SEATTLE -- He carries himself with a stern professionalism that garners respect from teammates, a man whose resume speaks louder than his quiet words.
When Carlos Ruiz speaks, Mariners manager Scott Servais notes, everyone listens. And on this day, amid the pregame clubhouse din, the eyes lock in on the questioner and a smile crinkles the corner of his mouth as he ponders the upcoming trip back in time.
Ruiz is nearing the end of his playing days. At 38, he's fighting to produce at the plate the way he's always done in the past.