There are memories of the Mariners' three division championships, one Wild Card title and three appearances in the American League Championship Series that never will be forgotten by fans, players and club officials.

But the time has come to move on.

For the first time in seven years, the Mariners will go through Spring Training without at least one player from the glory days making an appearance at the big league camp in Peoria, Ariz.

Among the possibly positive changes in the new Mariners regime is that former Mariners attend the Minor League camp, which begins on March 8.

"I think it's time to turn the page and for the team to start establishing some of its own traditions," former Mariners right fielder and immensely popular Jay Buhner said. "I think [general manager Jack Zduriencik] is doing that a little, and I can't say I blame him. I kind of know where they are coming from.

"People are getting a little tired of being reminded of the '95 and 2001 teams. Enough is enough."

First-year manager Don Wakamatsu said the reason for the change is he wants to give his all-new coaching staff the time it needs to bond with the players.

"In no way are we saying these [former players] are not welcome," Wakamatsu said. "I cherish their input. I'm a big advocate of utilizing the players who've been here, understand the system, and know the history. It's really all about trying to focus on getting everybody to know everybody else in camp.

"Jack and I have talked about this, and we think we can utilize [the former players] more on the Minor League side. There will be a lot going on and I want us to have a close-knit group. The new coaching staff is trying to establish close relationships with the players right out of the chute."

Buhner, who retired after the '01 season as one of the most popular and productive players in franchise history, was invited to Spring Training the following year and has spent several days each March working with the Mariners outfielders.

Two-time AL batting champion Edgar Martinez has been a camp contributor for the past several seasons, along with former catcher Dan Wilson. And former outfielder/infielder Rich Amaral was invited to camp last season to work with the Major League and Minor League players on baserunning. He continued to work part-time during the regular season.

Buhner agrees that the former Mariners probably can have a bigger impact on the young players than the big league players.

"I am not going to teach Ichiro anything new," he said. "I think I have more to give the Minor Leaguers. I can get them to start talking baseball, learning baseball, and get back to playing winning baseball, not about how cool they look in batting gloves or whether their spikes have their number on them."

Buhner said he plans to attend the Minor League camp this spring and is awaiting word from the front office as to when he would be needed. Martinez and Amaral apparently won't be among the guest instructors.

"Right now I don't have any plans to be there," Martinez said.

Wakamatsu recently had lunch with Martinez and explained the change.

"Edgar was great," he said. "I told him, 'you helped build this [organization] and never in a million years would I not want you to come to camp.' I also gave him an open invitation to come to the clubhouse during the season."

Amaral said he learned last week that he would not be attending Spring Training for the second straight year.

"I was planning on coming down, but they don't need me, so I am not going," he said.

"I wanted to stay connected to the team and do something, so I guess I am disappointed that I won't be coming back. But I also understand. They can do whatever they want to do."

Amaral said he rejected an offer at the end of last season to be a roving coach because it would have forced him to be away from home so often. But he was hoping to return to the same working arrangement this season.

"Last year was the first time I worked for the Mariners since I retired and I really enjoyed it," Amaral said. "I spent a little time with the team in Spring Training and went down and worked with the Minor Leaguers for about 30 days. It was part-time, and was something I wanted to continue doing."