Goodbye to the region’s Boys of Summer
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Tomorrow is the saddest day of the year. The first day since March, really, when you open the newspaper and there aren't 10 or so box scores to peruse. The day that officially ends summer as far as I'm concerned. But at least this summer was a bit more intoxicating, baseball-wise, than the most recent ones. Read on.
• Those box scores meant something for a long time this summer. Until yesterday, actually, when the A's remembered they were allowed to win a game. Just in time, too. Just in time to clinch a postseason berth, just in time to tick off about 45,000 folks at Safeco Field and just in time to keep the East Bay from sinking into the ocean. Instead, the folks here in the Northwest are left with memories. Memories of way too many games that slipped away. Remember that time I wrote here "that loss could hurt them in the long run?" Me neither, but I know I wrote it – and more than once. There were so many games that slipped through the M's hands, so many times they had a chance to add another number to the column on the left in the standings. Each time Lloyd McClendon said "we'll be all right," and each time we believed him. After all, there was plenty of season left. But that's the problem. The M's failed to understand the basic premise of a pennant race. It doesn't start in September. It starts in April. A win or loss in the first week means just as much in the final accounting as one in the last week. The 3-2, 12-inning loss to the A's on April 3? That ended up – statistically – being the difference between making the postseason and not. Or maybe it was Fernando Rodney's blown save in Texas a couple weeks later, another 3-2 loss in a game the M's led 2-1 with two outs and no one on in the ninth. OK, I know we are nit-picking here, but there is a point. Each game matters. Heck, each inning matter. Each pitch. It's a long season, sure, but winning games you should win is what good teams do. Championship teams. They get a lead and hold it. Or build on it. The M's aren't there just yet. They had to scratch and claw for most of their 87 wins this season, mainly because their offense oftentimes just featured the first three letters of the word – o-f-f. They lacked the bats to take heat off the pitching staff. Finally, down the stretch, that staff faltered when it was needed the most. The good news is the young M's – of which there are fewer than you might think – probably learned important lessons this season, including the one about each April, May, June and whatever game is meaningful come September. Those semi-youngsters, the Kyle Seagers and Dustin Ackleys and Taijuan Walkers, should fill key roles next season. And the front office may have learned a lesson as well. The $240 million it spent on Robinson Cano was well worth the money, giving the M's a veteran bat teams had to respect. Now it's time to add a few more dollars, to find one or two more bats. A true leadoff hitter would be nice – Austin Jackson, the sixth spot is now yours – as would some more power from either a corner outfielder or a first baseman/designated hitter – sorry, Kendrys Morales, you missed your chance at a long-term contract. The pitching staff needs one more arm – Jon Lester is a free agent in a month and now is the time to spend the money to bring the big left-hander home to the Northwest – to make it formidable. Put those pieces together and next year holds real possibilities. Rest on what the team has now and it's doomed to irrelevance once again. The choice is simple. I vote for making the box scores mean something from March through October next season.
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• WSU: The Cougars returned to practice last night, buoyed by the one-point comeback win in Salt Lake City. If momentum is a real thing, you would think they have it. Jacob Thorpe does, finding a picture of another outstanding call by the Pac-12's finest – Mike Leach deserves a bit of the blame for this one being missed as he used his challenge earlier on an iffy call and couldn't force another look – as part of his report from yesterday. He also has a story in this morning's paper as well as a blog post with links. ... WSU moved up these Pac-12 power rankings. ... Utah fell and the Utes have to deal with UCLA on the road this week. ... Bud Withers had some thoughts on the Pac-12's weekend.
• EWU: The Eagles' soccer team tied a record yesterday.
• Chiefs: Spokane was off but Everett wasn't, as it defeated Portland again, this time at home. The Silvertips are already receiving reinforcements.
• Seahawks: The Hawks decided they needed to keep Heath Farwell around, even if he can't play. ... Richard Sherman would love to meet the Broncos again. That means, of course, the Hawks are back in the Super Bowl. Who wouldn't want that?
• Mariners: The meaningful last game brought a big crowd out to Safeco yesterday. That and King Felix was pitching. Felix Hernandez threw well, then showed his emotion when he exited the game in the sixth. The guy is pretty easy to like. The fans showed how much they do. ... The 4-1 win capped what was the best season in a few years.
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• The week is beginning. Don't let the stress get to you. I'm kicking off a new exercise and diet regimen, trying to lose a few pounds and make my heart healthier. Wish me luck. It's hard to resist the siren call of doughnuts. Mmmmmmn, doughnuts. Is there anything those little guys can't do? Until later ...
