesday, it was just his second hit in his last 17 at-bats. With eight walks in his last 10 games, however, Junior leads the club with 61 walks this season. ... Since 1995, the Mariners’ winning percentage in their final home stand of the season – a total of 90 games – is .622.

On tap

Seattle concludes its series with Oakland with a 7:10 p.m. game today that will be televised on FSN. Probable starting pitchers: Brett Anderson (11-10, 4.12 ERA) vs. Doug Fister (2-4, 4.50).

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com

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