Grip on Sports: For the M’s to be truly successful, they are going to need a moniker to hang their hats on
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Maybe all they need is a cute nickname to rally around. Maybe something like “The Comeback Kids” or “The Hair Bunch.” Maybe that’s all it will take to get the M’s into the postseason this year. Read on.
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• Any nickname has to be rooted in reality. That’s why the hair idea popped up. But everyone would have to buy in and I’m not sure Kyle Seager would feel comfortable with flowing locks. Or locks of any kind.
But using the word comeback in some variety might work as well.
If the M’s are going to make the playoffs, they will have to come back from their awful start to the season.
And to reach the promised land, a lot of players, from Felix Hernandez to, thanks to yesterday’s quadriceps strain, Robinson Cano, will have to stage comebacks from injuries.
But the word needs to be included because, all of sudden, the M’s have figured out how to come back in games. At least they did last night in Philadelphia.
They trailed 4-0 after one inning. They trailed 9-5 after four. And they went to the ninth tied at 9.
Then Taylor Motter, one of The Hair Bunch, stroked a two-out double to score Jean Segura. Edwin Diaz closed it and the Mariners had an improbable 10-9 victory.
The Comeback Kids indeed.
The win pulled the M’s within a game of .500 – don’t forget, they started 2-8. And they are percentage points out of second in the American League West. A percentage point, actually.
All that with 60 percent of their starting rotation on the disabled list and another, Hisashi Iwakuma, nursing a sore knee. Wait, he was put on the DL Wednesday morning, so make that 80 percent of the starting rotation. Plus this season’s two most productive hitters, Segura and Mitch Haniger, have also spent time on the disabled list. It looks as if Cano may have to join them. Maybe.
But every blow has been absorbed.
Ben Gamel, whose hair rivals Motter’s, has filled in well for Haniger in right. Last night he had four hits, including a three-run homer, and threw out the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the eighth.
Motter has slipped into the lineup at different spots and delivered some timely hits.
Hard decisions were made, including demoting Leonys Martin and Mike Zunino, who opened the season manning two of the most important defensive positions on the field, centerfield and catcher, respectively. The both were hitting under the Mendoza Line.
With all that’s happened, it’s remarkable the M’s are still in contention, albeit seven games behind the Astros in the West. Yet that’s better than 11 or 12, which might have been expected.
If not for The Hair Bunch. (OK, it’s cheesy, but I’m going to keep trying.)
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WSU: Around the Pac-12, the basketball news this time of year is often about players leaving, either for the NBA or other schools. Oregon State is going the other way, with two players earning another year of eligibility. … Colorado has a player in the NBA picture that was a bit unknown not that long ago. … Oregon’s secondary has to improve. … The conference meetings left an impression on Utah’s athletic director. … This is a sad story that illustrates any sport can be dangerous.
Gonzaga: Bianca Pagdanganan is in contention for a berth at the NCAA golf finals.
Boxing: Jim Allen has a feature today on Rick Welliver, who runs a local boxing gym.
Preps: The spring playoffs are going strong, with Jim Meehan previewing the golf postseason in the GSL and elsewhere. … Jim Allen covers the soccer playoffs with this roundup from Tuesday’s action. … In baseball, Mt. Spokane’s remarkable season came to an end. … We also can pass along a softball roundup.
Mariners: Dave Nichols’ Mariners Log is back. So are our links. They are at the bottom of that feature. Except this one from Vice Sports’ Christopher Crawford. It’s about the M’s present – and future. Read it. You think he’s right? Are the M’s in a world of hurt?
Seahawks: Yesterday was a deadline of sorts and the Hawks cut eight players, including a couple you might actually have heard of before. … They also signed another linebacker, David Bass, a four-year veteran. … Frank Clark needs to keep his fingers away from the keyboard.
Sounders: The Timbers want to remodel and expand their stadium. And they would like a little financial help from the City of Portland.
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• When it’s sunny, it pours rain or something like that. Both of our cars (well, one is a pickup) need service at the same time. Guess who has to take care of that? Yep, the “retired” guy. You may see me walking around downtown later. I’ll be the grumpy guy in the hat. No, not him. Or him. Or her. The other one. Say hello if you want. Until later …