AG: Less dangerous than sitting in the stands when Chuck Knoblauch is playing second. And not a precedent either -- pitcher Vida Blue used to have Vida on his jersey, and Chili Davis had Chili (the nickname, not the food). Regarding Ichiro, the Mariners informed the league that he had worn only Ichiro on his jersey during the past nine years in Japan and planned to continue that practice. No problem ensued.

AG: Not quite. The folks at Ivar's, who are behind Grounders, hope that word of these garlic fries will indeed spread. The Safeco garlic fries were inspired by/copied from the popular Gilroy garlic fries at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. The garlicky death-to-vampires aroma of a single order of Grounders can be whiffed from 10 feet away at Safeco, but the taste is something else. At least during early season offerings, the Kosher salt has grand-slammed the taste of other ingredients (Idaho spuds, fresh parsley, fresh garlic).

AG: Christofferson was consulted about playing the relocated December bowl game and raised no objections. Safeco's sod might have to be replaced after a football game, but Safeco's drainage and irrigation system (and maybe even the grass, with proper preparation) would not be threatened by even a monster truck event. Christofferson stresses, "My preference is not to have other events at Safeco. But the reality is that bills have to be paid. If other events can be done safely here, then we have to consider them; the facility has to be used. But the number one priority at Safeco will always be baseball -- to have the field perfect for every game that the M's play."

The P-I Answer Guy tackles questions big and small about the Mariners and baseball. You can reach the AG, John Marshall, by phone at 206-448-8114; by fax at 206-448-8216; or by e-mail at johnmarshall@seattle-pi.com