When the Oakland Athletics released him last September, Mike Sweeney put real thought into life after baseball.</p><p>&#8220;I came home, and I told my wife, &#8216;Honey, I think I&#8217;m about 98 percent done with my career,&#8217;&#8194;&#8221; he said. &#8220;But I never told her 100 percent.&#8221;</p><p>So Sweeney, a five-time All-Star in his tenure with the Royals, returned to Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday as a Seattle Mariner. It was his second visit back to the ballpark as a member of the opposing team (he appeared with Oakland last September).</p><p>Sweeney wasn&#8217;t in the starting lineup, but he wore a big smile and hugged old friends before the game. He spoke of his appreciation for his former team and for the opportunity to play with his new one.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always approached life to work hard and never have a regret, so my feeling was I&#8217;d like to go to spring training if I get the opportunity,&#8221; he said of trying to land a job this season. &#8220;If physically I can&#8217;t do it, or I fall on my face and get released, it might hurt my heart and hurt my pride to not make it, but at least I can live the rest of my life with freedom and never have a regret.&#8221;</p><p>A strong spring training earned him a roster spot with Seattle, for whom he was hitting .268 in 56 at-bats with one home run and six RBI entering the night. Sweeney, who hit 197 home runs as a Royal, cracked his 200th career homer May 3.</p><p>Sweeney arrived at Kauffman Stadium early Wednesday afternoon and stopped by the Royals&#8217; clubhouse. He said he gave Royals catcher John Buck a hug and congratulations for his game-winning hit Tuesday.</p><p>Just as his former team started the day atop the American League Central standings, Sweeney&#8217;s Mariners came to town with a half-game lead in the AL West.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s cool to see primarily the Mariners on top, but also to see the Royals play well is encouraging for me,&#8221; he said.</p><p>&#8220;Because even though I&#8217;m not a Royal, I still feel some sort of a connection to the team.&#8221;</p><p>Before the conversation ended, Sweeney wanted to talk about his former teammate Zack Greinke.</p><p>&#8220;To see Zack come along the way he has, it is one of the best feel-good stories in years in Kansas City,&#8221; Sweeney said.</p><p>&#8220;I remember Zack when I met him was a 19-year-old kid, and I thought, man, this guy, he&#8217;s going to be something special. Everyone knows the last five or six years he&#8217;s been through a lot. &#8230; Now he&#8217;s grown into a man, preparing for marriage, and he&#8217;s the top pitcher in baseball. I&#8217;m very, very proud of him.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Lineup details</span></strong></p><p>Center fielder Coco Crisp was out of the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time this season. Royals manager Trey Hillman just wanted to give Crisp a day off.</p><p>Shortstop Mike Aviles was also out of the lineup &#8212; replaced at short by Willie Bloomquist for the second time in four games &#8212; as Aviles continues struggling at the plate (.207 batting average in 92 at-bats).</p><p>One change Hillman said he&#8217;s not considering right now is moving hot-hitting second baseman Alberto Callaspo up near the top of the order. Callaspo, who is hitting .363 with 13 doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs, has batted seventh the last four games and 15 times this season in all.</p><p>Hillman likes Callaspo&#8217;s ability to drive in runs from there and the opportunity to have him swing freely from that spot in the order, as opposed to batting second where the situation may call for hitting behind the runner.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Etc.</span></strong></p><p>&#8226;Bloomquist has hit in nine consecutive games after going two for five on Wednesday and is batting .380 in 50 at-bats. The Royals are 11-3 when Bloomquist is in the lineup.</p><p>&#8226;Shortstop Luis Hernandez made his Royals debut, entering the game as part of an eighth-inning defensive switch. He went hitless in his only at-bat.