PHOENIX -- After six Cactus Leagues games, the Mariners had a .341 team batting average. Outfielder Mike Morse led the way with a .636 average, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt was cruising along at a robust .455, and catcher Kenji Johjima checked in at .444.

There were 15 players with a .300 or higher batting average.

And now for the news flash -- Ichiro Suzuki wasn't one of them.

The Mariners center fielder had a .000 batting average. That's right. No hits. Not a one.

Even during Spring Training, "Ichiro" and "hitless" are two words rarely used in the same sentence. But he was hitless in three at-bats against the Angels on Wednesday, hitless in two at-bats against the Cubs on Monday, and went 0-for-3 against the Padres on March 1. Heck, he even went 0-for-2 against the Padres in the charity game on Feb. 29.

Not to worry, folks.

"Ich and I were kidding about the fact he doesn't have a hit," said Mariners hitting coach Jeff Pentland on Thursday. "He was laughing about it. I asked him if he was all right, if he needed some extra work, and he said he was fine. That's good enough for me."

According to the meticulous Japanese media, which keeps close tabs on such things, this matches the longest hitless streak that Ichiro has endured in the spring. He also had three straight hitless games in 2002, going 0-for-12 from March 17-20.

The hits will come. Always have, probably always will.

"That last thing I have to worry about is Ichiro," manager John McLaren said.

And why should anyone lose any sleep over a few hitless days for the Mariners' best player?

History tells us that the Japan hitting machine will finish the Cactus League schedule with a .300- or .400-something batting average, and continue piling up the hits through the regular season, accumulating 200-something hits for the eighth consecutive season.

His previous spring averages, beginning in 2001, are: .321, .347, .382, .429, .437, .476 and .319.

"Three games without a hit is pretty amazing for him," Pentland said. "It's not funny, but it is unusual. He lined out a couple of times [on Wednesday], which was encouraging. He really smoked the last one [a line drive to left field].

"I'm sure that if this was the regular season, he might be a little worried and be showing some urgency. The urgency isn't quite there yet."

Ichiro didn't play in Thursday's game against the Brewers, remaining in Peoria for some extra batting practice.

The quiet camp coach: Former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson arrived in camp on Wednesday and will spend about a week as a guest instructor, following Jay Buhner and Richie Amaral.

"He knows what Major League life is all about," McLaren said. "He's here for just about anybody, but mainly for our catchers, talking to them about technique.

"The only difference between he and Buhner is he is a whole lot quieter, I'll tell you that. It's very quiet in here. Tony [Phillips] is in the cage and Buhner is gone."

Wilson is regarded as one of the nicest players that the Mariners ever have had in the organization, always quiet and polite.

"I used to encourage him to stand up to Lou [Piniella] and he would say, 'Mac, I can't do that. I respect the man too much to do that.' But he got to the point where he stood firm, and once Lou saw what Dan brought to the table, he backed off and let Dan do his thing."

Wilson has become a regular camp visitor, working with Johjima the past several seasons.

"Joh actually sets up the way Dan sat up," McLaren said. "He gets ready late and throws his target up."

White Rat spotted: Former Major League manager Whitey Herzog, nicknamed "The White Rat", attended Thursday morning's workout and was treated to the "American Idol" segment, which was a rerun.

T.J. Nakagawa, the intern trainer and University of Arkansas student, presented the 'Wooo, Pig, Sooie' cheer for the second time in three days, and just like the first time, the elicited another loud ovation.

Mariner log: Third baseman Adrian Beltre returned to Arizona on Wednesday night, reported to work Thursday morning and was in the lineup for the game against the Brewers. He missed two games while in Mexico attending the funeral of his wife's grandmother. ... The first round of roster cuts are slated for next Wednesday. ... Outfielder Jeremy Reed was scratched from Thursday's lineup with a bruised right knee.

Up next: The Mariners make their only visit to Mesa this spring on Friday for a Cactus League game against the Cubs at 12:05 p.m. PST. Right-hander Carlos Silva makes his second start of the spring. Left-handers Ryan Rowland-Smith and Eric O'Flaherty and right-handers R.A. Dickey and Sean Green, also are slated to pitch for Seattle.