With an impending fire sale coming later this month the Mariners appear to have put Michael Saunders on the fast track. He started the season in AA ball but he has been promoted to AAA ball and he’s handled it well so far. If he keeps playing well he could get the call to the majors if Raul Ibanez is traded. The 21-year old, lefty swinging Saunders has played in 81 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 86 for 299 (.288 avg, .856 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 10 homers, 42 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He appears to have passed Wladimir Balentin in the pecking order for the Mariners.