Cubs, Mariners bring worldwide allure to Cashman Field

The lure of watching spring training baseball in Las Vegas extends far beyond Southern Nevada, from the Windy City to the Land of the Rising Sun.

With the popular Chicago Cubs and Ichiro Suzuki-led Seattle Mariners squaring off at Cashman Field in a pair of sold-out games -- scheduled for 7:15 p.m. today and 12:05 p.m. Saturday -- in the 18th annual Big League Weekend, about 3,000 people are expected to travel here from the Chicago area, along with a large contingent from Japan.

"The Cubs have a huge following and a loyal, dedicated fan base," Las Vegas 51s general manager Don Logan said. "The people we have coming from the Chicago area, largely, would rather come to Las Vegas to watch the Cubs in spring training than go to Arizona."

Suzuki, who finished second in the American League in batting last season, with a .351 average, might be the best player ever produced by Japan, but he'll only be one of three Japanese products to play here this weekend, along with Seattle's Kenji Johjima and Chicago's Kosuke Fukodome.

"We have a strong Japanese contingent coming over," Logan said.

The Cubs and Mariners return to Las Vegas for the fourth straight season. Last year, they split a pair of sold-out games that attracted 23,220 fans.

"We always look forward to playing these exhibition games in Las Vegas," Cubs infielder Ryan Theriot said. "We really appreciate the Cubs fans who make the trip to support us, and we like the fact that baseball fans who live in Vegas also have a chance to watch the games in person."

The Cubs won the National League Central Division last season, going 85-77 in their first year under manager Lou Piniella, and are one of the favorites, after the New York Mets, to win the NL pennant this year.

Chicago will be led by outfielder Alfonso Soriano (.299, 33 home runs, 70 RBIs), first baseman and former Las Vegas Star Derrek Lee (.317, 22 HR, 82 RBIs) and third baseman Aramis Ramirez (.310, 26 HR, 101 RBIs).

Carlos Zambrano (18-13) again will anchor Chicago's pitching staff, and former ace Kerry Wood will be the closer as the Cubs continue their quest for their first World Series crown since 1908.

"It's 100 years. Something's got to give," Logan said. "If you aren't pulling for the Cubs, you're not a baseball fan."

The Mariners went 88-74 last year and finished second to the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West.

Along with Suzuki (238 hits), who last year joined Willie Keeler and Wade Boggs as the only players to record at least 200 hits in seven straight seasons, the Mariners will be led by third baseman Adrian Beltre (.276, 26 HR, 99 RBIs) and outfielder Raul Ibanez (.291, 21 HR, 105 RBIs).

Newcomer Erik Bedard is expected to anchor Seattle's pitching staff, which also features starters Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn and closer J.J. Putz.

With Opening Day for most teams set for Monday, Logan expects starters for the Cubs and Mariners to see significant action here.

"The best part of this weekend is that they're essentially like regular-season games," he said. "The starters will be stretched out to five or six innings, and the regulars will get three or four at-bats. They got into regular-season mode this last week. That's one of the benefits of having this on the last weekend."

Las Vegas will open its 26th Pacific Coast League season on April 3 at home against the Salt Lake Bees, Triple-A affiliate of the Angels.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@ reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0354.