While you're enjoying an unseasonably sunny summer afternoon, we will be at Safeco Field, showing our undying support for the 2007 Seattle Mariners, authors of one of the greatest collapses in baseball history.
The Five Worst Collapses in Seattle Sports History
The Mariners. WTF?
Well, that was spectacular. From the heady days of August 25th, when the M's were three up in the wild card and only one back in the division, had won two straight in Texas, when we were all excited about Blue-za-palooza or whatever the fuck it was...to now, after 11 losses in 12 games, when we're all pretty much in wait 'till next year mode.
Local Sportsball Teams Inch Closer to First Place on First Avenue
Both the Mariners and the Sounders are in second place in their respective divisions, and both played the teams ahead of them last night.
Here Comes a Pennant Race
Got an email from a friend the other day: "My boss says he's officially back on the Mariners bandwagon."
Tonight's Target: C.C. Sabathia
Vitals: Carsten Charles Sabathia, 26 yo LHP. Born in Vallejo, California. 6-7, 290. 87-57, 3.94 career. 6-1, 3.65 in 2007. $8.75 million salary.
Tonight's Target: John Lackey
Sorry about the two sports posts in a row. Hope you non-sportballers have scrolling capability.
Johnson v. Moyer: In Their First Meeting Since the Berlin Wall Came Down, Mariner Greats Face Off Today in Arizona
The two winningest Mariner pitchers ever, Jamie Moyer and Randy Johnson, start against each other today. Moyer had 145 wins as a Mariner, Johnson had 130. Combined, the two pitched 3932 innings as Mariners.
Tonight's Target: Jeremy Bonderman
Vitals: 24 yo RHP. Born in Kennewick, WA. 6-2, 220. 46-53, 4.67 career. 1-0, 3.69 in 2007. $4.5 million salary.
Tonight's Target: Kei Igawa
Vitals: 27 yo LHP. Born in Oarai, Japan. 6-1, 212. 86-60, 3.14 in Japan. 2-1, 6.08 here. $4 million salary.
Tonight's Target: Daisuke Matsuzaka
Vitals: 26 yo RHP. Born in Tokyo, Japan. 6-0, 187. 94-45, 2.99 in Japan. 3-2, 4.36 here. $6.3 million salary.
Tonight's Key At Bat
We were frickin' *there* so we speak some from authority on this subject--the key at bat of tonight's 5-2 Mariner win (even bigger than Sexson's funk blast) was Brandon Morrow facing Jermaine Dye with one on and two out in the eighth.
In A Previous Life, Bill Bavasi Was the Eskimo to Whom You Could Sell Ice
Payroll: $106,096,833
Six Years Ago, Carlos Guillen Was a Coin Flip From Going Six Feet Under
We knew that Carlos Guillen's 2001 bout with tuberculosis was serious, but until we read this feature by Jon Paul Morosi (formerly of the P-I, now with the Detroit Free Press), we never knew that Guillen was so close to death:
He could barely sleep. He had a fever every night. He battled headaches and weakness. He lost almost 20 pounds. He coughed up blood. Yet, Carlos Guillen continued to play shortstop for the Seattle Mariners.more ›
Mariners/Indians Postponed Again
Yet another postponement, and the new plan is to try to play a doubleheader on Monday, beginning at 10:05 am PST. The M's have a day game in Boston on Tuesday, so this would mean they'd play 3 games in about 28 hours. Not good.
Today's Target: Paul Byrd, Righty
Vitals: 36 years old, born in Louisville, signed as a free agent by the Indians in '05. 82-73 career record. $7 million salary.
George Sherrill Hoping That What Happened in Vegas, Stays in Vegas
M's lefty reliever George Sherrill got shredded by Cubs hitters today in a brief relief appearance. Not only did he give up three runs, including a broken bat homer by Aramis Ramirez, even his outs were line drives. Sherrill's spring ERA is 13.00, opponents are hitting .452 against him. We've only seen him pitch this once, but this isn't a case of bad luck--he's legitimately tossing batting practice out there.
Who's The Patron Saint of Labrums, and What Did We Do to Piss Him Off?
All-star surgeon James Andrews fixed Matt Hasselbeck's torn labrum yesterday. Hasselbeck's played with the injury, which is in his non-throwing shoulder, for three seasons, but it apparently got too troublesome.
The All-Time "We'll Take It!" Moments in Seattle Sports History
Sometimes you earn a win, and sometimes the other team gives you one. Here are the all-time screw-ups by opponents that helped Seattle teams win big games.
Everyone Hates Soriano for Ramirez. Not Us.
If you want to read the many reasons why the Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez deal sucks, USS Mariner (humorlessly) and Lookout Landing (hilariously--check the poll) can satisfy you.
In Beer WA Trusts
In case local breweries need more cheap advertising, Olympia’s got them covered. Lawmakers recently created a "state-sanctioned commission to better market [Washington-brewed] ales to consumers." Naturally, brewers are loving it. And so should fans of Washington beer. Because not only is the commission going to promote this alcoholic nectar, specific sections of the Revised Code of Washington require that:
After Breaking Our Hearts All Season, M's Break Editor Dan's
According to the official rules, when a baseball team forfeits a game, the score is recorded thusly: the forfeitting team gets zero runs, the opponents gets as many runs as there were innings. In the case of most games, 9-0.
Nuts for Putz, but Please Repairo Pineiro
JJ Putz's two ninth-inning strikeouts of Barry Bonds (one Friday, looking at a splitter, one Sunday, swinging on a fastball) are the twin highlights of the Mariner season so far. Putz has been terrific this season--11 saves in 12 opportunities. Better yet, the numbers are there--he's struck out 46 this season, and walked only 6. That's Sasaki-esque.
Mariners Sign First Pick Morrow
There's controversy rumbling in the underbelly of Mariner fandom, about whether the team passed over a pitcher named Andrew Miller in last week's draft because they felt he'd want more money than is allowed under "slotting," a Bud Selig brainchild meant to reduce signing bonuses.
Guardado on His Demotion As Mariners Closer: Too Soon.
Eddie Guardado didn't cotton to being removed as Mariner closer, the P-I reports today. Apparently he's been sulking, and Jamie Moyer coralled him for a private chat over the weekend. The mano-a-mano preceded a successful inning against Los Angeles. Everyday Eddie thinks it was a turning point.
He's Just a Cook
Former Mariner first round pick Ryan Anderson is out of baseball and enrolled in culinary school, we learned from U.S.S. Mariner today.
Pacifist's Row Kills Late Mariners Rally
After shitting the bed in the 9th inning last night (bases loaded, nobody out, down two runs, and the "heart of the order" went down 1-2-3) and wasting another great start by Jamie Moyer, the Mariners fell to 3.5 games out of first place.
Hargrove Mixes Up Mariners Lineup
Mariner Manager Mike Hargrove deviated from his heretofore stone-set lineup yesterday, moving Adrian Beltre into the #2 spot and sliding Jose Lopez to #3. Richie Sexson sat in favor of Roberto Petagine.
Eddie Guarda-DON'T
Mariner closer Eddie Guardado's campaign to ruin Seattle's summer continues apace, with the merry prankster blowing his third save of the season last night at Chicago.

