We come not to praise the M’s but …
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Real quickly, run out to the garage or shed and grab a shovel. You're going to need it over the next few minutes, and not for the usual reason while reading this column, ie., cleaning up after the bulls. Nope, you're going to need it to help me bury the M's. Read on.
• The coffin nails have been driven in, with the hammer being supplied by the M's starting staff. Yep, most of the wounds of the final few days of a fun 2014 season have been inflicted by the M's themselves. But the fun is over. It's time to lower the M's coffin into the ground and bury it. There are five games left. The M's are three games back of the Royals and A's. Sure, it could happen. They could rally and make the playoffs. But it is nearly impossible. If the A's and Royals win one more game, the M's would have to finish 4-1 against Toronto (two more games in Canada) and the Angels (the final three at home) just to tie. If the A's and Royals win two more games, then the M's would have to be perfect. And each of those teams just need three more wins to clinch a playoff spot, no matter what else happens. So there is hope. But really, the way the starters have pitched recently, what type of hope? Pie-in-the-sky, anything-can-happen, it-ain't-over-until-it's-over hope. That's all. The Mariners pitching has collapsed and nothing illustrates that more than last night's 10-2 defeat. An eight-run loss with Felix Hernandez on the mound. The best the M's have to offer. The man. His line: 4 2/3 innings pitched, seven hits, eight runs (all earned), three walks and five strike outs. Not the line you need from your ace in crunch time. To his credit, Felix owned it, telling reporters “As an ace, that’s my responsibility. And I let my teammates down. I let my team down. It’s my fault.” But he's not alone in letting everyone down. The last four games, all losses, the M's have given up 42 runs. This from a pitching staff that was among the Major League's best al season. Heck, the staff flirted with some all-time records for a while. Not anymore. That's why it's hard to believe they can turn it around, win their final five games, get some help from the Rangers or the White Sox and blast into the postseason. Let's face it. It's been a much better year than we've seen in a long time. The M's contended for 153 games. It was fun to get up each morning and check the standings. But September has been disappointing. Let's hope it was also instructive and the young players, the guys who have never been in a pennant race, learning lessons. Lessons they can take into next season. Because, like the fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers of days gone by, it's time to utter the famous line, "wait 'til next year."
•••
• WSU: It's Wednesday, which means it's time to utter the famous line, "Jacob's Pac-12 notebook is here." Yep, the coaches got on the phone yesterday and we have Pac-12 notebooks from all over the conference's footprint. The final play of the Arizona/Cal game was a topic of conversation as was the conference's parity. ... But that's not all what Jacob offers today. No, he also has his conference power ranking. And then there is his practice summary from last night. And his morning post with links from around the conference. ... Though Jacob has a lot of links, there is so much today we have to offer an hour or so of reading pleasure as well. ... Austin Meeks has a long profile column of Cougar basketball coach Ernie Kent in today's Register-Guard. ... One Heisman voter is now looking at Connor Halliday, who is still No. 2 in this ranking. ... Mike Leach is a member of a coaching class that has transformed the conference. ... This week's opponent, Utah, knows it will be challenged by the WSU receivers. ... Former WSU player Rahmel Dockery has exceeded his expectations for Oregon State. ... How does this weekend add up? ... Klay Thompson and the Warriors are talking about an extension.
• EWU: The offensive line at Eastern held some question marks when the season began. But, as Jim Allen's story shows, those questions have been answered.
• Idaho: Being a two-sport athlete in college isn't easy. Heck, it's downright impossible. But Jim Meehan's weekly volleyball notebook highlights some players who have embraced the challenge.
• Whitworth: Quarterback Bryan Peterson had a record-setting day Saturday at La Verne. Now he has a conference award to go with it.
• Preps: It's been a while since Central Valley has defeated Mead in a GSL volleyball match but it happened last night. Chris Derrick and Jesse Tinsley were there, with Chris supplying the story and Jesse the photographs. ... We also pass along this roundup of other area action.
• Seahawks: The Hawks are still considered the NFL's best by most around the league but, as they enter the bye week, they know they have learned things about this year's squad. ... There were a lot of reasons why the Denver game wasn't on at night. ... Russell Wilson is Mr. Efficiency right now.
• Mariners: We've covered a lot of what went wrong last night, so we won't go into that much more. But think about this. If the M's had scored seven runs in each of their last four games, they would still be 0-4. ... Kyle Seager has made enough strides this season to be considered a star. Can he make more next season? ... Guess what? Kendrys Morales would love to sign a long-term contract now. Of course he would.
• Sounders: It's game day in Texas, with the Sounders facing a Dallas team that is hard to beat at home. The Frisco facility has become loud and crowded. ... These teams could end up meeting in the playoffs.
•••
• Well, that was quite a few items to get through. It's already been a long morning. Now I've got to take care of all the items that piled up while I was away. No rest for the wicked. Until later ...
