Before that can happen, 4 1/2 months worth of questions must be asked and decisions must be reached. Only then will the Mariners be ready to launch another quest for the Holy Grail in Peoria, Ariz.

Do the Mariners bring back John McLaren's coaching staff? Do they bring back Jose Guillen in right field? Is first baseman Richie Sexson capable of a rebound year? Where will Seattle find two more starting pitchers? Where does Adam Jones fit, both in the outfield and in the lineup? Will the mostly good feelings kindled in the fan base die or be reignited before March 31, when Seattle opens its 2008 season, with the Rangers again providing the opposition?

Those questions and many more are the residue from a season that ended with a five-game winning streak. The Mariners didn't get to the postseason, which was their bottom-line goal. They did, however, improve enough that players and staff feel good about what happened.

Fans gave Guillen and center fielder Ichiro Suzuki huge ovations as they were taken out of the game before the ninth inning. The same sendoff was accorded Hernandez, who gave up a chance to get a complete game so that J.J. Putz could get the final out and his 40th save.

"The season's been emotionally draining," left fielder Raul Ibanez said. "We did move forward. We have a heightened set of expectations now. And if it isn't emotionally draining, then winning wouldn't be all that rewarding."

McLaren said he was disappointed that Guillen and Adrian Beltre were unable to drive in runs Sunday, leaving both at 99 for the season -- "they don't get all caught up in it, and 99's a pretty nice number," McLaren said.

As a whole, the Mariners will be disappointed if Guillen isn't back. He wants to be, and the Mariners want him -- the club, not just the players.

"To find a player of that caliber is hard to do," Ichiro said. "So if you find one, you need to try to keep him."

The trouble is, keeping Guillen shifts Jones to left field, and that means Ibanez has to move to first base or DH. For that to happen, Sexson or Jose Vidro would have to be traded.

That decision, general manager Bill Bavasi said, is one of the many that stands to be addressed later this week. Bavasi, McLaren and their top lieutenants will meet in Peoria to see which way they want to go.

Keeping Guillen will be expensive, and will limit the options the club has with Jones, its top young outfielder. But with a .290 average and 23 homers in addition to his 99 RBIs, Guillen was a key factor in the improvement.

As for Hernandez, he was told he couldn't have the complete game he deserved because McLaren "felt I owed it" to Putz to give him a shot at a 40th save.

Hernandez was all smiles later when talking about it, but right after he came out of the game, he hugged pitching coach Rafael Chaves, the man he described as "a lot like a father for me." Hernandez was crying, in part because Chaves is one of those whose job status for 2008 remains tenuous.

"I want to see him back, but I don't know what they're going to do," Hernandez said.

None of the coaches know if they're going to be back, though as bench coach Mike Goff said, "It's been a good season; for now we're happy about that and can't worry about the rest of it."

McLaren said the first order of business would be the coaching staff. McLaren was one of the coaches until manager Mike Hargrove resigned on July 1. McLaren was promoted and inherited Hargrove's staff. These are men he likes, but he might want the option to bring in a few hires of his own.

The only coach who seems a lock to come back is hitting coach Jeff Pentland after Seattle hit .287 for the year, the second-highest average in club history.

Ultimately, the players are the ones who have to get it done, and Guillen said, "This team is not far from being able to win a championship. All they have to do is give Mac the pieces."

Guillen, the one key piece of the offense not locked up for 2008, and Bavasi hugged after the game. Bavasi has been talking with Guillen's agent, Adam Katz.

"I'll give them every chance to sign me," Guillen said. "I believe I can have a nice little career here. My heart is here."

P-I reporter John Hickey can be reached at 206-448-8004 or johnhickey@seattlepi.com. Follow his Mariners blog at blog.seattlepi.com/baseball.

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