MARINERS • UPDATED 2:45 P.M.

We talked about the M's shortcomings yesterday – one of those being third-base coach Carlos Garcia's decision-making – so today we will try to look forward to this evening's (5:10; FSN; 920-AM) game.

The pitching duel matches the M's future (Felix Hernandez, 2-2, 2.77 ERA) with the M's past (Gil Meche, 3-2, 2.44) in a game the Mariners need to win, especially after the way they blew a sweep chance in Tampa Bay.

Today's hot list …

• The comeback that came up just short, in more ways than one, leads the way in the game stories, with Garcia bearing the brunt of the criticism. Here they are, from the Times, the P-I and the News Tribune. The Devil Rays' win is covered by the St. Pete Times and the Tampa Tribune.

• Starter Horacio Ramirez had to leave after two innings with tightness in his shoulder. He is expected to be OK, but will be examined. UPDATE: It was worse than Ramirez thought. He was put on the disabled list this afternoon.

• A couple of people headed down to Tacoma to talk with Julio Mateo. Here is Larry Stone's column, John McGrath's column from the News Tribune and the P-I story. Hal Bodley mentioned Mateo in his USA Today column.

• Ichiro has a goal: He wants to pitch. So how is this for a contract sweetener: Allow him, in his contract, to pitch whenever he wants if the M's are down 10 runs or more. Maybe that would keep him from going to New York. Except, with the Yankees' pitching, he may go there as a starter.

• Yunieksy Betancourt is the subject of this ESPN story.

• And our question of the day …

• Same one we had yesterday. Who do you think will come out on top in the matchup of Gil Meche and Felix Hernandez in Kansas City?

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